Fresh hope for Dudley Hippodrome as events firm submits business plan
Fresh hope was today given in the battle to save Dudley Hippodrome as it was revealed a business plan has been submitted by an entertainment company to bring it back to life.
Entertainment company Events That Rok has followed up its initial interest in taking on the 1930s-built Hippodrome by tabling the proposal.
It comes after council officials refused to re-enter talks over a business plan submitted by campaign group, the Friends of Dudley Hippodrome, after it was deemed unviable. Council bosses would not give further details on the new plan saying they were confidential at this stage.
But regeneration boss, Councillor Judy Foster, confirmed documentation had been submitted following behind-the-scenes talks between Events That Rok and the council.
Councillor Foster said: "The council has had a series of meetings with Events That Rok. They have done a business plan which is complete now and has been given to the council. It will be considered and assessed which the Friends group proposal also received."
Two applications seeking approval to demolish the theatre to use the land as part of the £10 million regeneration of the Castle Hill area of Dudley had been expected to be heard by Dudley Council imminently. But Councillor Foster says this is likely to be delayed until the new business plan has been assessed.
Campaigners fighting to save the landmark building today heralded the proposal.
Events That Rok has spoken to members of the Hippodrome's friends group over their initial interest in taking over the theatre.
The firm, which has a base in Albrighton, was co-founded by businessman Jonathan Kendrick. His father Vic Kendrick owned the Castle Hill theatre in the 1960s when it was being revamped as a casino club.
Friends group chairman Gordon Downing today said: "It would be an ideal scenario in a way because we would have to find thousands of pounds to run it.
"They have been working with us. It means that we have a chance to make progress and look towards reopening the Hippodrome. We have been getting more details together ourselves to show the council how the Hippodrome could be run."
No-one was available from Events That Rok today to give further details on the scheme. But Councillor Foster said the business plan would be analysed by Hereford-based consultants Artservice.
The consultants had already been tasked with looking at the business plan compiled by the friends group – although campaigners claimed it was far from complete as they had been unable to get more access to the building recently.
