What Happened In Events This Week

The MVT secures another grassroots venue

The Bunkhouse Saved by Music Venue Trust’s #OwnOurVenues Scheme

In a major win for grassroots music, Swansea’s beloved venue, The Bunkhouse, has become the latest space to be safeguarded by Music Venue Trust’s (MVT) #OwnOurVenues scheme. This milestone marks the first Welsh venue to benefit from the initiative, securing its future as a home for live music.

Launched by MVT in May 2022, the #OwnOurVenues campaign has been compared to “The National Trust, but for venues,” and has garnered widespread support, including from high-profile artists like Ed Sheeran. In just one year, the initiative raised £2.3 million through donations and investments, enabling the purchase of key grassroots venues in need of protection. The core idea is simple: venues sign a “cultural lease” with Music Venue Properties (MVP), ensuring that as long as they operate as live music spaces for their local communities, they can continue to thrive.

Since its inception, MVP, a Charitable Community Benefit Society (CCBS) set up by MVT, has already secured two properties: The Snug in Atherton and The Ferret in Preston. The Bunkhouse now joins these ranks, cementing its place as a cultural cornerstone for the local music scene in South West Wales.

The 235-capacity venue, which also serves as a rehearsal space and photography studio, has been a vital part of Swansea’s music community. For Jordan McGuire, Director of The Bunkhouse, the threat of losing the venue was devastating. “The last few years have been a rollercoaster,” McGuire shared. “When the building went on the market, the threat of closure was very real. It wasn’t just about losing my business, it was about losing a home for musicians, artists, and fans who have found their voice here.”

McGuire further expressed how The Bunkhouse has played a key role in shaping the Welsh music scene, and the prospect of its closure was “heartbreaking for everyone.”

Thanks to the #OwnOurVenues scheme, The Bunkhouse will continue to be a thriving hub for artists and fans alike, ensuring the grassroots music scene in Swansea remains strong for generations to come.

Amy Lamé to step down as London’s Night Czar

Amy Lamé will step down as London’s Night Czar after eight years in the role. 

Lamé, who will leave the role at the end of the month, has said that it is “the right time” for her to “move on” and that it has been a “real privilege to serve Londoners”.  

During her tenure as Night Czar, Lamé launched several initiatives, including the Night Time Enterprise Zones, which aimed to enable boroughs in the capital to encourage more people to use their high streets after 6pm. 

The Night Czar role was created by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, following his election in 2016. 

Speaking about Lamé’s work, Khan said: “I’d like to thank Amy for everything that she’s done as the capital’s first-ever night czar.”

Some have criticised the role over the years, pointing to salary rises and a belief that work done to prevent restrictive licencing laws in Hackney wasn’t enough. 

However, Khan went on to say that Lamé “has worked hard to help London’s nightlife through huge challenges, including the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, and I know she will continue to be a key part of the industry going forward.”

It is unclear whether Lamé will be replaced as Night Czar.

Sweaty Ceilings to document London’s grassroots venues

A crowdfunding campagin for a brand new book called ‘Sweaty Ceilings’ has been launched. 

The book will celebrate London’s most iconic grassroots venues, going behind the scenes to showcase haunts like The Windmill, Cafe Oto, 100 Club, Moth Club and many more. 

Helmed by artist and designer Sophie Mo and music manager Tash Cutts, ‘Sweaty Ceilings’ will feature interviews and stories from writers, musicians and industry figureheads, who will highlight the cultural importance of 30 landmark venues from the capital. 

The book will also spotlight the venues lost over the years, giving readers a chance to reminisce and learn more about their favourite nightspots of years gone by. 

To bring the book to life, Mo and Cutts have launched an Indiegogo campaign. The money donated to the campaign will help pay writers and designers, as well as cover printing and distribution costs. 

‘Sweaty Ceilings’ is launched in conjunction with the Music Venue Trust, with £5 of every pledge donated to the organisation. Those who pledge can also choose a range of perks, including screen-printed T-shirts designed by Elliott Lane and original illustrations of one of the venues featured in the book by Simon Hayes. 

Fans have also been encouraged to send stories of their favourite venue stories, photos and venue memorabilia to archives@sweatyceilings.live, which will be collated and included in the book. 

Irish nightclub bill expected to go to cabinet this month

A new bill which will allow venues to open until 6am and pubs to open until 12:30am in Ireland is expected to be brought to government this month. 

The Sale of Alcohol Bill was initially proposed in 2022 and promised that late openings would be in operation by summer 2023. A series of pushbacks has delayed the bill from passing through. 

Taoiseach Simon Harris confirmed to The Journal that he remains committed to getting the legislation in place, believing that it gets the balance right between supporting the night time economy and addressing concerns raised by the Road Safety Authority. 

However, with talks of an upcoming election in the next few months, the Taoiseach was not confident that the legislation would be passed while the current government is in office. 

Speaking to The Journal about the bill, Harris said: “I expect that to go to Cabinet very shortly…being very honest, whether it passes the Oireachtas in the lifetime of this Government is a matter for the Oireachtas and other things.” 

Campaign group Give Us The Night has stated on X that: “We still have to see final bill and how accessible it’ll be for venues to operate ‘late night’. The devil will be in the detail, and old habits (strict licensing decision-making) die hard. In any case it’s now time to just get on with it.”

Europe’s oldest nightclub re-opens its doors

Barcelona’s La Paloma, Europe’s oldest nightclub, has announced that it has permanently re-opened. 

The baroque-themed nightclub, known for its lavish look and grand interior, first opened in 1903. The venue was forced to close in 2007 but is now back after a phased re-opening throughout 2024. 

With the re-opening comes a stacked line up of events which will bring international DJs and queer performers to the 1,000-capacity venue throughout the autumn period. 

The club is switching its late schedule over this period, meaning revellers will be able to dance the night away from the hours of 19:30 to 02:00. 

La Paloma’s re-opening provides a boost for the nightlife community across Europe, which has seen several clubs shut down over the past few years.

In September, Berlin’s iconic club Watergate announced that it would be closing its doors at the end of 2024, citing “enormous financial pressure” as one of the drivers behind the move. 

Elsewhere, a recent report revealed that 65 nightclubs have already closed in the UK in 2024. 

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has called for immediate government support, with CEO Michael Kill remarking that “while long-term reform is welcome, it will come too late for many businesses unless immediate support is provided to reverse the accelerating closure rate. The UK’s nightclubs are irreplaceable, and urgent intervention is needed to ensure they remain a vibrant part of our cultural identity.”