Almost 20 venues in the region closed last year A study has found that North West England suffered the worst music venue closures in the UK last year. The study, from music tech company A2D2, showed that 19 venues in the North West closed in 2023, followed by 17 in London, 16 in Yorkshire and the Humber, and 10 in the West Midlands. The company analysed data from the Small Music Venues Index and referenced a report from the Music Venue Trust (MVT) which stated that a total of 125 grassroots music venues in the UK shut down last year.
It noted that public interest in live music has increased in recent years, despite venues struggling, with a 70% rise in searches for “grassroots music venues” in the last year. In the UK, there are just 835 music venues left, and this is largely due to financial reasons – there’s been an average rent hike of 37.5% across venues, while overheads and energy bills have been on the increase.
A2D2 founder Peter Fealey said, “The closure of grassroots music venues across the UK is deeply concerning, yet sadly, unsurprising. With music venues still recovering from the economic cost of the pandemic, a lingering cost of living crisis, and a lack of government support, it’s not difficult to see why these cherished venues are closing.” Lily Fontaine of English Teacher, seen here with at the Mercury Music Prize ‘Album of the Year’ ceremony, welcomed the proposal of a levy on larger gig venues.
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