1890s: Construction By the end of the 19th century, Brighton had been a fashionable and thriving
seaside resort, which had experienced rapid growth, for more than 100 years. It developed around the medieval fishing village of Brighthelmstone—a grid of streets running inland from the sea, intercut with narrow
twittens. Middle Street, the most important and central of these streets, was built up from the 16th century, and was lined with houses both large and small, inns, the town's oldest school and a
richly decorated synagogue. Land on the east side of the street was chosen as the site of the Real Ice Skating Rink in 1897. It was designed by the architect Lewis Karslake and had a long
stuccoed façade with short towers at each end. The venture was unsuccessful, as ice skating did not gain popularity.
1900s—1930s: Circus and variety theatre In 1900, the owners converted the venue into a circus.
Frank Matcham, a prolific theatre architect, was engaged to enlarge and rebuild the interior. The building was renamed the Hippodrome and reopened in its new form in 1901. The following year the circus failed and the site was auctioned. It was bought by theatre entrepreneur
Thomas Barrasford who commissioned architect
Bertie Crewe to modify the auditorium, replacing the circus ring with seating, and on 22 December 1902 the Hippodrome reopened as a
variety theatre. Barrasford died at the venue in February 1910 and the Hippodrome was sold to the Variety Theatres Controlling Company (VTCC). It quickly became Brighton's most important variety theatre.
Laurence Olivier made his professional stage début—but fell over on his first entrance. and
Vivien Leigh gave an acclaimed performance in
George Bernard Shaw's play ''
The Doctor's Dilemma'' in January 1942. Local stars also featured:
Max Miller, the Brighton-born
music hall entertainer and comedian, appeared on many occasions between 1928 and 1960; The venue's early success led to expansion. In 1919 the lower floors of the two houses on the north side, known as Hippodrome House since Barrasford made his home there in 1902, was converted into a Palm Court for teas and dances. Its maximum capacity may have been up to 3,000 although an attendance of 4,500 was recorded on one occasion. In July 2010, AMG announced that this would probably cost at least £9 million: suitable soundproofing in the narrow, partly residential street would cost about £3 million, and the deteriorating structural condition meant repair work would be difficult and expensive. Initial analysis work cost £ million. The
Theatres Trust, the statutory advisory body on theatre conservation, placed the Hippodrome on its register of "buildings requiring special attention" It was number one on the list in 2013 and the following three years.
Brighton and Hove City Council stated in October 2011 that AMG had met officers from the licensing and planning departments in an attempt to move the situation forward. Four months later, Live Nation announced its intention to seek
planning permission to convert the building into "one of the city’s main live music venues", at an estimated cost of £9 million. By this time the company had spent at least £100,000 on structural and other surveys. Nothing came of these plans, though, and in February 2013 another group—Alaska Development Consultants—unveiled an £18 million plan to turn the Hippodrome into an eight-screen cinema. Five new shops and a public square would be part of the plans, and the building would be connected to an adjacent shopping arcade. Local firm Russ Drage Architects drew up the plans. A local and national campaign, preferring the building to be used for live theatre or similar events, protested against the plans; but by January 2014 Alaska Development Consultants' proposals had evolved into a £35 million scheme including a restaurant on a removable floor above the auditorium.
English Heritage announced their support for these plans in April 2014, and in November 2014 the city council's planning department gave final approval. The site, together with the contiguous Dukes Lane shopping street, was immediately put on the market. In April 2015, AMG acquired the freehold and offered campaigners a six-month moratorium to develop plans for restoration. Work to achieve restoration continues. Under the name
Mecca Bingo, 52–58 Middle Street, the building was
listed at Grade II* on 20 December 1985; As of February 2001, it was one of
70 Grade II*-listed buildings and structures, and 1,218 listed buildings of all grades, in the city of
Brighton and Hove. The building is currently under renovation, and it has been confirmed that the
Academy Music Group will operate the venue when it reopens, once again as a concert hall, with an increased capacity of 2,300. ==Architecture==