Southampton’s Joiners and Bristol’s Croft become community-owned venues
The future of these two vital small venues is now secure thanks to the Own Our Venues initiative from Music Venue Properties
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol have secured their long-term future as community-owned small venues.
The venues, which have hosted the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Oasis and more, are the latest buildings to be purchased as part of the Own Our Venues initiative from Music Venue Properties.
Launched in 2022, the Own Our Venues scheme strives to purchase the freeholds of grassroots venues. The investment project will allow music fans to buy in at a return of 3% APR, with the pooled cash going towards buying the venues outright in a bid to avoid being beholden to third party landlords that sometimes threaten the future of venues.
The scheme, aiming to bring under-threat small venues into shared community ownership, has raised £4 million so far. The Ferret in Preston and The Snug in Atherton were the first venues to be saved under the scheme, with The Bunkhouse in Swansea purchased last year.
Ricky Bates of The Joiners said of the news: “We want to thank every single person who has bought a share in the scheme and ensured The Joiners’ future.
“As one of the most important live music venues ever to exist in the UK this is a win for all independent live music across the globe. With this now in place we will be here for another 60 years and potentially forever.”
Frank Turner, the Hampshire-born artist who played many early gigs at the venue, said: “I grew up going to, and later playing, shows at the Joiners Arms, and I simply would not be doing what I do today without that space, and spaces like it.”
Marc Griffiths of World Famous Dive Bars, the company that runs Bristol’s The Croft, added that, prior to this news, the venue’s future was “very uncertain”.
“Now, with MVP as the landlord, we know that this legendary venue will be part of Bristol’s unique music ecosystem for generations to come,” he added.
Joe Talbot, frontman of Bristol band IDLES, said of the news: “What a dream to have an institution of creative and social combustion be taken back by the community.
“I am excited for our city and its people to celebrate and witness an example of positive investment in the community, by the community whose ideas and art can help us connect and change the world. That sounds dramatic but it’s the grassroots venues that are the birthplace of revolution.”
Matt Otridge of Own Our Venues, added: “The purchase and securing of The Joiners and The Croft, two iconic buildings that have launched international careers and sit at the heart of their communities, marks a historic milestone for Music Venue Properties.
“With these additions, seven grassroots music venues across the country are now permanently protected for further generations and it proves the power of community ownership.”