Lola’s Underground Casino
The iconic Hippodrome building in the centre of London’s West End has had plenty of ups and downs – resuscitated, remodelled and revamped several times over more than a century. Opened in 1900, ‘The London Hippodrome’ was initially a spectacular, circus-variety hall, complete with an enormous water tank for aquatic shows and a painted-glass, retractable roof. In 1909, it was turned into a theatre, principally for revue and musical comedy and then a nightclub ‘The Talk of the Town’ in the fifties. It closed after a quarter of a century only to reopen again as a nightclub and restaurant in the eighties. As trends continued to change, so did the venue, eventually becoming The Hippodrome Casino in 2009 a conglomerate of gaming rooms, bars, restaurant, casino and cabaret theatre.
The newly redeveloped Lola’s Underground Casino is dedicated to showgirl Lola McGuire and her underground, after-show world of parties and gambling in the early 1900s and who, one day, disappeared without trace. Bringing together elements from the Hippodrome’s rich history, a cosy cabaret seating area contrasts plush red and gold with bare brickwork and references to its circus beginnings. The fusion of past and present continues as, in collaboration with Strut and Fret Production House, the Hippodrome offers a variety of pop-up performances based on Las Vegas, James Bond and the Circus. Against a ten metre, video backdrop, which interplays with the acts and adds a contemporary, digital dimension, audiences can enjoy the traditional turns of showgirls, magicians, acrobats and singers.
The concept has yet to be developed to its full potential but alongside ‘Magic Mike Live’ as the alternative to the Casino’s four floors of gaming, it creates a niche environment for a relaxed soiree amidst the whir of the roulette wheels and the rattle of chips.
Article by Joanna Hetherington
Photography by The Urban Snapper
