Sister Midnight, the Lewisham arts co-op looking to create a community-owned music venue in Lewisham, has taken the project a step further, securing an in-principle meanwhile use (7yrs+) with Lewisham Council for the Brookdale Club.
A former working men’s club in Catford, the space will be turned into a 250-capacity live music venue supporting local grassroots musicians.
In 2021 the group launched a community share offer to bring a Lewisham pub into community ownership. The campaign raised over £260,000 from 865 investors, but they were unable to agree an offer with the owner.
The new venue is owned by a subsidiary of the local council, and was suggested to the co-op by the regeneration team. “The council has been a huge support,” said Lenny Watson, co-founding director of Sister Midnight. “They’ve offered us a lease with a minimum term of seven years, and the entire lease is subject to a peppercorn rent – so effectively we won’t pay any rent for the whole time we’re there, which is amazing.”
Read the rest at Co-operative News
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