Coronavirus: Seven Brighton venues could close for good

Brighton’s music scene has been on standby since lockdown measures began with popular haunts unable to hold gigs.

Now managers of much-loved spots including the Komedia, The Old Market, and the Green Door Store have banded together as part of the Save Our Venues campaign to raise the thousands of pounds they need to stay afloat.

The Brunswick, The Hope and Ruin, The Pipeline, and the Latest Music Bar could also close permanently if they do not raise enough.

Green Door Store manager Toni Coe-Brooker said the pandemic had crippled an already-vulnerable industry.

Komedia is one of seven venues in Brighton at risk of permanent closure

“There’s not really a lot of help out there for us,” she said.

“It’s going to be the community that pulls us out of this.

“Government support has addressed 72 per cent of the challenges faced in this first phase of the crisis. This campaign is intended to address the remaining 28 per cent.

“Over the past few years we’ve been under-supported and underfunded by the Government.

“The industry was starting to stabilise about two years ago when the Music Venues Trust managed to organise grants for grassroots music venues from Arts Council England.

“We were applying for £40,000 to buy our own music equipment as we usually rent which is expensive for us.

“Now the coronavirus has come and smashed everything out of the water. It’s all well and good the Government offering loans but those are extra payments that will need to be paid back. We’re still paying rent.

“I understand the controversy with asking people to put in a fiver for us.

“But venues are more than just going to gigs. We’re community hubs.

“Small venues are where bands cut their teeth and make mistakes. The 1975 played in front of four people here.”

The Hope and Ruin is one of many venues at risk of permanent closure

Thomas Evrenos, owner of The Pipeline, said the venue could soon be in a “really awful” situation.

“We can survive a couple of more weeks,” he said.

“But soon we will be in a really awful situation. If you want to save us, you better start helping us now.”

Meanwhile The Old Market programmer Helen Jewell said the pandemic had been “uniquely catastrophic”.

“The idea of these spaces not being able to return will devastate our city’s cultural landscape,” she said.

“The only way we will get through is with the support of the city as a whole. If we let our music venues close we will lose the heart of our identity. We will return, but we need your help.”

And Lucy Stone of the Music Venues Trust said Brighton’s haunts were a part of the city’s heritage.

To donate, visit saveourvenues.co.uk.

• At The Argus, we are championing the work of traders during the coronavirus pandemic as part of our #BackingSussexBusiness campaign. We are always interested to hear how the community is coming together in this crisis. If you know of a local business battling to do all it can in these tough times and/or offering support to the local community, please get in touch at laurie.churchman@theargus.co.uk and rose.lock@theargus.co.uk.