Crowdfunder launched to save live music at London’s legendary Bush Hall
nme.comREM, Amy Winehouse, Florence & The Machine, Adele, The Killers and Nick Cave. It was also the venue for Kings Of Leon’s first UK show in 2006.The former Edwardian dance hall has been used as a music venue since 2001, when it was restored by its current owners, Charlie Raworth and Emma Hutchinson.Now, Bush Hall has confirmed its future as a music establishment is under threat and they are four months away from “making a hideous decision” about whether to cease hosting live music events.
It warned that if it were to lose its music status, “the loss will impact on local, national and international communities.”On its Crowdfunder page, the venue said it has been left “sitting in the red month on month” for several reasons caused by the post-pandemic economy. “The marketplace and audience perspective has dramatically changed, compounded by the cost of living crisis with declining per head spend, spiralling utility and insurance costs and the end of the fixed rate mortgage,” they said. “This leaves us with devastatingly low margins across the sector.“The lack of profitability has caused the immediate, urgent financial situation for Bush Hall.“Our bank is forcing a sale to repay the termed mortgage, which they are not willing to renew.
This potentially means two businesses may be affected: Bush Hall, and our non-profit music school: Music House for Children.They continued: “Every penny we have had has been ploughed back into overheads.
In April the minimum wage goes up which only raises the burden for hospitality places and will increase our supplier costs yet again with budget increases also expected.“We have always been a rare breed of independent, self-sustainable grassroots music and events venue.
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