A Liverpool nightspot now reduced to rubble was a landmark in the city-centre for generations.
In August 1987, the Hippodrome nightclub and pub opened its doors in a former cinema on Lime Street. The former Scala cinema, which once boasted a luxurious Egyptian-style interior behind a classical façade, was a city landmark and opened in January 1916.
The Scala was the site that "brought talkies" films to Liverpool and was damaged in the 1941 Blitz and later rebuilt. In 1960 it became the city’s first “Continental” cinema showing foreign X certificate films.
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It was taken over by ABC in 1967 but closed in 1982, weeks after the Futurist. The Scala remained derelict until it was taken over in March 1986. On August 13, 1987, the site was given a new lease of life following a conversion costing nearly £500,000.
At the time, the Hippodrome was said to have been "destined to become one of the city’s brightest drinking and dining spots." Retaining features of the old cinema, it was owned by Kimberley Inns (North West) Ltd, the directors who also ran the Club Continental in Wolstenholme Square and Maxim’s restaurant/disco in St John’s Precinct.
Many will have fond memories of dressing up and heading for a night out at the popular venue. In its early days, the new nightspot was open seven days a week from 10.30am - serving breakfast croissants and coffee - and through to the late hours, as well as offering an a la carte cuisine and "Pub American" fast food from £1.20.
The main entrance was located in the former Scala foyer, which led to three main levels. Boasting a pale blue and pink colour scheme, the lower, larger bar and dancefloor occupied the space which used to be the stalls.
At the time the ECHO reported how the new club had a "computerised moving light show" and "hidden cameras." It said: "High tech equipment includes hidden cameras, which can pick out groups or individuals and project their images onto a large video screen, where personal messages (like Happy Birthday To…) can also be displayed."
For the opening, chief guests included Joe Herbert, the Scala’s last patron and Jim Walker, the cinema’s last manager. Later that year, ECHO fashion writer Dianne Robinson said the nightspot followed the trend of no jeans and trainers, with women opting for minis, stilettos, sequin and sparkly outfits, whilst the popular choices for men included striped shirts with pleat top pants.
Do you remember the Hippodrome on Lime Street? Let us know in the comments section.
Images, courtesy of our archives Mirrorpix, offer a glimpse into what the Hippodrome was like in the 1980s. One image captures clubbers chatting away with drinks on opening night.
But after years of popularity in the city centre, the Hippodrome nightclub and pub closed in the 1990s. In March 1997, it was reported that a new £1.2m club was due to open on the site of the old Hippodrome in Liverpool's Lime Street.
The city's latest nightspot, Baraka, opens its doors ton March 27 that year. The following year, a Liverpool ECHO advertisement stated that Baraka was open seven days a week until 2am with free entry.
Also serving a full menu until closing time, the site could be hired for free for functions and events. In more recent years, the site became strip club X in the City.
In April 2015, it was announced that X in the City had signed an £80,000 deal to move into the former Fudge nightclub on Wood Street. The club relocated because its current base formed part of £35m regeneration plans for Lime Street.
At the time, X in the City representatives told councillors that they were happy to stay on Lime Street, but could not as the building was subject to a compulsory purchase order.
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The long-disused Futurist and Scala cinemas were demolished in 2016 as part of a controversial redevelopment of Lime Street. A Lidl store now covers part of the Ion's Lime Street development in Liverpool city centre.
The landmark site has now been reduced to rubble - but many are still reminded of it when walking down Lime Street. Whilst the building has gone, memories of the Scala, Hippodrome and Baraka live on.
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