- News
Co-operative Effort Helps Matchstick Piehouse Reopen
-
By Ryan Moss
- 16 Dec 2024
- 3 min read
Header: Matchstick Piehouse / Facebook.com
Beloved grassroots venue, Matchstick Piehouse, based in Deptford, is set to reopen in early 2025 thanks to the efforts of a workers’ cooperative and support from the Music Venue Trust (MVT).
After closing its doors in November 2023 due to rent arrears accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic, staff and resident artists formed the Piehouse Co-op, which successfully negotiated new terms with the building’s landlords to save the venue.
The reopening marks a new chapter for the Piehouse, but the road to recovery isn’t over. The team is now fundraising £15,000 to refit the space, which was stripped of its original sound systems, lighting, and furniture when it filed for insolvency. This follows a successful 2023 campaign that raised £30,000, showing the strength of community support for the venue’s revival.
The challenges faced by Matchstick Piehouse are part of a wider crisis for grassroots music venues in the UK. According to the MVT’s 2023 annual report, 125 venues ceased hosting live music last year, with over half permanently closing. A 2024 report from the Night Time Industries Association revealed the closure of five nightclubs every week across the UK, highlighting the need for collective action to protect spaces that foster creativity and community.
For many, Matchstick Piehouse is more than just a venue. Staff member and musician Rosetta Carr emphasized its importance, saying: “As a touring musician trying to survive the current climate in the music industry, having a place that allows me to work and earn an income alongside my music and art is extremely valuable. Seeing so many amazing venues shut down in recent years has been painful. Spaces like the Piehouse are essential to keep creativity alive.”
The venue’s reopening highlights the impact of community action in sustaining grassroots venues. By contributing to their fundraising efforts, supporters can play a part in helping the space reopen fully equipped, ready to serve as a hub for creativity and collaboration once again.
Tags
Got a question you need an answer to?
Give us a call on 03333010301 or ask us a question over on the Skiddle Promoter Twitter account by clicking or tapping on the button below. Alternatively, you can also find a list of our most frequently asked questions over at https://help.promotioncentre.co.uk
