Lead or Rumour info - Theatre Buildings At Risk List 2009

[cliffc]

Originally Posted by Bunk3r

recently closed for 18months to undergo a £15M facelift, I suspect a lot of the building is in desperate need of a facelift, I also suspect some nice old features may get covered rather than restored (if it has any fancy bits, I think its 60's looking from the outside, not sure how fancy the theatre bit is inside).

Hi

Not sure about the Theatre side but I think te sports side of the building is getting completly gutted and more or less rebuilt hence the reason for the long closure.

Cliff C

[th3g]

Hulme Hippodrome is the Bingo Jesus building on the 86 bus route and is apaprently intact inside, parts of it are now used for a church and some of Life on Mars was also filmed there.

[Artypie]

Interesting that Wilton's Music Hall is considered high risk. Been looking at pics of it today, before finding this thread. Amazing pics on the Location Works site, much nicer than the ones on the Wilton's site, oddly enough.

Originally Posted by th3g

Hulme Hippodrome is the Bingo Jesus building on the 86 bus route and is apaprently intact inside, parts of it are now used for a church and some of Life on Mars was also filmed there.

I have been in this one. Shortly before it was turned into a "church" and i would use that term loosley I'm afraid there were no pictures as it was literally sheer luck i ended up taking a look round.

The actual theatre/bingo hall is still intact and is amazing to look at. All the seats and bingo equipment still immaculate. Some of the upper floors however are in a bit of a mess. Ceilings caved in, birds have nested inside etc. A few years ago they had to replace the floor inside the theatre as there was quite a lot of water damage. I hate to think of what the "church" has done to the inside of this building as from the bit i have seen its all bright colours and streamers

There are also rumours which i think to my knowledge may be true (and i quite possibly have seen the evidence) that there are underground tunnels that link the theatre to the Junction Pub round the corner. These seem to be bricked up and i have only ever seen the extrance from the Junction Pub cellar. It's a myth, the "entrances" could just be bricked up archways but something tells me there is more too it. the myth has it that the stars of the shows used to use these tunnels to have a cheeky drink after the curtain closed and used these tunnels to sneak to the pub afterwards. But again this is only what i have been told. I have lived in Hulme my whole life and literally on the doorstep of this building. It is such a shame the state it has been left in and not only the other day was a chasing kids away from the place who were breaking windows and trying to trash the outside.

Seeing this has made me think, if i see the guy who runs it i will see if he will let me have a look around and try and get some shots for you guys. I love the inside however the outside now is just an eyesore

Originally Posted by Speed

Lonsdale, Carlisle (Grade II)

I passed this cinema earlier today on my travels. The whole building (Lonsdale Cinema & the adjacent bingo hall) have been closed for about a year now and no further development on this site seems aparrent.

I do know the council released a few months back in the local press that they were planning to either renovate the interior of the two sites or completely gut them and start a-fresh with a new modernised cinema/theatre.

I have found from local newspaper archives that the Lonsdale City Cinema was built in the 1930's and has recently been awarded a degree of extra protection by the council. This is because the current owners of the site Empera Estates have applied for the Grade II listing to be removed so it can be demolished and replaced with housing. So no even without the Grade II listing the company would still need permission.

From what i remember as a child in the 90's, when the cinema was open, it is very much art deco in style throughout the building with up to 4 screens (can't entirely remember). Also there was a smaller cinema on the rear of the building with 2 screens.

Sadly i don't have any images of my own to share however there are a few that i've managed to find from the local paper's archive.


This is the main entrance to the building. The entrance on the left leads up a flight of stairs to the lobby and ticket booth with screen doors on the left hand side and seating on the right.



This is the rear of the building + the main entrance for the two smaller screens

I'm not too sure on the current situation of this building but i do know that there is a "Save Our Lonsdale" group campaining to keep this site standing with plans in conjunction with the council to have new theatres + studios set up inside.

Any further information would be great as i would love to find out whats happening to the 1st picture house i ever went to as a child

[Forsaken]

Great news for Stockton's Globe Theatre!



There is a possibility that this theatre (ranked in the top ten of the Theatre's Trust 2009 at risk list) could be saved and brought back to its former glory. Hopefully investment will be there to proceed. Of course, this will also open up possible access if plans go ahead.
The article:

Plans to Revive Teesside's famous Globe Theatre Unveiled...

Plans to fully restore and relaunch one of the North East’s most historic and best known live music venues have been announced by Jomast.
A planning application has been submitted to Stockton Borough Council to bring back the famous Globe Theatre as a prestigious live performance and entertainment venue with an audience capacity of 2500.
The Globe, located on Stockton High Street, was one of the region’s best known music venues during the 1950’s and 60’s and attracted major artists including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Buddy Holly and Cliff Richard. Originally built as a cinema in 1913, the building is still renowned for its art-deco architecture and was last used as a bingo hall before closing its doors in 1993.
However, if planning permission is given, The Globe could once again see the return of many top performance artists to Teesside and reinvent Stockton as one of the UK’s most cultural and popular live music centres.
Proposals submitted by Jomast include a multimillion pound restoration programme to retain all major elements of the existing building as used in the past as well as upgrading and installing new seating, catering and washroom facilities. It also includes extending the venue and converting an adjacent vacant property into a modern bar and bistro.
Managing Director, Stuart Monk, said, “The Globe is a very impressive and iconic building with an exceptionally rich history in live music and entertainment. We intend to completely restore it and bring it back to its former glory.
“The present external appearance and character of the buildings will be fully retained and preserved and the internal layout will be largely unchanged in order to maintain the existing space and architectural features. However, we do intend to significantly improve facilities and add a new bar area in the stalls as well as extend the existing building to create a high quality bar and bistro for pre-performance and daytime use.
“Our development plans are substantial but if granted, The Globe could once again be at the forefront of the region’s music scene and play an integral part in the revival and regeneration of Stockton town centre."

Source:

http://www.jomast.co.uk/news_readmore.php?news_id=30

Local Gazzette article:

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/te...4229-25349434/

[Pike]

Originally Posted by cliffc

Hi

As far as I know the Globe at Stockton on Tees has not been in use since Mecca moved out of there when thay opened there new bingo hall not sure of the year, its located at the bottom end of the high street in Stockton on Tees. next door to Debanhams.

I dont know why you cannot find the Empire in Middlesbrough as its found every weekend by many local Clubbers, I cannot see why this building is at risk as its still in use as Night Club.

But to help out any one who is looking for it, its located on Corporation Road, and is next door to the town hall, I worked in that building when it was the Mecca bingo hall, occasionaly doing the Night Watchman job so have wanderd round there extensively, some of the original stage equipment is still above the stage and you could access this area from the back stage area. where the callers dressing room was, but i dont know what changes have been made since it was converted to a night club.

Hope this information is of help.

Regards

Cliff C

allthough the empire is still open (used to be a awsome club about 4 years ago) one of the out side walls (closest to the blue bottle for the people who no boro) is going bowing in and out and soon the place will be closed and evenualy the place will be riped down the council wer going to buy it back and restore it but it would cost to much to repaire!

hmmm did the old odean get made into a club aswell used to be a 10o yards down the road?

[Forsaken]

Quick update: The planning application for the refurbishment of Stockton's Globe Theatre has been approved:

Local Gazette:
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/te...4229-25812938/

Local BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/8505514.stm

[cliffc]

Originally Posted by Pike

allthough the empire is still open (used to be a awsome club about 4 years ago) one of the out side walls (closest to the blue bottle for the people who no boro) is going bowing in and out and soon the place will be closed and evenualy the place will be riped down the council wer going to buy it back and restore it but it would cost to much to repaire!

hmmm did the old odean get made into a club aswell used to be a 10o yards down the road?

Hi Pike

Yes the old odeon was indeed converted into a Trader Jacks Pub / Club combo, but unfortuantely it was bought off the owners by a local property developement comapny who were going to build either offices or student flats on the site (cannot remember which now), however due to the slump in demand for property, the building was demolished and the site cleared ready for the build to start, buts now just being used as a Car Park.

Regards

Cliff C