'Secure future' for club as music venue charity buys up its home on historic Sheffield shopping street
Music charity buys up city centre home of Sheffield club
It has been running in Chapel Walk for three years now - but Sheffield club Gut Level has just received a boost which owners believe gives it a secure future.
The LBGTQ-friendly venue took over the former Andrews Cafe building in 2023, converting it into a mixed use venue comprising community venue/drinking establishment, opening until 2am at the weekends.
But on June 10, Music Venue Properties (MVP) announced it is taking over the ownership of the building which is the club’s home.
It becomes one of the first Yorkshire grassroots music venues to be secured through the Own Our Venues initiative, bringing the total number of venues protected by Music Venue Properties to nine.
The organisation says it means Gut Level will now benefit from permanent protection and long-term security under community ownership. It says that through its Own Our Venues initiative, Music Venue Properties acquires the buildings that house grassroots music venues, removing them from the risks of the commercial property market and safeguarding their future as vital cultural assets for their local communities.
Frazer Scott and Katie Matthews, of Gut Level, said in a joint statement that they were thrilled to become part of Music Venue Properties’ growing network of community-owned venues.
They said: “Gut Level has always championed new ways of doing things, so the principles of community ownership felt like a natural fit. Having long-term security and a supportive landlord is a gamechanger, giving us the confidence to invest in the space, plan for the future and continue supporting Sheffield’s grassroots music scene.
“This stability will benefit not only the venue, but also the many people who use Gut Level to create, organise, connect, and celebrate. It’s a huge win for our community – and for Sheffield’s weirdos.”
Since launching in 2022, Music Venue Properties has raised over £7 million through a combination of community investment, with music fans able to purchase shares from as little as £50, and support from cultural partners including Arts Council England, the UK Government and Figurative.
Gut Level is the eighth venues secured through the initiative, and the venue will celebrate with a series of specially curated events over the coming months, bringing together artists, audiences and local communities to mark its’ transition into community ownership.
Chris Sherrington, of Music Venue Properties, said securing Gut Level was major step forward for Music Venue Properties and demonstrated the power of community ownership to protect vital cultural spaces.
He said: “These venues are much more than places to see live music; they are important community assets that support artists, bring people together, and make a significant contribution to both the cultural identity of their local areas and the UK's wider music ecosystem.
It also announced a take over a a Leeds venue, Northern Guitars.
Mr Sherrington added: “We’re particularly proud to welcome our first Yorkshire venues into the Own Our Venues portfolio. Leeds and Sheffield have been at the heart of the UK’s musical story for generations and, by securing these buildings for community benefit, we can help ensure future generations have the same opportunities to create, perform and experience live music.
This achievement has only been possible thanks to the thousands of music fans, community investors, partners and supporters who have backed the campaign and recognised the vital role these venues play in their local communities and within the wider music industry.”