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The refurbished interior of the Opera House

The refurbished Opera House

Boscombe's Opera House

The Opera House in Boscombe has just completed a huge restoration project. Built in 1895, the Victorian venue has entertained thousands of locals through the years. As a new chapter begins, owner John Butterworth looks back.

It's one of Bournemouth's oldest entertainment venues, and after a 拢3.5 million restoration and refurbishment project, its owners are hoping to restore the Opera House as a popular 'something-for-everyone' venue.

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Since the venue's reopening, it's already picked up an industry award for Best UK Live Entertainment venue, and the owners plan to continue its trend of featuring big name live acts, which in the past has seen performances from David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd on its stage, among many other big names.

The Opera House was built in 1895

Beginnings

The theatre originally opened as The Grand Pavilion Theatre in 1895. Designed by local architects Lawson and Donkin, the theatre forms part of a distinctive Victorian terrace.

Now a Grade II listed building, the theatre first found use as a circus, before becoming the The Boscombe Grand Theatre in 1899 and then The Boscombe Hippodrome several years later.

Butterworth family

It's been under the same family ownership since 1945, when the local Butterworth family took it over.

It was one of 18 theatres that the family ran, and it carried on in this vein - as a provincial theatre - until 1957, as the advent of TV saw a decrease in the popularity of live performance.

Early 1940s appearances from legendary singer Max Bygraves - who would later move to the area - and a young Tony Hancock, are two notable appearances from this time.

John Butterworth

The venue was then converted to a dance hall, and ran as The Royal Ballrooms.

Owner John Butterworth says: "Many people have said to me that there's where they met their husbands or their wives."

Royal Ballrooms to Slinky

The Royal Ballrooms continued until 1972, but, with the beginnings of disco music, John Butterworth's late father decided this wasn't the direction he personally wanted to take the venue.

Instead, they leased it to entertainment company Mecca, who later became Rank, who ran it as Tiffany's - a disco aimed at younger people.

In 1982, another tenant and another name change. The Academy won Best UK Club several times in the mid-1980s, before becoming The Academy 2 and then, in 1997, The Opera House.

During the 1980s acts such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood and The Sisters of Mercy performed PAs at the club, continuing the venue's reputation for featuring the popular names of the time.

And when dance music DJs became the acts people wanted to see, all the big names were lined up to appear, too. Even today, the dance music brand and club night Slinky remains one of the most well known in the UK.

'A Victorian BIC'

John Butterworth took the lease back in 2006, and began the refurbishment in November 2007. He decided to refurbish it with an eye on its use as a 'general venue' - he sees it as 'a Victorian BIC'.

It took about six months to do, including employing specialist to recreate the ornate Victorian plaster work, restore and reopen the 'Gods' area and install a specialist LED lighting system with a mind-boggling number of different lighting combinations.

Says John: "The whole idea of the restoration is to open up the venue to everyone. I'm very passionate about it. There's nothing quite like it in the South - I think you have to go as far as Brighton to find anything like it, on the South coast."

"Many local people have got a lot of good memories about this place."

last updated: 17/04/2008 at 11:32
created: 15/04/2008

Have Your Say

Have you been to the Opera House? Do you have any particular memories of it? Leave your comments below.

Boscombe Ryan
The Opera House has been part of my life for a decade now and im only 24, it puts Boscombe on the map and is known all over britain as a bangin venue!

Terrry Dunne kensington18@aol.com
When the Hippodrome - I met stars as I was a kid early 50s hanging round Back stage, Diana Dors used to allow me to wash her car, with small payment! Met Max Bygraves, Tony Hancock - great memories

Dale Fanning
Val,I am looking for information, photographs, whatever for family history on Eddy and Jack Eden and also Florence Oldham. Noted your comments and wonder if you could help please.Kind Regards - Dale (Australia)

chrisy p
my first rave was at the opera house on 5th december 2007 and it was an amazing time of my lfe and the venue looked brilliant and should still be there till i am an old man. lol

John
In the late 40's a group of boy trebles from St Peter's Bournemouth were asked to "appear" in a Summer Show. I think we sang for all of 5 minutes from a balcony scene. Talk about the roar of the greasepaint! Happy Days.

Woody, Weymouth
Went to a concert there shortly after the re-opening. Excellent venue, profeesional, polite staff. Everyone concerned is to be commended and I hope things work out for the future. Very best wishes

mehmet asaf
When I was 18 years old in 1977. Came to Bournemouth for English summer course program. I have many memories in Tiffany's disco with my Swedish and Norwegian girlfriends. They were really good times. I will never forget.

val
During WW2 my grandparents lived in Churchill Road, Boscombe, and took in acts from the Hippodrome Theatre. I remember a ventriloquist, David Poole, who 'threw' his voice up to the bedroom window. As a four year old in a pushchair, I couldn't understand why I was unable to see the little boy who was 'talking' to me! There was also a singer, Florence Oldham, who became a good friend of the family, and stayed with my grandparents many times. I remember her playing their piano and singing in their front room. She was married to Jack Eden of the act, Jack and Eddy Eden, who also appeared at either the Hippodrome or the Pavilion. Other acts who appeared were Maisy Weldon, and Nella McArthur. Opposite the Opera House, perched on a roof, is a statue of the devil, which was apparently put there by the occupants of the building as a sign of their disapproval of a variety theatre being opened in Boscombe. He's been looking down from a great height for many years now, and is an old friend! When we come to Boscombe we always look up to make sure he's still OK. I still have my grandmother's visitors book with the messages left by her guests. They all seem to have been very happy with the service they received. Good luck to the Opera House. It was a beautiful theatre, and it's good to know that it's being used for its'original purpose again.

K9F
Just looking at the internal picture brought many happy memories flooding back. It is undoubtedly a piece of entertainment history and one worthy of such preservation. I know change has to be embraced nevertheless with the demise over the years of such entertainment places as Le Cardinale, The Outlook, Maison Royale, The Village Bowl, Mariners Wharf in Poole and activities such as Pier Approach Swimming Baths, Tucktonia it is good to see as a 鈥榶oung at heart鈥� 46 year old something being preserved rather than knocked down in the name of misguided development. I wish the owner every success!

Peter Larder
Worked there for years as a 'doorman'. John Oakley, Mike Evans and I. ANyone else remember those days late '60s. Manager was Gene Rio and wife peggy. Loads of fun

David Turner
I remember when I was 4 years old being taken by my mother to the then Boscombe Hippodrome in late 1939 or early 1940 to see a pantomime, which I think was Robinson Crusoe. This was probably my first experience of live theatre.

Barbara
I live on Boscombe but never knew of the Opera House . You give no address . Please where is it? *The address is 570 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 4BH

Jamie Fish
I remember going to Tiffanys playing the Drums surrounded by palm trees and swedish girls! My Dad work as a doorman there...

Chris H
I have very happy memories of "the Ballrooms" then "The Acadamy" and just a short period at "Tiffanys"My friends and I went most Saturday nights - it was our meeting place - had great evening there - great music - no trouble - we went for a good time - not to get "off our heads" on drink and certainly never drugs. They were good times. Unfortunately my children - boys never went to "The Opera House" in the 190s - they said there was usually "trouble" and too many "kids" off their heads on drink and drugs. I am so pleased that that era has now ended and that the Opera House is now back to its former glory and a venue where people can go and enjoy their evenings. Congratulations to the Butterworth family for taking control of one of our most favoured venues.

IVAN GALE
I USED TO GO DANCING ON SAT NIGHT;S IN THE SIXTIES

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Beginnings

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