£97.5k ploughed into grassroots music venues

The pubs that secured investments are CWRW in Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, the Lighthouse, Deal, Kent, the Holroyd Arms, Guildford, Surrey and the Old Abbey Taphouse, Hulme, Greater Manchester.

Furthermore, the latest investment has seen music charity MVT cash out £97,516.97 to venues for improvements and training.

MVT chief executive Mark Davyd said: “This fourth round of the Pipeline Investment Fund once again demonstrates how much difference small amounts of money, wisely invested, can make for grassroots music venues.

“With grassroots music venues facing extraordinary challenges​ right now, Music Venue Trust is determined to keep pressing the music industry and government to support this fund and ensure music communities right across the country can continue to access the very best in live music.”

The total sum of money, awarded to 61 sites as part of the charity’s Pipeline Investment Fund, now exceeds £260,000.

Revive Live

Established in 2022, the fund is primarily funded by ticket sales of MVT’s recent Revive Live programme​ of gigs around the UK in partnership with The National Lottery.

Small scale grant applications (up to £5,000) were invited from UK based grassroots music venues to support two key areas of work.

The first is small scale capital projects, including lights, sound, access, ventilation, and minor building alterations.

What’s more, the second is staff training, including diversification, succession planning, skills development, and strengthening local community ties.

The grants were awarded for a range of requirements including sound and lighting equipment, staff training, soundproofing, air conditioning, repairs and venue improvements, accessibility, and seating.

Call for support

Organisations who may have been excluded from other available funding are prioritised in the fund.​

In January, MVT released their 2022 Annual Report, which was launched at a reception for MPs at The House of Commons.

The report details the immense contribution of Grassroots Music Venues to the UK economy, and the current threat they face as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and ongoing post-Covid recovery.

MVT is calling on the government to review the VAT on ticket sales that is currently limiting profitability and crushing a sector responsible for nurturing new, upcoming talent in the UK.

The report also outlines plans to ensure all new arenas opening in the UK contribute to the wider music eco-system​ by investing a percentage of every ticket sale into grassroots venues.

The full list of new recipient venues are: