Liverpool Olympia facts for kids
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| Former names | Eventim Olympia (2018-) Locarno Ballroom (1948–64) Mecca Bingo Hall (1964–90) |
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| Address | W Derby Rd Liverpool L6 9BY England |
| Owner | Argent Leisure |
| Operator | Ghostwriter Consultancy and Events |
| Capacity | 1,960 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 24 April 1905 |
| Architect | Frank Matcham |
The Liverpool Olympia is a famous building in Liverpool, England. It is also known as the Eventim Olympia because of a sponsorship deal. You can find it on West Derby Road, right next to The Grafton Ballroom.
A Look Back in Time
The Liverpool Olympia was built in 1905. A famous architect named Frank Matcham designed it. It was made to be a special indoor circus and a place for variety shows. These shows had many different acts, like singers, dancers, and acrobats.
This theatre was one of the few of its kind left in the country. It had a secret! Performing animals, like elephants and lions, lived in the basement. They could be lifted up to the stage using a special mechanism. You can still find signs of these animal living areas today.
High above the stage, the roof still holds pulleys and wheels. These were used by trapeze artists for their amazing stunts. The inside of the building is very fancy. It has decorations of elephants and lions carved into the walls.
The main hall was very big. In its best days, it could hold 3,750 people. The stage was unusual because it was at the same level as the audience. It was about 15 meters (49 feet) wide and 12 meters (39 feet) deep.
In 1930, the Olympia changed. It was bought by a company and became a cinema. It stayed a cinema until the Second World War started in 1939. During the war, the building was used by the Royal Navy.
After the war, the Olympia did not open again right away. In 1948, it was sold and became a ballroom called the Locarno. Later, between 1964 and 1982, it changed into a bingo hall. It closed for a while, then reopened from 1987 to 1990.
What's Happening Now?
The Olympia reopened in the 1990s after a lot of work to fix it up. Today, it is a busy place for all sorts of events. You can go there to watch boxing matches, dance shows, and music concerts. It also hosts wrestling events.
The company that owns the Olympia also owns The Grafton Ballroom next door. In 1975, the Olympia was given a special status. English Heritage named it a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical building and is protected.
