Halifax's The Lantern in imminent danger of permanent closure

The grassroots music venue, in Alexandra Street, is one of those 30 venues marked for imminent danger of permanent closure.

Music venues have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, which forced many of them across the UK to close in March with most not reopening since.

In response to the crisis, the Music Venue Trust (MVT) has announced a new phase of its successful #saveourvenues campaign, focusing on securing the future of the 30 venues who were ineligible to receive funding from, or wholly or partially unsuccessful in their application to, the recent government backed Cultural Recovery Fund.

Manager at The Lantern, Ben Adey said: “Halifax had no music venue so we built one, The Lantern.

"It’s a place to meet friends and leave with new ones.

"We need your help to ensure that, when it is safe to do so, we are able to reopen."

A range of targeted activity under the #saveourvenues banner has been announced, based around a combined effort by audiences, local communities, local councils and the creative community to prevent the permanent closure of these remaining grassroot venues.

The MVT are now urging everyone who cares about these venues to write to their local MP, council, local charities, to demand action to prevent them being closed for good.

Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, said: “What the #saveourvenues campaign has achieved during the last eight months is truly remarkable.

"Thanks to the efforts of music fans, local communities and the wider music sector we have raised over £3 million in donations and have unlocked over £80 million in government assistance to help stave off the imminent closure of over 400 grassroots music venues.

"We're now focusing exclusively on those 30 remaining venues which face immediate permanent closure."

"If people want these local venues to still be there when this is over there is a very clear call to action: choose a venue, get donating, get writing, get calling, get organised," said Mr Davyd.

"Save them all. Reopen Every Venue Safely.”

A new crowdfunding initiative powered by Crowdfunder has been launched to secure the future of these 30 grassroots venues.

By visiting a single landing page at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-venues-red-listIf an individual target is reached by a particular venue the surplus donations will go towards supporting other venues in crisis.

those at imminent danger of permanent closure (Red-30 venues), see national map: here