MUSIC venues are urging the Government to spend millions of pounds to help them stay afloat.

Dozens of Sussex venues have signed a letter by the Music Venues Trust asking the Government for a £50 million “financial support package” for haunts across the country.

Paul Musselwhite, managing director of Komedia in Brighton, said the situation was “pretty grave” for venues, with no concrete reopening date in sight.

“We can’t turn our venue into a pub and we can’t open for live entertainment, so we’re pretty redundant,” the 41-year-old said.

“We’ll have to start paying into furlough agreements in August which puts yet more pressure on us.

“Our income streams have dried up and we’ve missed the spring, which is the peak time for us.

The Argus: Komedia, like all venues in the city, has been closed since March with no reopening date in sightKomedia, like all venues in the city, has been closed since March with no reopening date in sight

“Each venue wants to do the right thing. We’re not saying we should open if it’s not safe.

“But we need the Government to step in and help us. We haven’t found a way to replace that missing income.

“We’re not looking at a timescale of a few months for reopening, we’re looking at next year.”

Mark Knowles, manager of Worthing music bar Bar 42, was similarly concerned.

The 46-year-old feels venues will not be able to hold gigs safely until October at the earliest – and even then they would not be able to open at full capacity.

“We’ve been open for takeaway through lockdown and we’ll reopen as a bar on Saturday,” Mr Knowles said.

“But we can only open with 15 people inside. It all depends on whether the weather is good in July and August.

The Argus: Mr Knowles hoped good weather in Worthing could improve Bar 42's fortunes Mr Knowles hoped good weather in Worthing could improve Bar 42's fortunes

“I’m having to borrow money from everyone I know to pay rent and bills and I’ve been waiting for a bounceback loan from my bank for a month. May was the worst time for us but our situation has improved.

“But if a venue hasn’t got anybody they can borrow money from, it’s going to get desperate.

“It’d be great if the Government grants the money, but I just can’t see that happening. Maybe the grants should be based on the rateable value of the venue.”

The industry group claims more than 400 small venues are at risk of closure during the coronavirus crisis, including eight in Brighton.

The trust’s Save Our Venues campaign is raising money to prevent venues closing. To donate, visit saveourvenues.co.uk.

The Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport did not respond to requests for a comment.

  • 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.