FatBoy Slim aka Norman Cook is the latest celebrity to show his support for the Brighton Hippodrome’s restoration.
After an eye opening tour of the grade ii listed building Norman Cook says “we want it to be in the right hands in the right use rather than a bingo hall. It’s a beautifully designed classic theatre, I’ve never actually trodden the boards of that stage unlike the beetles and rolling stones, but I might do one day!”
The building is currently owned by Academy music Brighton but it’s on the market for £2.5 million, Brighton CIC (community Interest Company) is currently anticipating a lottery heritage funding to try and restore the building to it’s former glory. So far the CIC has been awarded smaller grants by the architectural heritage fund, the coastal revival fund and the heritage lottery fund which has allowed them to commission small reports and small repairs. However there have been some silver linings in the fact that there has been some interest in companies wanting to operate inside once the restoration has taken place.
David Fisher from the Brighton CIC tells ABSOLUTE magazine that the campaign (Our Brighton Hippodrome) has attracted around 16,000 supporters from the last two years alone, and now has the supports of Brighton and Hove city council, the theatres trust and Historic England.
The irony of the situation is how close it’s bringing the community together which is what the Hippodrome was supposed to do in the first place!