Long-standing music venue The Joiners in St Mary’s Street, hosting live music since 1968, will be protected from possible closure after being brought into community ownership.

Well-known acts that have played at The Joiners over the years include names such as Radiohead, Sham 69, Arctic Monkeys, and The Verve.

But across the UK, grassroots music venues have struggled with rising costs, changing regulations and the impact of the pandemic. The Guardian reported in 2024 that over a third are loss-making, and we reported a crowdfunder by The Joiners in 2017.

Now, along with Bristol venue The Croft, the two are “safe, secure, and part of the growing Music Venue Properties (MVP) family” – a Charitable Community Benefit Society which buys buildings that house music venues and rents them back to their current operators.

Through an ‘Own Our Venues campaign, MVP says it has raised millions of pounds and begun building a portfolio of unique music venues “now held in trust by a community that believes in protecting the future of live music”.

MVP says since 2022 it has secured five other venues through community ownership.

Quoted by In Common, Joiners operator Ricky Bates said: “We want to thank every single person who has bought a share in the scheme and ensured The Joiners’ future.”

In the news
Joiners bought by ‘Own Our Venues’ community ownership scheme – In Common
Two grassroots music venues to be protected - BBC