Brighton’s long-abandoned Hippodrome could finally be on course for a full revival, with a leading UK music venue operator rumoured to be taking on the historic site ahead of its planned reopening in 2027.
According to reports, Live Nation or its subsidiary Academy Music Group (AMG) is believed to be in talks to operate the restored venue once building work is completed. While no official announcement has yet been made, the owners of the Hippodrome, Matsim Properties, have confirmed they have “contracted with an operator”, stopping short of naming who it is.
The move would be something of a full-circle moment for AMG, which previously held the lease on the Hippodrome in the early 2000s but pulled out of plans to redevelop it due to rising costs, then estimated at around £9 million. The latest restoration is now expected to cost in the region of £25 million.
The Grade II-listed Victorian building has been closed since 2006, following years of decline after its time as both a theatre and later a bingo hall. Since purchasing the site in 2020, Matsim has already invested millions in emergency works to stabilise the structure and make it weatherproof. Full planning permission was granted last year for a major redevelopment scheme.
Under the approved plans, the Hippodrome’s ornate auditorium will be fully restored to become a flexible performance space capable of hosting live music, theatre, conferences and other large-scale events. The development also includes hospitality spaces and a small apart-hotel at the rear of the site, intended to help financially support the venue’s long-term operation. A specially designed steel-frame roof will be installed above the historic plaster ceiling to protect key architectural features.
If the rumours are confirmed, the return of a national operator experienced with major venues would mark a major boost for Brighton’s cultural scene, bringing the potential for big touring acts as well as a wide range of performances to the city once again.
However, questions remain around how the venue will balance commercial programming with local and community use, and whether the ambitious reopening timetable can be met.
After nearly 20 years sitting silent, the prospect of a major operator stepping in offers the strongest signal yet that the Hippodrome’s curtain may finally rise again.
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