Music Venue Properties (MVP), the pioneering Charitable Community Benefit Society created by Music Venue Trust (MVT), has announced the launch of the next phase of its ground-breaking ‘Own Our Venues’ project — a bold initiative to secure the future of a further seven iconic grassroots music venues (GMVs) across the UK through community ownership – including the iconic Joiners in Southampton.
The Own Our Venues initiative focuses on removing grassroots music venues from vulnerable commercial leases by placing them into community ownership. The aim is to provide long-term stability to venues that are essential for fostering local talent and providing cultural value to existing, local infrastructure.
Following the success of its first campaign in 2023, which raised £2.88 million and secured the future of venues including The Snug in Atherton, The Ferret in Preston, Le Pub in Newport, The Bunkhouse in Swansea and The Booking Hall in Dover, MVP is once again calling on music lovers and local communities to take action in order to protect vital cultural spaces.
The ‘cultural lease’ provides long-term security by offering stability that typical commercial leases, averaging just 18 months, cannot. These leases ensure fair, sustainable rent, annual contributions toward essential maintenance, and ongoing support in areas such as financial sustainability and operational best practice.
This comprehensive support helps venues focus on their mission to bring music to their local communities while shielding them from the financial pressures of the commercial lease market.
MVP have now announced plans to acquire a further seven venues via a second community share offer, which will open on May 15th 2025 and close on 31st July 2025.
This will focus on the purchase of longstanding, iconic music spaces such as Esquires in Bedford, The Sugarmill in Stoke-on-Trent & The Joiners in Southampton, alongside key community hubs such as The Croft in Bristol, Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham, The Lubber Fiend in Newcastle and The Pipeline in Brighton.
Established in 1968, The Joiners is a legendary Southampton venue that has played a key role in the UK’s grassroots music scene, helping launch acts like Oasis, Coldplay, Green Day, and the Manic Street Preachers. Hosting around 300 events annually, it remains committed to nurturing emerging talent, with a strong community ethos that continues to resonate with both artists and audiences.
“Despite being an integral part of the U.K. touring circuit and a creative institution for the city of Southampton for almost sixty years, The Joiners is currently facing real uncertainty for its future,” said the Joiners Family.
“Our landlord is looking to retire and our lease expires this year, the building itself requires some investment, love and attention now being well over 200 years old, unfortunately it’s impossible for us to justify as individuals given the current economic situation. We welcome the notion of MVP ownership being the only real solution to securing one of the most important live music venues ever to exist in the UK and with your help to ensure YOUR venue The Joiners is here for another sixty years and beyond! Be part of history and get involved if you can.”
More information and other supporting documents are available on the Music Venue Properties website: musicvenueproperties.com
- Main image Only the Poets at The Joiners in November 2023.
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