Grand Theatre & Hippodrome

Got to love that ampersand!

This theatre made a grand statement in terracotta when it opened in 1908 and then went through the usual sort of changes that happen to such buildings. 1922 saw it become a cinema and in 1939 the auditorium was remodelled in art deco style. 1955 saw a year back as a variety theatre and then as the Odeon Cinema until 1969 after which there was Laserquest and a variety of nightclubs and disuse. In 2007 it was converted into a pub by Wetherspoon and remains in this use. The terracotta facia is spendid but the ground floor frontage has been completely changed and clashes badly with what is seen here.

Lots of information and plans of the theatre can be found here:
www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/LeighTheatres.htm