100 Club Denied Listed Status

London’s 100 Club has lost out in its bid to become a listed building, in part because it wouldn’t be “in the spirit of punk rock” to do so.

The legendary venue in Oxford Street has regularly been threatened with closure due to financial management, although in 2010 it struck a deal with the Converse shoe company that’s allowed it to stay in business.

A representative for John Penrose, minister for tourism and heritage, told the Sunday Telegraph the venue – apart from its stage and signage – isn’t sufficiently remarkable.

“There’s no denying the club’s place in British pop music history but in the end it’s only the stage and the signage that mark it out as being any different from any other basement club,” the rep said.

“I can’t help but feel that giving the cradle of punk rock listed building status would not be quite in tune with that movement’s driving spirit.”

English Heritage submitted an application that, if approved, would have seen the rock venue gain a grade II listing as “the oldest continuously running (and surviving) live music venue in the capital.”

Gorillaz, The Rapture and Graham Coxon are among the acts to play free shows at the 100 Club since the sponsorship deal with Converse began.