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Church makes bid for crisis-hit Brighton venue

12:30pm Monday 22nd February 2010 in


An evangelical church has made a bid to buy a crisis-hit arts venue.

Brighton Vineyard has made an offer for the Grade II listed Old Market in Upper Market Street, Hove.

The venue was put on the market for £1 million a fortnight ago after its previous owners, the Old Market Trust, went into liquidation when they were overwhelmed by long-term debts.

Pastor Chris Simmons, from Brighton Vineyard, yesterday confirmed rumours it had made a bid.

He said the group wanted the Old Market to continue as an arts and community centre which would be used as a church on Sundays.

Mr Simmons said: "We have been looking for a base of our own for 18 months and this fits the bill perfectly."

Brighton Vineyard currently operates from offices in North Road, Brighton, and stages sessions weekly at BHASVIC college, in Dyke Road, Hove, and Latest Music Bar, in Manchester Street, Brighton.

If their bid is successful the Old Market would become the second city landmark taken over by an evangelical church group in the past year, following Holy Trinity Brompton's move into St Peter's Church in York Place, Brighton.

Comments(14)

censored says...
12:47pm Mon 22 Feb 10

Tell you what... don't raise any cash. Just pray they give you the venue. If there's a God, then you'll get a nice new home!

Even better: buy the building, then let the homeless sleep there in warmth every night. Do some good with your money.


Seriously, though. Isn't it a bit sickening that bible-bashers have a spare million quid, whilst arts and music venues struggle?

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John60 says...
1:56pm Mon 22 Feb 10

What a shame as I really like that venue. It would be so sad to see that venue become a god bothering place. Where do they get the money from?

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East Brunswick says...
2:38pm Mon 22 Feb 10

Yes where do they get their money from?
I believe they are known as "The Happy Clappers" Worship for them is a loud affair.
If it continues as an 'Arts Centre' along side the church I can see conflict ahead. So many shows will be a bit 'iffy' for them.

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jaygee says...
3:21pm Mon 22 Feb 10

they get the money from members which says it all about gays and so called arts who struggle to get a round in.

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Christophe Hawtree says...
3:54pm Mon 22 Feb 10

Yet again the Argus has a headline about a "Brighton" venue and then reveals that in fact it is in Hove. It is this cavalier treatment of the places that continues fears that the Council will revive its plan to rename Hove as West Brighton.

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Alison Smith says...
5:34pm Mon 22 Feb 10

Christophe Hawtree wrote:
Yet again the Argus has a headline about a "Brighton" venue and then reveals that in fact it is in Hove. It is this cavalier treatment of the places that continues fears that the Council will revive its plan to rename Hove as West Brighton.
I think of Hove as East Portslade actually !

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Acheron says...
6:08pm Mon 22 Feb 10

censored - I expect they have been praying for both a venue and the money to come in! Prayer answered! :-)

John60 - I'm sure they won't be bothering God by being in the venue :-) Where they get the money from, I expect it will be people donating their money. Renting out space in BHASVIC will have been a lot cheaper than having their own place and they have been there a very long time.

East Brunswick - Depends on what is described as 'iffy'. Personally doing things under the guise of 'art' lets people get away with all sorts! I saw a glass of water on a shelf last week (Liverpool Tate), but apparently it's an Oak Tree!

I think we can all be glad that it's not going to be left boarded up and then squatted in and wrecked, which could easily have happened in this financial climate.

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RickH says...
6:56pm Mon 22 Feb 10

"Yes, it can remain as an art centre but only of the type of art of which we approve...." can here the censor's scissors beginning to work from here!

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J'av says...
7:55pm Mon 22 Feb 10

some of you are very judgemental - at least it is being kept as a community centre and not made into flats. Good luck to them

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grev says...
8:44pm Mon 22 Feb 10

How many Death Metal bands do you think they'll ley play?

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John1010 says...
7:36am Tue 23 Feb 10

Can't see the problem here - would we rather see this lovely venue boarded up and decaying?
No reason why it can't function effectively as an arts and community centre in the week and a church on a Sunday - happens in other places around the UK. Hope they make a success of it.

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alyn, southwick says...
8:23am Tue 23 Feb 10

CORRECTION/CLARIFICA
TION:

This is not the second city landmark taken over by a church group. It is only the FIRST as published in Argus recently. St Peter's was a church before. The group that took over this "Church of England" building is a "Church of England" group, albeit an evangelical strain within the same wider church group.
(Many buildings have been taken over by churches throughout the years and many churches have been taken over by secular/non-religiou
s business groups, too. So what.)

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alyn, southwick says...
8:28am Tue 23 Feb 10

Oh also, could those making comments please clarify something for me - do you think you (and other art, or even anti-art, loving people) should be allowed to spend your money as you choose?

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lwbrighton says...
9:36pm Tue 23 Feb 10

For such a diverse city known for its tolerance I'm surprised by the vitriol expressed here.

The church in question does intend the building to be used by all parts of the community include for charitable purposes.

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