27/09/2024
BREAKING NEWS 📢
The Bunkhouse has been saved! 🎉
A lot of people probably won't know that the past few years The Bunkhouse has been under the threat of total closure. Ultimately meaning South Wales and Swansea in particular would have lost a space where the music community could express themselves, where grassroots acts and touring acts could play and learn their craft, where people wouldn't be judged, where you could be you. This would have been devastating to not only musicians, but to everybody within the Welsh music scene.
However, we are delighted to inform our community that Music Venue Trust is delighted to announce the first acquisition of a Welsh venue by Music Venue Properties under its groundbreaking scheme.
The Bunkhouse Swansea has now be placed into permanent protected status.
"The last few years have been a rollercoaster for The Bunkhouse and the music community in South West Wales. When the building went on the market, the threat of closure was very real, and it wasn’t just about potentially losing my business, it was about losing a home for the musicians, the artists, and the fans who have found their voice here. The Bunkhouse has played a pivotal role in shaping the music scene in Wales, and the thought of it disappearing was heartbreaking for everyone” said Jordan McGuire, Director of The Bunkhouse.
"Now, with Music Venue Properties stepping in as our landlord, those fears have been laid to rest. The future looks bright. We can finally focus on continuing to develop the next generation of talent, knowing that The Bunkhouse is secure and will remain a cornerstone of Swansea's music scene long after I’m gone. This partnership ensures that The Bunkhouse will continue to serve as a place where musicians can express themselves and music lovers can immerse themselves in the experience for generations to come. I’m incredibly excited for what's ahead."
Dubbed The National Trust for Grassroots Music Venues (GMVs), was originally launched in 2022 as a crowdfunded project. To date almost £2.6m has been raised from over 1250 individual investors and funding, and received support from Swansea Council and Figurative, formerly part of Nesta, to realise this purchase.
Following the purchase, we have signed a ‘cultural lease’ with Music Venue Properties (MVP), which is an innovative agreement specifically created by MVP to guarantee that, as long as The Bunkhouse operates as a space for grassroots live music for their local community, they can enjoy the use of the building.
Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust said, “The Bunkhouse is the lynchpin venue for new and emerging artists in the Swansea scene. Jordan McGuire and his team have created an essential stop for any breaking band tour and it’s fantastic to see that work recognised and the future of this venue secured for decades to come. Long live Bunkhouse!”
Matthew Otridge, COO of Music Venue Properties said, “After almost three years of hard work, I am thrilled that MVP has been able to move The Bunkhouse into Community Ownership. The road to the eventual purchase was complex, and at times difficult, but for me it was clear from the start just how important this venue is, and it was never a question of if MVP would buy this venue, it was how would MVP make this purchase happen. I look forward to working with Jordan - who is a fantastic venue operator - in both supporting his current work, and realising his ambitions for the future, and I also want to thank Swansea City Council and Figurative for their support in making this a reality.”
We done it. The Bunkhouse has been saved.
