VIDEO: THE former Palace Hippodrome theatre building in Warrington town centre is set to get a new lease of life.
Once a hub for stage and screen and more recently as the Mississippi Showbar and Truth nightclub, work is ongoing to transform it into a Slimeville Children’s Activity Centre, bringing energy and imagination back into a building that has stood at the heart of the town for over a century.
The Palace Hippodrome first opened its doors in 1911, during an era when live entertainment flourished. With its striking Edwardian façade and lavish interior, the theatre quickly became known for variety shows, pantomimes, and travelling performers. It was not unusual for audiences to queue around the block on opening nights, eager to see the latest music-hall acts or spectacular productions.
By the 1920s and 30s, the rise of cinema changed the Hippodrome’s role. The stage gave way to the silver screen, and the building was converted into a popular picture house. Many residents still recall attending Saturday matinees, wartime newsreels, and the golden age of Hollywood films within its grand auditorium. But by the 1960s, as new cinemas and television grew in popularity, the Hippodrome’s fortunes declined. The once-thriving venue eventually closed its doors, standing for decades as a fading relic.
Community campaigns to preserve the building gathered pace in the late 20th century, recognising its importance as one of the town’s last surviving historic theatres.
It went on to become the Mississippi Showbar and more recently the Truth nightclub, with a recent planning application to turn it into a table dancing venue causing a storm of protest.
But now it is set to be transformed into a place where play, creativity, and history come together under one roof.
It is scheduled to open later this year.
