[1] The Grade II listed Hippodrome Theatre building next to Golders Green Underground station was built as a 3,000-seat music hall by Bertie Crewe, and opened on Boxing Day 1913.

Its capacity was reduced by half with the construction of a full theatre stage, and it began to be used for pre- and post-London tours, and has been used as a receiving venue for West End transfers - Laurence Olivier, Marlene Dietrich, Stephane Grappelli, Arthur Askey, Charlie Chester, Django Reinhardt and Chico Marx played there.

Donald Swann's Wild Thyme played in 1955,[2] and its regular performances included an annual pantomime[3] and Ralph Reader's Gang Show.

[7] The theatre appeared in an early British sexploitation nudist film called Naked as Nature Intended (1961)[8] directed by Harrison Marks and starring Pamela Green.

In 2003, the BBC left the Grade II listed building[23] vacant and deteriorating, although it was bought by El Shaddai International Christian Centre, an evangelical church.

However, since no buyer was forthcoming, the local authority allowed it to be sold at auction in September 2006 with the potential for being developed for other uses - for which the BBC had already applied but been turned down.

Rabbi Josh Levy of North Western Reform Synagogue expressed his disappointment to hear of the sale and that we "valued the relationships we have built with the Markaz and its members over these past years.

"[28] Alan Jacobs of the Golders Green Residents Environment Group welcomed Hillsong Church move into the venue,[28] citing that it was "a progressive, diverse and inclusive organisation which recognises the value of working with local communities".