#SaveOurVenues - The Clapham Grand

The Clapham Grand in is part of a national initiative launched by Music Venue Trust to prevent the closure of hundreds of independent music venues. We have been open as a independent venue for 120 years, from our early days as a Victorian Variety Hall, with a rich history in all forms of entertainment, especially live music, with Oasis, The Verve, Jamiroquai and Suede all playing historic break through shows with us.

Our venue faces closure because, whilst the Government have taken some great measures to support businesses during Covid-19, unfortunately there still isn't any relief for rent. As we are still paying this, we are being sent further and further into debt, leaving us incredibly exposed to being unable to be prepared to trade properly upon re-opening due to the volume of debt we will be straddled with upon re-opening.

As a venue that not only provides a stage for a wide variety of independent touring shows, from live bands to drag shows, we also programme and produce a huge amount of our own events, employing a vast amount of talented self employed staff from performers, technical crew, costume designers and box office staff to name but a few, alongside of course our wonderful salaried, bar and floor staff. 

This combination requires us to operate with huge advance overheads before any revenue is actually generated, which we simply won't be able to do, leaving us facing closure for the venue, which in turn would leave everyone involved in our business facing a similar outcome

Your donations will be used to provide a vital re-opening fund, enabling us to advance payments to all our staff and suppliers, market and promote our opening events, alongside carry out much needed repairs and maintence to our 120 year old listed building which will be needed after this long period of closure.

If we hit our target, and we can prevent the closure of our venue, everything above the amount we need will be donated to the Music Venue Trust GMV Crisis Fund to protect other venues just like ours, right across the country.