Spare a few notes for the Sugarmill?

Shares scheme aims to help protect iconic venue's future

- Sentinel Reporter

AN iconic Stoke-on-Trent music venue could be given a more secure future - thanks to an innovative new shares scheme.

The Sugarmill in Brunswick Street, Hanley, is one of seven venues named in the national 'Own Our Venues' initiative launched by the Music Venues Trust.

The scheme is run by a charity called Music Venues Properties (MVP) and aims to remove grassroots music venues from vulnerable commercial leases by placing them into community ownership.

Music fans invest as little as £50 and become 'community owners' in MVP which then offer reduced-price 'cultural leases' to venues.