Take Ownership of your Venue with new Music Venues Trust initiative
Music Venue Properties (or MVP) is a charitable society created by Music Venues Trust. The MVPs purpose is to raise enough money to secure the future of grassroots music venues. Commercial leases are some of the most pressing challenges for nightlife venue owners, but this campaign aim to place properties into commercial ownership.
The “Own Our Venues” project began in 2022 when the MVT raised £2.88 million and successfully commanded the ownership of The Snug in Atherton, The Ferret in Preston, Le Pub in Newport, The Bunkhouse in Swansea and The Booking Hall in Dover.
The fund was open for anyone to enter and contribute. Anyone could invest to help own venues across the country from as little as £50. More than 1300 fans did so, and iconic spaces were successfully preserved.
Following the success for the campaign, the MVT has now announced they have extended their 2025 offer. A new deadline of 14th November 2025 has been set, allowing anyone to invest in the crowdfunder before this date.
So far, the campaign has already raised over £1million for 2025. There seems to be more appeal and appetite than ever; this year’s campaign has only been open for two months, and yet the 2023 campaign took 7 months to reach this landmark.
Three New Venues Added to Music Venue Properties “Own Our Venues” initiative in 2025
Northern Guitars in Leeds, Gut Level in Sheffield and Little Buildings in Newcastle have all officially joined the Own Our Venues campaign and will come under commercially ownership.
The Benefits of the Music Venue Properties “Own Our Venues” Initiative?
- Typical commercial leases are shorter term, with the majority of grassroots music venues only having 18 months left on their lease.
- The MVP’s commercial ownership, named a ‘cultural lease’, offers long term security.
- The rent is fair and stable, and included annual contributions to property maintenance.
- There will be continued dialogue with the owners, including support in implementing best practices.
- All members of MVP, earning 4% APR – you become co-owners and help to secure other iconic venues across the country.
What are the potential pitfalls of commercial ownership?
- This model of commercial ownership is for iconic longstanding venues with a steeped and rich history. The venue’s operator should not wish to change or diversify, and instead continue benefitting grassroots music.
- Leases are long term, and therefore require committed operators.
- You are essentially handing over private ownership of your venue in order for it to hopefully become a permanent piece of history. Ownership is then the responsibility of Music Venue Properties.
All in all, the benefits greatly outweigh the potential challenges of this commercial ownership model proposed by the Music Venues Trust. And for many grassroots music business owners, this could be the ideal scenario – taking the pressure of short-term lease agreements away, and delivering affordable rents.
If you are a live music venue operator and share the MVTs vision for environmental sustainability diversity and accessibility, alongside the longstanding continuation of grassroots music, and perhaps would like to learn more about the Music Venue Properties initiative – then visit the Music Venue Trust website: and navigate to the Music Venues Alliance. Apply for membership, which usually takes 14 days – and then let a Music Venue Trust representative know more about your situation and interest.
Alternatively, contact NDML and we can put you in touch through our close partnership with the Music Venues Trust.
To learn more about the proposition for members, visit here:
And to read the legal documentation and financial business plans, go to the bottom of the following page:
To sign up your venue, go to Music Venues Alliance:
Which venues are likely to become commercially owned?
The MVT have a number of venues on their radar. These include: Esquires in Bedford, The Sugarmill in Stoke-on-Trent, The Joiners in Southampton, The Croft in Bristol, Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham, The Pipeline in Brighton, The Lubber Fiend in Newcastle.
If you are a business owner and these venue are local to you, consider contacting them and discussing their decision. If you are a fan of one of these venues, then consider investing and becoming a member of Music Venue Properties. Buy shares and become a co-owner of your favourite music venue!
