Pendle Hippodrome Theatre
New Market Street,
Colne,
BB8 9BJ
New Market Street,
Colne,
BB8 9BJ
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Pendle Hippodrome Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Star Cinemas
Architects: R.S. Pilling
Functions: Live Theatre
Previous Names: Hippodrome Cinema
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
440128.286.3210
Nearby Theaters
Opened on 21st September 1914 the Pendle Hippodrome Theatre was a cine-variety theatre, through until 1931 when sound was installed and the Hippodrome became almost exclusively a cinema.
It was designed by R.S. Pilling and seated 980, by 1943 this had been reduced to 860 and currently has (part of the rear stalls have been sub-divided to accommodate a bar) 489 seats, 138 of which are in the single balcony.
The Hippodrome Cinema closed on 8th April 1965 and was converted into a bingo hall which lasted until 1978. Three local amateur theatre groups then negotiated to buy the building and a long expensive haul to repair and update the theatre began, culminating in reopening on 6th December 1986.
It currently has a lively programme of theatre, music and stand up events, both amateur and professional, but sadly no films.
Contributed by
Ian Grundy
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
Photos (external and internal) of the Pendle Hippodrome here, dating from 1994:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3744906767/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3744906631/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/232845703/
Two recent photos here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4569841953/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4569841767/
The interior fibrous plasterwork was by W H Horn Ltd of Idle, Bradford (Idle has a famous working men’s club).
Sound debuted on 20 April 1931 (a month ahead of the Savoy) with a Western Electric system. Oddly, this is not listed in Kinematograph Year Book 1931, whereas the Savoy’s is.
Up to KYB 1936 the proprietors were ‘Varieties (Colne) Ltd’ who also ran the King’s Theatre on Ivegate in the town. In KYB 1937 ownership changed to ‘Victoria Picturedrome (Colne) Ltd’, who also owned the Savoy. That lasted to KYB 1949; Star Cinemas are listed owners of both in KYB 1950 and after.
The capacity is complicated. It was 980 in KYB 1935 to KYB 1938; 860 in KYB 1940 to KYB 1944; 700 in KYB 1945; 847 in KYB 1947 to 1949; 775 in KYB 1950; and 726 in KYB 1954 and KYB 1957.
KYB 1940 and KYB 1942 list the proscenium as 30ft wide. KYB 1957 lists ‘CinemaScope’,
On Wednesday & Thursday, 14 & 15 August 1963, bingo was introduced for two nights each week. After 10 June 1964 it was full-time bingo, with Saturday children’s matinees. It reverted to full-time films on 1 November 1964 with ‘Hard Day’s Night’; they ended on 8 April 1965 with ‘30 Years of Fun’ (a compilation of archive film footage from silent and early talkies eras).
The heating system was overhauled and bingo became the sole business until closure in May 1978.
In August 2024 the former Derby Arms public house, next door to the theatre, opened as an extension. On the ground floor there is a new box office, and then a spacious new bar. Upstairs there is a community hall which can be hired. In the courtyard at the back of the pub / side of the theatre, there are new build connections between the two buildings, incorporating lift access between differing levels. The pub had been purchased several years ago and was in a semi derelict state, but funding of over £1million from the Levelling Up fund has enabled the Hippodrome to enact the planned works.