Opened as a music hall on October 10, 1901, Hulme Hippodrome was once seen as one of Manchester's finest theatres, with its gilded decorations, velvet seats and huge auditorium.
Tunnels are even believed to have been built from the theatre to the nearby Junction Pub and into the city centre for performers to use.It was one of Manchester’s hottest nightspots, where stars like the Beatles and Laurel and Hardy played to packed houses.
The building was remodelled in the 1950s to become a theatre, seating an audience of 3,000.
In 1962 the Theatre was converted for Bingo and Casino use. before it was closed down in 1986.
The Grand Junction Theatre and Floral Hall, with a capacity of 3,000, was built for melodrama, with the Playhouse next door designed as a music hall. In 1905 the two venues changed names and the newly christened Hulme Hippodrome with its larger auditorium became the new music hall. Later on, the playhouse was taken over by the BBC, and it was here the first radio recording of The Beatles was made.
Now there are plans to restore the huge Grade-II listed building, which contains an ornate three-tier theatre, ballroom and restaurant.
Youth Village, a not-for-profit enterprise, have unveiled proposals to turn the building into an arts centre and hub for community groups across Manchester.
Literally down the road from my home, a quite remarkable discovery last year, been past a 1000 times without knowing what lurked inside!
A photograph showing the Hippodrome when it was open in it's early days
tumblr_lurs3ms0zw1qfz7a3 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
In the basement, dark and unforgiving....lacking in light, a real challenge for my Nikon..
1 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
The battery room
2 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
The underground original changing rooms for the theatre
3 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
The left over equipment from the bingo hall which it was used for in the 197os/80s left in the cellar
4 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
In one of the underground changing rooms are stacks of the bingo cards left over and unused
5 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
6 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
At the end of the underground corridor, wandering through the pitch black with a torch one finds the toilet from hell!
7 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Rear of the stage the steps to the upstairs changing rooms and store rooms
8 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
In one of the upstairs changing rooms to the rear of the stage are old toothpaste and cigarette packets from the 70's/80's along with a stack of old televisions and bingo equipment
9 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
10 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
11a by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Another upstairs changing room
11 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Bingo balls left in a downstairs sink
12 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
The theatre itself, a cacophony of bright colours, reds, purples. greens & gold gilded Rococo plaster...it's condition is remarkable except for the roof which had dissapeared over the years
13 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
14 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
15 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
16 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
17 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
18 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
19 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Matchbox found on the stage, possibly from the 1920's from research done
20 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
21 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
View from the stage looking out at the auditorium
22 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
A rear bathroom
23 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
24 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
25 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Old organ in great condition
27 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Downstairs bathrooms, like stepping back in time to the 1960s!
28 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
29 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Finally a programme , looks 1960 ish...
_JHL6780 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
A remarkable place, I really hope the funding is found to restore this magnificent building full of history...
Tunnels are even believed to have been built from the theatre to the nearby Junction Pub and into the city centre for performers to use.It was one of Manchester’s hottest nightspots, where stars like the Beatles and Laurel and Hardy played to packed houses.
The building was remodelled in the 1950s to become a theatre, seating an audience of 3,000.
In 1962 the Theatre was converted for Bingo and Casino use. before it was closed down in 1986.
The Grand Junction Theatre and Floral Hall, with a capacity of 3,000, was built for melodrama, with the Playhouse next door designed as a music hall. In 1905 the two venues changed names and the newly christened Hulme Hippodrome with its larger auditorium became the new music hall. Later on, the playhouse was taken over by the BBC, and it was here the first radio recording of The Beatles was made.
Now there are plans to restore the huge Grade-II listed building, which contains an ornate three-tier theatre, ballroom and restaurant.
Youth Village, a not-for-profit enterprise, have unveiled proposals to turn the building into an arts centre and hub for community groups across Manchester.
Literally down the road from my home, a quite remarkable discovery last year, been past a 1000 times without knowing what lurked inside!
A photograph showing the Hippodrome when it was open in it's early days
tumblr_lurs3ms0zw1qfz7a3 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
In the basement, dark and unforgiving....lacking in light, a real challenge for my Nikon..
1 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
The battery room
2 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
The underground original changing rooms for the theatre
3 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
The left over equipment from the bingo hall which it was used for in the 197os/80s left in the cellar
4 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
In one of the underground changing rooms are stacks of the bingo cards left over and unused
5 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
6 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
At the end of the underground corridor, wandering through the pitch black with a torch one finds the toilet from hell!
7 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Rear of the stage the steps to the upstairs changing rooms and store rooms
8 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
In one of the upstairs changing rooms to the rear of the stage are old toothpaste and cigarette packets from the 70's/80's along with a stack of old televisions and bingo equipment
9 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
10 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
11a by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Another upstairs changing room
11 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Bingo balls left in a downstairs sink
12 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
The theatre itself, a cacophony of bright colours, reds, purples. greens & gold gilded Rococo plaster...it's condition is remarkable except for the roof which had dissapeared over the years
13 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
14 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
15 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
16 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
17 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
18 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
19 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Matchbox found on the stage, possibly from the 1920's from research done
20 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
21 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
View from the stage looking out at the auditorium
22 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
A rear bathroom
23 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
24 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
25 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Old organ in great condition
27 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Downstairs bathrooms, like stepping back in time to the 1960s!
28 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
29 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
Finally a programme , looks 1960 ish...
_JHL6780 by NaKed-Eye, on Flickr
A remarkable place, I really hope the funding is found to restore this magnificent building full of history...
Last edited:
Well done mate 
