Tameside Hippodrome

Tameside Hippodrome is a historic performing-arts venue in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England. The building opened in November 1904 as a variety theatre developed by William Henry Broadhead, a Manchester-area theatre proprietor and builder whose businesses included several substantial venues. Broadhead acquired the Ashton-under-Lyne site in February 1904, and plans for a theatre with capacity for approximately 2,000 people were approved by Ashton Borough Council in May of that year. Construction followed immediately, with Broadhead’s own building operation involved in the work, including the production of coloured-glass elements for the cast-iron canopy. The venue began operation with a civic gala on 19 November 1904, followed by a regular variety programme the next week. Its original identity was shaped by the Edwardian theatre tradition, but the building underwent a major transformation in the early 1930s. In 1932, it was converted for cinema use: the auditorium and front-of-house spaces were extensively altered, and a 600-seat cantilevered circle replaced the earlier circle, gallery and boxes. The redesign adopted an Art Deco scheme by Manchester architects Drury and Gomersall, with a new central pediment and later streamlined cinema signage. The venue reopened in November 1933 under the name The New Empire. Ownership changed during this period. Following Broadhead’s death in 1931, the property was sold at auction in connection with death-duty financing. A Stockport partnership acquired it and then transferred it to Union Cinemas. Union added prominent modernist exterior features, including the streamlined canopy and vertical sign. In 1937, the cinema became part of ABC Cinemas when ABC acquired the Union business. Although the building retained the New Empire identity for many years, it was eventually renamed ABC in 1964. After a proposed conversion to bingo use, Tameside Council secured a 21-year lease and relaunched the venue as Tameside Theatre in 1976. The council purchased the building outright in 1983. Apollo Leisure received the management contract in 1992; the company was later acquired by Live Nation. The venue’s subsequent history became closely linked to questions of public funding, management, refurbishment and long-term viability. The theatre closed on 1 April 2008 after Tameside Council’s management tendering process failed to produce a new operating arrangement. Live Nation, the incumbent operator, did not participate in the formal tender but later made proposals to continue operating, including an offer to run the venue without charge until a replacement manager was found. The council rejected the proposals, stating that they did not address the investment required by the building. The council then sought capital funding, a sustainable operating model and a new operator. Reports in 2009 indicated that demolition was being considered, although the building was also recognised by Historic England as worthy of Grade II listing because of its intact auditorium, Art Deco interiors and historical importance as an Edwardian theatre later adapted for cinema. Plans for a return to operation emerged in 2012, when a reopening for 2013 under a charitable trust was announced. The proposed trust-operated reopening was later reaffirmed in 2016, but the venue did not resume normal operation according to the supplied reference material. In 2021, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council listed the building for disposal. During 2022 and 2023, council statements indicated that the preferred outcome was for a suitable operator to restore and reopen it as a theatre within wider area redevelopment. The venue’s current operating status therefore remains uncertain, while its historic building continues to be associated with the cultural identity and regeneration plans of Ashton-under-Lyne.

Tameside Hippodrome was developed during the expansion of popular theatre and variety entertainment in the early twentieth century. William Henry Broadhead acquired land in Ashton-under-Lyne in February 1904, on a site bordered by Oldham Road, Cotton Street East, Gas Street and Old Street. Plans for a theatre capable of accommodating about 2,000 people were submitted to Ashton Borough Council by April and approved in May. Broadhead, who had begun his career as a builder and joiner, used his own construction business for the project. His operation was sufficiently extensive to include specialist production of coloured-glass signs for the building’s cast-iron canopy. The theatre opened with a civic gala on 19 November 1904. A full variety programme began the following Monday, establishing the venue as a local entertainment centre. Broadhead already controlled several theatres in and around Manchester, and the new Ashton venue formed part of a wider theatre network rather than an isolated enterprise. The building’s first major change came in 1932, when it was converted temporarily into a cinema. The original auditorium and front-of-house arrangements were gutted. The circle, gallery and boxes were replaced by a 600-seat cantilevered circle, while the interior was remodelled in the Art Deco style. Drury and Gomersall of Manchester designed the changes, including a new central pediment. The building reopened in November 1933 as The New Empire. The conversion coincided with changes in ownership. Broadhead’s death in 1931 created death-duty obligations, and the theatre was placed on the market. A Stockport partnership bought it at auction and soon transferred it to Union Cinemas. Union added a streamlined canopy and vertical signage associated with modern cinema architecture. In 1937, the venue passed to ABC Cinemas when ABC acquired Union’s business. It continued to use the New Empire name for some time and was not renamed ABC until 1964. After a proposed conversion into a bingo hall, Tameside Council obtained a 21-year lease and brought the venue back into theatre use in 1976 under the name Tameside Theatre. The council became the freehold owner in 1983. In 1992, Apollo Leisure was awarded the management contract; Apollo was subsequently acquired by Live Nation. A later management dispute contributed to a prolonged period of closure. In 2007, Tameside Council began a competitive process to appoint a new manager. Live Nation did not submit a bid through the formal process, then made a separate proposal at a higher fee and later offered to operate without charge while a new manager was sought. The council declined, arguing that the proposal did not meet the need for substantial investment. No new contract was awarded, and the Hippodrome closed on 1 April 2008. The council sought funding for refurbishment, a viable commercial and cultural model, and a new operator. In 2009, demolition was reportedly considered because neither a buyer nor an operator had emerged. At the same time, Historic England recognised the building’s heritage value. Its intact double-height auditorium, substantially preserved Art Deco treatment, 1930s foyer and former crush-lounge details, and its history as an Edwardian theatre converted to cinema were all relevant to the case for listing. A proposed charitable-trust reopening was announced in 2012, with a target of 2013, and was reaffirmed in 2016. The supplied reference material does not establish that the reopening occurred. In 2021, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council listed the property for disposal. Later council statements in 2022 and 2023 expressed the hope that a suitable operator would restore and reopen it as a theatre as part of the redevelopment of the surrounding area. The Hippodrome therefore remains both a historic venue and an unresolved regeneration project, with its current operating status unknown.

• 2023

  Theatre reopening remains a council preference

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  Council comments indicated support for a suitable operator to restore the building as a theatre within area redevelopment plans.

• 2021

  Property listed for disposal

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The council listed the closed building for disposal.

• 2012

  Charitable reopening plan announced

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  A proposal was announced to reopen the building under a charitable trust.

• 2009

  Heritage significance recognised

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  Historic England recognised the building as worthy of Grade II listing because of its architectural and historical qualities.

• 2008

  Theatre closes

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The venue closed on 1 April after the council’s management tender did not produce a new operating contract.

• 1992

  Apollo Leisure takes over management

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  Apollo Leisure received the theatre management contract; the company was later acquired by Live Nation.

• 1983

  Council acquires the building

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  Tameside Council purchased the theatre outright.

• 1976

  Returns to theatre use as Tameside Theatre

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  Tameside Council relaunched the former cinema as a theatre after securing a long-term lease.

• 1964

  Renamed ABC

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The venue adopted the ABC name after retaining its earlier branding for many years.

• 1937

  Becomes part of ABC Cinemas

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The venue passed to ABC Cinemas following ABC’s acquisition of Union Cinemas.

• 1933

  Reopens as The New Empire

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The redesigned Art Deco cinema reopened in November under the New Empire name.

• 1932

  Conversion to cinema begins

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The auditorium and front-of-house areas were substantially remodelled for cinema use.

• 1904

  Construction approved and theatre opened

  [1]Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  Plans for a large theatre were approved by Ashton Borough Council in May, and the venue opened with a civic gala on 19 November.

A heritage theatre and former cinema positioned as a major cultural and regeneration asset for Ashton-under-Lyne and the wider Tameside area.

• Performing arts · 1904

  Live theatre and variety programmes

  The venue originally operated as a variety theatre and later returned to theatre use under the Tameside Theatre name. Its core offering has historically been live entertainment presented in a large auditorium, although no current programme is established in the supplied sources.

• Cinema · 1933

  Cinema screenings

  From the 1930s, the building operated as a cinema under the New Empire and later ABC identities. The cinema conversion introduced a cantilevered circle and Art Deco interiors, creating the configuration associated with much of the building’s twentieth-century history.

• Cultural venue · 1904

  Historic theatre venue

  The 1,262-seat building is itself the principal venue offering: a preserved historic auditorium with Art Deco decoration, foyer spaces and architectural features reflecting both its 1904 theatre origins and its later cinema adaptation.

• 2021

  Council lists building for disposalStrategy

  Background

  The theatre remained closed despite earlier reopening proposals and continued to require a viable operator and investment plan.

  Action taken

  Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council listed the property for disposal.

  Aftermath

  Subsequent council comments continued to express a preference for restoration and reopening as a theatre within wider redevelopment plans.

  Source

• 2012

  Charitable-trust reopening proposedStrategy

  Background

  After the prolonged closure, a new operating structure was considered as a route to restoring the theatre.

  Action taken

  A plan was announced for the venue to reopen under a charitable trust, with 2013 identified as the intended reopening year.

  Aftermath

  The supplied references do not confirm that the planned reopening took place; the proposal was later reaffirmed in 2016.

  Source

• 2008

  Council closes venue pending a sustainable operating modelStrategy

  Background

  Tameside Council’s management tender did not result in a new contract, while proposals from Live Nation did not satisfy the council’s concerns about investment and long-term viability.

  Action taken

  The council closed the Hippodrome on 1 April and began seeking refurbishment funding, a sustainable business model and a new operator.

  Aftermath

  The building remained closed, and later proposals included charitable operation, disposal and possible redevelopment-linked reopening.

  Source

1. 1Tameside Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tameside Council: Hippodrometameside.gov.uk