'Vital' music venue in community comeback

BRISTOL music venue is set to reopen as part of a nationwide initiative which sees communities investing in grassroots music venues across the UK.

- ELLIE KENDALL

The Crofters Rights, which closed its doors in July 2024, will reopen under its former name - The Croft - as part of new plans.

It has been announced that The Croft is one of seven venues in the country to be part of the Own Our Venues initiative, led by Music Venue Properties.

This is described as focusing on 'removing grassroots music venues from vulnerable commercial leases by placing them into community ownership,' with the aim of 'providing long-term stability to venues that are essential for fostering local talent and providing cultural value to existing, local infrastructure.'

Until July 31, music lovers and locals can invest via a fundraising initiative, which has a target of £1m to go towards these venues - the Stokes Croft venue being one of them.

The Croft, which was established in 2000, was a hugely popular live music venue in the city, known and loved for its intimate 110-capacity live room and 250-capacity club space.