Cinema plan branded “A complete waste of a beautiful building”.
BRIGHTON LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have given their support to campaigners fighting to keep the Hippodrome open as a theatre and arts centre, rather than see it turned into an eight-screen cinema.
The city council has given its approval for the historic building to be converted into a cinema with shops and food outlets, whereas the Our Brighton Hippodrome (OBH) campaign wants it refurbished and used as a home for local drama, music, dance, workshops, exhibitions, functions and a multi-purpose venue for corporate events and trade shows.
Brighton Pavilion parliamentary candidate Chris Bowers, said: “Any solution has to be financially viable, but with cinema attendances on the decline, the argument for converting the Hippodrome into a multi-screen cinema looks more shaky than the rival proposal to turn it into an arts and creative space with lots of different users.
“The leader of the OBH campaign has said the owners of the Theatre Royal are interested in taking on the Hippodrome, and given the gutting of the Hippodrome that would happen if the cinema plan goes ahead, it’s vital the OBH alternative proposal gets a fair hearing.”
Lib Dem campaigner in Central Hove, Jeremy Gale, added: “The plan to build an eight-screen cinema with food outlets and bars is a complete waste of a beautiful building, and one that will involve destroying much of its interior charm.”
Gale, who spoke at last Saturday’s OBH rally in central Brighton, added, “Brighton already has two multiscreen cinemas as well as independent film venues. The OBH proposals give the community far more potential engagement with the Hippodrome compared to the cinema plan, and a refurbished Hippodrome could cash in on political and other conferences in Brighton, with businesses and other groups using it as a venue for events.”
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