UK Music Venues Preserved by Community Effort
Preserving the Legacy of Music Venues
Two iconic grassroots music venues in England have been saved for future performances following a successful campaign by Music Venue Properties (MVP). The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol have both been acquired with support from Arts Council England. These venues have played a significant role in the careers of numerous artists, including Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, PJ Harvey, Oasis, IDLES, and Wet Leg.
The trust's initiative involves removing these venues from precarious leases by purchasing the freehold of the buildings and transferring them into community ownership. This ensures that the venues can continue to thrive without the threat of closure due to commercial pressures.
Ricky Bates, the operator of The Joiners, expressed his gratitude: “We want to thank every single person who has bought a share in the scheme and ensured The Joiners’ future.” He added, “As one of the most important live music venues ever to exist in the UK, this is a win for all independent live music across the globe – with this now in place, we will be here for another sixty years and potentially FOREVER!”
Although The Croft recently reopened, its future had been uncertain until the recent acquisition. Marc Griffiths of World Famous Dive Bars commented, “Now, with MVP as the landlord, we know that this legendary venue will be part of Bristol’s unique music ecosystem for generations to come.”
Since its launch in 2022, the Own Our Venues campaign has raised nearly £4 million through a mix of community investment and funding from cultural partners. Music fans have contributed as little as £50 per share, demonstrating widespread support for preserving these cultural landmarks.
The Joiners and The Croft are now among several venues owned by the music community, including The Snug in Atherton, The Ferret in Preston, Le Pub in Newport, The Bunkhouse in Swansea, and The Booking Hall in Dover.
Glenn Tilbrook, co-founder and frontman of Squeeze, emphasized the importance of protecting these venues: “We must do everything we can to ensure that these buildings are protected from development and the venues safeguarded for generations to come. They are essential, not just for fostering local talent but to ensure that our communities have access to cultural hubs and affordable live music.”
Understanding Cultural Leases
The ‘cultural lease’ model developed by MVP offers long-term security for venue operators. It provides stability and support that typical commercial tenancies often lack. This includes fair and sustainable rent, annual contributions toward maintenance, and ongoing assistance in financial sustainability and operational best practices.
This comprehensive support allows venues to focus on their mission of bringing music to their local communities while ensuring that cultural spaces remain available for future generations.
Joe Talbot, frontman of IDLES, praised the news, calling it a “dream” to have The Croft returned to community ownership. He said, “I am excited for our city and its people to celebrate and witness an example of positive investment in the community, by the community whose ideas and art can help us connect and change the world. That sounds dramatic, but it’s the grassroots venues that are the birthplace of revolution.”
Expanding the Movement
The campaign aims to bring seven more music venues into public ownership, including Esquires in Bedford, The Sugarmill in Stoke-on-Trent, Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham, The Pipeline in Brighton, Northern Guitars in Leeds, Gut Level in Sheffield, and Little Buildings in Newcastle.
Matt Otridge, COO of Own Our Venues, highlighted that the work is far from over. “We are calling on everyone, the industry, artists, government, and music fans to come together and invest what they can. Every contribution helps us secure more venues, and each investor can then stand alongside those who already proudly say: We own these venues.”
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