Music Venue Properties
 | |
| Company type | Charitable community benefit society |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 5, 2021 |
| Members | 1260[1] (2024) |
| Website | https://www.musicvenueproperties.com |
Music Venue Properties is a charitable co-operative organisation in the United Kingdom which owns music venues on behalf of the community.
Launched in 2022 by the Music Venue Trust, Music Venue Properties raises capital from community shares, donations, and grants. The grassroots venues it owns are leased to operators on favourable terms under a long-term "Cultural Lease". It has been described as "the National Trust for music venues".
History
[edit]
Music Venue Properties was founded in 2021 as a charitable community benefit society, at a time when grassroots music venues across the UK were under threat, with a third of venues being lost in the previous 20 years.[2]
They launched their first fundraising campaign, "Own Our Venues", in May 2022, with the aim of raising up to £3,500,000 to purchase nine grassroots music venues across the UK.[2] The campaign concluded in March 2023, after £2,318,210 had been raised from 1,261 individual investors.[3]
In October 2023, The Snug, a 100-capacity venue in Atherton, Greater Manchester, was the first venue to be purchased.[4][5]
In May 2025, Music Venue Properties announced their second fundraising campaign, with the aim of purchasing a further seven venues, including The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol.[6][7]
Venues
[edit]As of May 2025[update], Music Venue Properties owns five music venues:[8]
- The Snug, Atherton, Greater Manchester
- The Ferret, Preston, Lancashire
- The Bunkhouse, Swansea, Wales
- The Booking Hall, Dover, Kent
- Le Pub, Newport, Wales
References
[edit]- ^ "Music Venue Properties annual return 2024".
- ^ a b "Music Venue Trust's fan-funded freeholds aim to protect venues". BBC News. 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ "MVP "Own Our Venues" campaign is declared a success, raising over £2.3m!". MusicVenueProperties. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ "Music Venue Trust reveals first #OwnOurVenues scheme acquisition". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ "Tiny music venue The Snug saved after fans buy shares". BBC News. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
- ^ "Plans to save UK's most iconic grassroots music venues from closure revealed". Metro. 2025-05-15. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ Trendell, Andrew (2025-05-27). "You can help save these seven UK grassroots music venues forever". NME. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ "OUR VENUES". MusicVenueProperties. Retrieved 2025-05-30.