Shropshire Star

Shropshire businessman's £8m plan to bring star names back to Hippodrome

A Shropshire businessman is behind an £8 million plan to transform a dilapidated theatre that once played host to some of the biggest names in showbusiness.

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The Dudley Hippodrome looks one step closer to reopening as an entertainment venue as council leaders agreed there was 'potential for a major and very exciting' scheme to bring the site back into use.

Entertainment company The ROK Group has now been given a further two months to work on its business plan to reopen the theatre as a music and sports venue.

Jonathan Kendrick, chairman of ROK Enertainment

Businessman Jonathan Kendrick, who lives in Claverley and is the co-founder of The ROK Group, is behind the transformation proposals.

The theatre opened in 1938 and closed in 1964. It later became a bingo hall, but that, too, closed in in 2009.

In its heyday the theatre hosted stars such as comic Max Miller, Harry Secombe, Tommy Cooper, Humphrey Lyttleton, Bob Hope, Laurel and Hardy and George Formby.

But two years ago the building was on the verge of demolition under council plans.

Mr Kendrick, whose father Vic owned the building in the 1960s, said his company had now submitted three versions of a business plan to run the venue and said the deal needed to be resolved as soon as possible.

"I'm pleased that we have got to this stage but it has taken a long time to get here," he said. "We have got to make a decision on this soon otherwise we will take our investment elsewhere.

"It is especially emotionally for me, with my attachment to the Hippodrome."

Under Mr Kendrick's plans, the Hippodrome would become a multi-purpose venue, with moving stages so it could host a wide range of events, from pop concerts to snooker competitions.

His proposal also includes an exclusive 'unlimited' auditorium, which would mean people unable to make shows could watch performances via a pay-per-view Hippodrome mobile app.

Dudley Hippodrome as it was in October 1970

Mr Kendrick made his fortune selling mobile phone services and a beverage and health and beauty company.

He has pledged to work alongside campaign group Friends of Dudley Hippodrome on the ambitious project. Dudley Council says it remains open to viable options for the Hippodrome.

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