The Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth was built by the showman George Gilbert in 1903[1] and designed by architect Ralph Scott Cockrill.

Its facade consists of three bays with two towers including Art Nouveau relief foliage patterns in the arched side panels.

[3] Billy Russell's Hippodrome Circus was a series of three TV programs broadcast by the BBC from Great Yarmouth in July, August and September 1962.

[4] Peter Jay bought the building in 1979, restoring the circus floor that sinks into a water feature in 1981 when he presented his first show.

[7][8] Veteran heel King Kong Kirk died of a heart attack on 23 August 1987 after collapsing in the ring at the venue during a tag team match pitting himself and King Kendo (Bill Clarke) against Big Daddy (Shirley Crabtree) and Greg Valentine (Steve Crabtree) in front of 1,500 people.