UPDATE: Swift Half is happy to report that the £20m restoration has now been approved in principle by Brighton and Hove City Council.
THE Brighton Hippodrome which once played hosts to Laurel and Hardy, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Houdini, has been shuttered for nearly 20 years despite a local company ready and willing to restore the magnificent venue.
Family firm Matsim bought the iconic building – once dubbed ‘the Grandest Place of Amusement in the British Empire’ – in 2020 and have already poured nearly £6million of their own cash into the restoration, in particular fixing the roof and saving it from imminent collapse.
According to local councillor Peter Atkinson further delays could be a disaster for the 120-year-old venue.
“This delay is having a potentially catastrophic impact on the condition of the building due to dampness and dry rot and there is a real danger that the procrastination within the planning department risks the very fabric of the Hippodrome becoming beyond repair” Atkinson told the Brighton Argus.
Built in 1897 the iconic venue has been an ice rink, a circus and a bingo hall over the years, but it has fallen into significant disrepair since its last tenants, bingo behemoths Mecca, called ‘house’ for the final time in 2006.
Matsim have submitted a planning application for the venue to be repurposed as a mixed-used development, consisting of event and performance space, an apart-hotel, rehearsal space and a bar and restaurant.
But this has led to an impasse with the Theatre Trust amongst others who are fighting to have the venue used solely as a lyric theatre – hosting large West End shows and other productions to large crowds. They argue that Brighton and Brightonians need that far more than another venue packed with more places to eat and drink.
Brighton locals including DJ Fatboy Slim have expressed the importance of the venue and their keenness to see the local institution restored to its former glory, or just simply restored.
Norman Cook, AKA Fatboy, said to the Argus: “So many people could have lived in Brighton for 25 years and never set foot in here. They might have never known what a precious gem we have.
“It was a hard hat area until quite recently, I’ve worn hard hats every time I’ve been here. Now there are some snags in the planning application which I will do anything to help get through.
“If there is an appetite for Brightonians to have this, we can work through it.
“I’m hoping that any planning issues will be smoothed out. It would be a tragedy for it to have got this far and then not get over the line.”
Swift Half spoke exclusively to Matsim’s Simon Lambor who underlined the relevance and urgency of the plans they have already put forward.
“This is how the building was originally designed, as a place for the Brighton public to come and enjoy the variety of entertainment that was available at the time – before TV existed.
“Apparently the audiences that attended were far more numerous and reached 4,500 at one stage. As always the profit is and was on the food and beverages.
“The Lyric Theatre plans do not work as they cannot get adequate access into the rear of the Theatre as they suggest and they would also destroy the current access which has been used since the building was first built.”
Lambor reiterated their willingness to continue fighting if their plans were rejected.
“We still have many more steps to take including an appeal if we are refused consent. We are concerned that some aspects of the decision-making process have been stifled unlawfully and we will be seeking redress from parties that have exceeded their remits and self-extended their own powers.”
He also believes that alternative options that have been put forward are unviable due to a massive shortfall in public funding.
A spokesperson for the Theatres Trust said the Hippodrome’s historic fabric is “at risk of severe deterioration”.
They added: “Theatres Trust’s preferred use for the Hippodrome would be a development that remains sensitive to the possible future reinstatement of the theatre as a large-scale venue for performance.”
The Theatres Trust has also stated that they are concerned about the current proposal “The plans would also prevent the theatre ever returning as a large-scale venue. If permitted, there is a real concern that these untested plans could potentially threaten the future viability and use of the Hippodrome as a performance space.”
Despite their prostrations it appears that by and large local support is with the building owners Matsim and campaigners across the spectrum from Brighton’s Green MP Caroline Lucas to Fatboy Slim are backing a petition to resolve the planning crisis and allow the critical work to save this integral part of Brighton’s history before it is too late.