Chesterfield bar owner: 'No demand' for grassroots music venues since lockdown

We've been speaking to Phil Deacon ahead of a debate in Parliament on the issue today

Author: Chris Davis-SmithPublished 10th Apr 2024

It's thought the appetite for live music across South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire has 'never quite been the same' - since the Covid-19 lockdown.

Today - a debate's taking place in Parliament over the ongoing crisis amongst grassroots music venues - with 125 closing in the UK last year.

Phil Deacon ran the County Music Bar in Chesterfield for years - where many touring rock bands used to come & play.

However, he decided to re-brand his business as an American sports bar last year:

"The option was to either close completely, and be another grassroots music venue that had gone under, or to develop and remember that it is a business.

"Unfortunately, a business can only operate on demand.

"By re-branding, we've protected the incomes and livelihoods of around 7-10 people who work here, but it's a shame that the only way we've been able to do that is to change the business model.

"I would happily put live music on more - but by the time you've paid bands, sound engineers, and lighting engineers - all while expecting people pay for tickets to come in the venue - the overall costs just aren't worth it.

"The reality is, putting live music on only works if people will come and support the scene.

"From our side, as a business, putting a sports event on the TV is what's keeping the lights on and getting people through the doors."

You can read more about the Parliamentary debate below:

https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8227/grassroots-music-venues/

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