Historic Bath music venue to close doors immediately
They're citing the cost of living crisis and a changing music scene
Last updated 5th Dec 2023
A historic Bath music venue, which has been open for 45 years has announced it's closure, citing rising costs and a changing music scene.
Known as one of the best-known grassroots music venues in the country, it's announced it's permanently closing its doors with immediate affect, with all future events cancelled
Countless festival and stadium headliners including Ed Sheeran, The Killers, Fat Boy Slim, Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, The Smiths and Idles have played at the 220-capacity venue during the early stages of their careers.
The owners are having to file for insolvency and in a statement say the decision to close was horrendous but the cost-of-living crisis has "crippled us".
"The reality is that live music at grassroots level is no longer economically viable" said co-owner Tom Maddicot, who is citing "massively increased costs of stock, utilities and rent compounded by our customers feeling the impact of the crisis makes it impossible to continue".
According to the Music Venue Trust, venues like Moles have done "everything they can to keep afloat".
The MVT say about 120 of the UK's small music venues, around 15% of the total, have closed or stopped putting on gigs this year.
It works out at around 4,000 jobs lost around the country, and around £9 million of income lost for musicians.