Cranbourne Street, London 1971

In 1958, theatre impresario Bernard Delfont, in partnership with Charles Forte, embarked on a radical transformation of the old Hippodrome theatre on Cranbourne Street. They largely demolished the original interior of the Hippodrome and converted it into a state-of-the-art dinner-theatre and nightclub, which they christened “The Talk of the Town.”

The Talk of the Town quickly became one of London’s most glamorous and sought-after venues for a night out. It offered a unique experience of dining, dancing, and spectacular live entertainment. Patrons would enjoy a three-course meal before being treated to a lavish floor show, often featuring elaborate dance routines and, crucially, a headline act of international renown.

The format of dinner-theatre began to fall out of public favor in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Rising rents also played a significant role. The Talk of the Town finally closed its doors in 1982. It was then taken over by Peter Stringfellow and converted into the Hippodrome nightclub. In 2012 it was converted into the Hippodrome Casino