How the Hippodrome Became London’s Prime Gaming Destination

The history of land-based casinos goes as far back as the 17th century (slightly older than the more modern online casino), with the first of its kind being built on the waterways of Venice’s Grand Canal in 1638. Since then, countless other gaming establishments have opened their doors to patrons around the world. In the same way that the Casino di Venezia started out as a theatre rather than an official casino locale, another famous European venue, namely the London Hippodrome, wasn’t always the thrilling casino destination it is today.

Easily recognizable due to its size and visual aesthetic. the Hippodrome is a striking building that looms over Leicester Square train station and the nightclubs around the iconic square. Let’s take a look at how the capital’s biggest and busiest gaming venue came to be.

Historical Roots and Circus Origins

The London Hippodrome first opened in January 1900 as a venue for major circus performances. Theatre impresario and chairman of Moss Empires, Sir Edward Moss, as well as English designer and architect Francis Matcham, were the primary drivers of the monumental project.

Matcham also designed the London Palladium and Hackney Empire, but the Hippodrome is where his mark is most obvious due to its elaborate interior. It contained what is now fondly known as Matcham’s Signature: grand auditoriums, domed ceilings and decorations that capture splendour and luxury.

Although Matcham passed away over 100 years’ ago in 1920, the beauty of his work will last forever thanks to the Hippodrome’s grade II listed building status. This not only confirms the venue’s iconic status as a must-see in London and a place of cultural importance, but it also preserves the intricate design details that Matcham was famous for; a legacy that will last forever.

Although not a Roman empire legacy, the inspiration for the Hippodrome has roots in the era of emperor Vespasian, with the Roman amphitheater layout forming the core design of the now-iconic London venue. A large central space in the centre for the entertainment to be viewed and enjoyed by audience members, no matter where they sat.

Famous Names

By the early 20th century the Hippodrome started to add more strings to its bow, and circus performances were complemented with music, dance and comedy shows. Tchaikovsky’s incredible Swan Lake made its long-awaited United Kingdom debut at the Hippodrome in 1910. Whilst Julie Andrews brought the sound of music to the Hippodrome in 1947 as part of Starlight Roof entertainment group.

In fact, that debut of Andrews’ is something she herself fondly looks back on as a key part of her career: “My life has been so fortunate. I have had the most extraordinary good fortune in my life. I sort of put it into three categories, the three major stepping stones. One being the London Hippodrome theater stage debut when I was 12, when it started my career. The second being going to Broadway. And the third is going to Hollywood. Each one of those happened under the most extraordinary circumstances.

”Forgive us for continually name-dropping, but the change from circus to all-round entertainment venue opened up the world of superstars to the London audience; the Hippodrome’s status as a cultural hotspot in the West end was fully cemented. Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Harry Houdini and Sammy Davis Jr, to name just four more superstars, set foot on the Hippodrome stage and astounded onlookers in their own special way.

‘The Talk of the Town’

A new decade brought new changes to the Hippodrome when in 1950 the venue was transformed into the iconic London nightclub, The Talk of the Town. A complete overhaul to the original interior gave the venue a new lease of life. As its name suggested, the Talk of the Town had the approval and praise of all who visited, hosting unforgettable performances by major musical stars of the time like The Carpenters, Diana Ross, The Temptations, and many more.

The 1970s saw the heartbeat of London’s entertainment scene, yet again, embrace emerging trends, with a big pivot to disco and dance culture. This move saw the clientele walking (or boogying) through the doors become a more youthful and fashionable crowd.

The London Hippodrome offers three floors of casino gaming with a variety of classic table games like Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and more

Today: Casino and Entertainment Venue

The 21st century saw the Hippodrome evolve yet again into a restaurant and nightclub under its original name. In 2008, it returned to its circus roots with a theatre license that ran for one year before 2009 marked a major turning point for the Hippodrome.

English entrepreneurs Jimmy and Simon Thomas took responsibility for the venue, undertaking what would be one final, thorough restoration. The brothers invested years in the site’s transformation, reimagining Matcham’s original designs in order to open as the Hippodrome Casino in 2012. 

Just one year later, in 2013, the venue made the gambling front pages with one lucky player recording a record jackpot win of £1.6million on a progressive slot. The win made sure the fairly new venture as a casino became one that players added to their bucket list to visit, play and enjoy.

Don’t Take Our Word, Take Theirs

Although the quote is unable to be attributed to an exact person, a former performer from the 1950s summed up the Hippodrome perfectly: “I don’t know if anyone ever topped the Hippodrome in its day. It was an experience – there was nothing else like it.

”The London Theatre guide states that the Hippodrome is “one of the West End’s most glamorous and iconic theatres; the Hippodrome remains a magical space of entertainment.”

Although these quotes aren’t from the likes of Harry Houdini or Frank Sinartra, they capture the essence of what the Hippodrome was, and continues to be: an achievement of architecture ahead of its time that created the beating heart of London’s entertainment industry.