Music / News
The Croft set to return
After the Crofters Rights failed to reopen after what was described as a temporary closure over the summer of 2024, there were fears the famous music venue was lost forever.
But it has now been announced that the Stokes Croft venue will reopen under its former name of the Croft.
It is one of seven sites across the UK to be included in the second phase of the Own Our Venues initiative led by Music Venue Properties.
An installation recently sparked curiosity among passers-by when it was set up, with the Roman numerals XV.V.MMXXV obscuring part of the signage above the entrance, only spelling out the Croft part of the Crofters Rights.
May 15 can now be revealed as the date of the launch of a new community share offer.
Between Thursday and July 31, the ‘Own Our Venues’ crowdfunder, organised by live music charity Music Venue Properties, hopes to ensure a successful future for the Croft.
Music Venue Properties aim to raise a minimum of £1m to secure the future of seven grassroots music venues across the UK including the Croft with anyone donating to the crowdfunder becoming co-owners of the venues.
An installation obscuring part of the signage above the entrance sparked curiosity among passers-by when it was set up – photo: Alex Cavanagh
Owners of the Exchange and World Famous Dive Bars will lead the relaunch of the Croft.
Marc Griffiths from World Famous Dive Bars, the team behind pubs including the Mother’s Ruin and the Crown, said: “We are really excited to be working with Music Venue Properties and the team at Exchange to bring the Croft back to Bristol.
“The team at World Famous Dive Bars are made up of musicians, promoters and music fans and we all see that a huge hole has been left in the Bristol grassroots music ecosystem since the Crofters Rights closed in August 2024.
“We are honoured to be part of the effort to bring back this vital, and quite frankly legendary, GMV through community ownership.”
Originally founded in 2000, the Croft quickly became a staple of Bristol’s underground scene. It hosted early performances from now major acts, including IDLES, Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran and Bring Me the Horizon.
It was later renamed Crofters Rights but ultimately closed last summer.
Owners Bloomsbury Leisure Group described the decision to close as “multifaceted”, citing the cost of living crisis, reduced student footfall over the summer and landlord issues.
The community share offer will run until July 31. Supporters can invest in the venue’s future, helping to secure it for the next generation of artists and fans.
For more information, visit musicvenueproperties.com
Main photo: Republic Media
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