Half Moon Reprieved

A famous London music venue that’s seen performances from U2, The Rolling Stones and The Who and accumulated debts reportedly near £100,000 was given a last-minute reprieve from the brewery that owns it.

The Half Moon in Putney, which was due to close its doors Jan. 31, will continue to stage live music with a new management team in place.

Officials at Youngs Brewery, which planned to turn the building into a gastro-pub, appear to have changed their mind after massive public uproar and criticism from the press and the venue’s local MP.

A “Save The Half Moon” campaign and petition was launched, attracting hundreds of signatures and a Facebook group of nearly 6,500 members.

The Musician’s Union also got involved, noting that emerging UK talent relies heavily on local music venues as a career platform.
The Half Moon has been hosting live music nearly every night since 1963, but in the last year got into difficulty as the recession and rising rates and alcohol duty took their toll.

Youngs, which is believed to be owed most of the £100,000, gave tenant James Harris notice to quit.

The last-minute reprieve includes a package to help the Half Moon through its current difficulties, although in return the venue has had to agree to introduce a food operation and shake up its management team.

Carrie Davies, booking manager at The Half Moon from 1998 to 2006, has returned and is now a partner in the business. The venue’s former marketing and technical guru Stevie Wyatt is also back after three years freelancing as a consultant, while Half Moon Unplugged promoter Redvers Bailey will also be taking a wider role.

The new team aims to expand on the Half Moon’s program of booking up-and-coming acts and reducing the amount of cover bands.

“The support from the public and the industry has been overwhelming. This was never just about jobs, but about a part of our music heritage,” Harris explained, admitting he is “incredibly relieved” at the brewery’s U-turn.