'National Trust for Music' secures Yorkshire venues

Two independent music venues in Yorkshire have had their long-term futures secured as part of a community ownership scheme.

The properties housing Northern Guitars in Leeds and Gut Level in Sheffield have been acquired by community benefit society Music Venue Properties (MVP).

It safeguards the buildings long-term as cultural assets, protecting them from the risks of the commercial property market.

Dave Baguley and Rick Wade from Northern Guitars said the purchase would allow them to "relax" as venue owners, while Gut Level's Frazer Scott and Katie Matthews said it would be a "game changer".

MVP was created in 2022 by the Music Venue Trust as a way of buying the buildings where grassroots music venues operate, before renting them back to their current operators.

It says 35% of grassroots venues in the UK have closed in the last 20 years, in part due to the majority being tenants on short-term let agreements.

Since its launch, MVP has raised more than £7m through community investment and funding which is then used to purchase properties.

Chris Sherrington, MVP Operations Engagement Manager, said: "One of the biggest threats to grassroots music venues is they don't have security of what will happen with the future - they're open to redevelopment and to landlords selling the property.

"The solution is to buy the buildings they're in and make sure they are able to control their destiny.

"It allows them to relax, to be able to focus on doing more, commit to long-term projects and not fighting battles about whether or not they own the building and what might need doing to it."

MVP now owns nine venue properties across the UK, and has been nicknamed the "National Trust for Music Venues".

The Northern Guitars operators said: "This purchase protects a rare grassroots music venue in Leeds city centre and ensures local and touring artists will continue to have a stage for years to come.

"It gives us the confidence to focus on what we do best: championing new talent and building our music community.

"The fact that this space will remain a venue rather than becoming another generic bar is something the whole cultural community can celebrate."

The Gut Level team added: "This stability will benefit not only the venue, but also the many people who use Gut Level to create, organise, connect, and celebrate.

"It's a huge win for our community."

Millicent Morgan runs Leeds-based Morgan Agency, which promotes local up-and-coming artists.

"Without independent grassroots venues it would be near impossible to host events for small artists at a reasonable cost," she said.

"It would be very difficult for new artists to get a foot in the door.

"We need to protect our independent venues because they create a sense of community.

"Being owned by a team of people that value the social and community impacts of the venue rather than just it being a money-making machine is really important."

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