UK Music Venue Trust Issues Final Call To Invest In Own Our Venues Campaign

Music Venue Properties (MVP), the UK’s pioneering Charitable Community Benefit Society (CCBS) behind the Own Our Venues initiative, is urging music fans to help secure the future of seven key grassroots venues across the UK as the national campaign enters its final three days.

With just three days remaining until the investment deadline on Friday, Nov. 14, the campaign has reached 86% of its £1.5 million ($1.9 million) target, raising over £1.3 million ($1.7 million) from more than 1,000 supporters.

Last week, two UK grassroots venues became community-owned venues thanks to the Own Our Venues initiative: The Joiners in Southampton, and The Croft in Bristol.

“These new acquisitions demonstrate how the model can safeguard local music spaces and offer long-term stability for venues at risk of closure,” according to a press release from the UK Music Venue Trust, creator of the Music Venue Properties CCBS.

The current phase of the campaign aims to secure the future of seven more vital grassroots venues across England: Esquires (Bedford), The Sugarmill (Stoke-on-Trent), Peggy’s Skylight (Nottingham), The Pipeline (Brighton), Northern Guitars (Leeds), Gut Level (Sheffield), and Little Buildings (Newcastle).

“Each plays a vital role in its local ecosystem, providing accessible spaces for live music and supporting artists at the earliest stages of their careers. Without investment, many of these venues face uncertain futures due to the threat of sale, redevelopment, or unstable leases,” the press release continues.

See: Ed Sheeran Backs UK’s ‘Own Our Venues’ Campaign

By subscribing for shares issued by CCBS, investors will become a member of the society and thus a co-owner of the society along with other members. Community shares are withdrawable shares that cannot be sold, traded or transferred between members, unlike shares in a typical company.

All Members are entitled to one vote – regardless of how many shares they hold. Members can be paid interest on their shares if the Board believes it would be sensible to do so, and can also withdraw their shareholding, along with any interest accrued, again subject to the approval of the Board. Investors should note that, like all share purchases, their capital is at risk.

“We’re so close to our target,” commented Chris Sherrington, Campaign Manager at Music Venue Properties, “every investment in these final days will help us take more venues off the market and into community hands, where they belong for the future of fans everywhere.”

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