Campaigners hoping to save the Grade II listed Hulme Hippodrome in Manchester and bring the building back into public use have been enraged by the decision of its owners to auction the building with a guide price of £950k.
The Hippodrome, where The Beatles, Laurel & Hardy and Nina Simone have all previously performed, has been on the Theatres Trust's Theatres at Risk register since 2006 and both The Theatres Trust and Manchester City Council have said they would reject its demolition.
The latest attempt to sell the building is at more than three times the value it was previously put up for auction in 2017, since when it has stood empty other than brief occupation by squatters. While it is no longer specifically listed as being suitable for residential development, the auction house has indicted this might be possilble as the Council would not want the building to fall into further disrepair.
A 'last chance' battle to save the space has been launched by a local campaign group that includes the late Tony Wilson's son, Oli Wilson. Their aim is to see the building listed as an Asset of Community Value, making it less likely to be pulled down and ensure that it still serves a community use in the future.