History
Since its opening in 1900 by renowned architect Frank Matcham, The Hippodrome has been synonymous with innovation and stylish entertainment.
Big name acts have graced the stage over a 100 year span, including Shirley Bassey, Stevie Wonder and Judy Garland to name a few. Did you know that The Hippodrome used to feature a 100,000 gallon tank for elephants, polar bears and sea lions to swim in?
Extraordinary entertainment has always been on the cards and The Hippodrome is famed for staging many famous first acts, such as the UK’s first Jazz performance, the debut of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and some of Harry Houdini’s most spectacular acts.
Carrying on their penchant for ground breaking new performances, The Hippodrome underwent a £40m restoration programme in 2009, which saw it go back to Matcham’s original design for use as a casino.