Music Venue Properties has launched the ‘Our Own Venues’ project aimed at community ownership to prevent the closure of seven grassroots music venues, including Esquires in Bedford and The Joiners in Southampton. This initiative comes as many venues struggle amid competition from developers, exacerbated by the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, with a reported decline in London’s grassroots venues. The project seeks to secure sustainable leases and maintenance support, ensuring these venues remain vital cultural hubs for future generations.
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Popular discount store announces another shop closure in blow to high street
The Original Factory Shop has announced the closure of eleven branches across the UK, including the store in Middlewich, Cheshire, which will close on June 28. This follows a previous announcement of ten additional store closures and the sale of five more locations as part of a company voluntary arrangement aimed at avoiding insolvency. Residents have expressed disappointment over the local impact, highlighting concerns about the decline of the high street amid broader challenges faced...
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