Yorkshire Music Venues Saved Forever by ‘National Trust’ Style Community Ownership

Yorkshire’s grassroots music scene gets a lifeline as two iconic venues secure their future through a unique community ownership scheme.

A Lifeline for Yorkshire’s Music Venues

Imagine your favorite local gig spot suddenly facing the threat of closure or becoming just another generic bar. Heartbreaking, right? Well, here’s a breath of fresh air: two beloved Yorkshire music venues have been saved forever, thanks to what’s being called the “National Trust for music venues.” This inspiring initiative is all about locking down grassroots live music venues under community ownership, shielding them from the merciless commercial property market, and guaranteeing their place as cultural hubs for generations to come.

Gut Level in Sheffield, one of the newly secured venues, will now thrive under community care.

The Music Venue Properties Revolution: How It Works

This ambitious project is spearheaded by Music Venue Properties (MVP), which was first rolled out by the Music Venue Trust back in May 2022. MVP operates by purchasing venues and then offering them “cultural leases” — contracts that guarantee venues long-term use of their spaces as grassroots live music hubs, provided they continue serving their local music communities.

The initial launch was a roaring success, raising £2.3 million in its first year through donations and investments. Today, the fund has soared beyond £7 million, powered by over 2,500 passionate music fans and high-profile supporters like Ed Sheeran. This community-backed approach ensures these venues aren’t just saved temporarily but are protected forever, free from the whims of rising rents and property speculation.

Venues Secured Across the UK — Now Yorkshire Joins the Ranks

This visionary scheme has already safeguarded a vibrant lineup of venues across the UK:

• The Snug in Atherton (the first to be protected in October 2023)
• Preston’s The Ferret
• The Bunkhouse in Swansea
• Le Pub in Newport
• The Booking Hall in Dover
• The Joiners in Southampton
• The Croft in Bristol

Now, with Northern Guitars in Leeds and Gut Level in Sheffield joining the list, Yorkshire proudly has two grassroots venues permanently protected through MVP’s community ownership model. This brings the total number of venues saved up to nine — a significant milestone for the region’s music scene.

Voices from the Venues: What Community Ownership Means

The management teams of Gut Level and Northern Guitars couldn’t be more thrilled about this new chapter.

“Having long-term security and a supportive landlord is a game-changer, giving us the confidence to invest in the space, plan for the future, and continue supporting Sheffield’s grassroots music scene. This stability will benefit not only the venue but also the many people who use Gut Level to create, organise, connect, and celebrate. It’s a huge win for our community — and for Sheffield’s weirdos.”

— Frazer Scott and Katie Matthews, Gut Level

Their words capture the very spirit of what grassroots music venues represent — not just entertainment spaces, but creative playgrounds and community gathering spots.

Meanwhile, Dave Baguley and Rick Wade from Northern Guitars reflected,

“If we had to sum up Music Venue Properties taking ownership of our building in one word, it would be: relax. Northern Guitars has been supporting working musicians since 1989, and for the last decade, our venue has provided an important first step for emerging artists. We survived Covid thanks to the support of Music Venue Trust, and when our landlord decided to sell the building last year, Music Venue Properties stepped in once again to secure our future. This purchase protects a rare grassroots music venue in Leeds city centre and ensures local and touring artists will continue to have a stage for years to come. It gives us the confidence to focus on what we do best: championing new talent and building our music community. The fact that this space will remain a venue rather than becoming another generic bar is something the whole cultural community can celebrate. Long live live music.”

— Dave Baguley and Rick Wade, Northern Guitars

A Critical Moment for UK Grassroots Music

The news couldn’t come at a more crucial time for the UK’s live music sector. A recent report revealed a staggering loss of 30 grassroots venues between July 2024 and July 2025 alone. What’s even more alarming is that over half of the remaining venues operated at a loss last year, resulting in the loss of more than 6,000 jobs within the industry.

To combat this crisis, there’s a growing movement to introduce a ticket levy that would funnel contributions from large arena and stadium gigs into grassroots venues, creating a financial safety net for smaller spaces and emerging artists. The idea is that if 50% of these major shows voluntarily contribute by June 2026, the government won’t have to make the levy mandatory.

Northern Guitars in Leeds, now secure and ready to nurture future musical talent.

The Ticket Levy Debate and Industry Response

The proposed ticket levy has drawn significant attention, with some major industry players, particularly Live Nation, facing criticism for a perceived lack of involvement. Live Nation, however, responded by affirming their support for artists’ charitable choices and highlighting collaborations with acts like Coldplay and Biffy Clyro who have contributed to the voluntary levy.

Interestingly, Harry Styles has taken a stand by pledging to donate £1 from every ticket sold during his upcoming Wembley residency to the LIVE Trust, setting a powerful example for fellow artists and promoters.

This ticket levy model echoes the Premier League’s approach to solidarity payments in football, where wealthier clubs contribute to the development of grassroots levels. The UK government officially backed the levy in 2024, emphasizing the urgency of protecting the live music ecosystem.

Government U-Turn and Venue Support

Adding to the hopeful momentum, earlier in the year, the government performed a crucial U-turn on a planned surge in business rates that threatened many music venues. This reversal, coupled with an additional support package for pubs and venues, eased some of the financial pressure on grassroots spaces, giving them room to breathe and survive.

The Future Sounds Bright

With these moves — community ownership secured through MVP, the ticket levy push, and government support — the UK is crafting a more sustainable future for its grassroots music venues. Yorkshire’s newly protected spaces, Northern Guitars and Gut Level, stand as beacons of hope, showing that with community power and smart initiatives, the soul of live music can be preserved.

FAQ

• How does Music Venue Properties protect venues?
  MVP purchases music venues and offers them “cultural leases,” ensuring the buildings remain dedicated to grassroots live music as long as they’re run by the local community.
• Which venues in Yorkshire have been saved?
  Northern Guitars in Leeds and Gut Level in Sheffield are the two Yorkshire venues recently secured by MVP’s community ownership scheme.
• Why are grassroots music venues under threat?
  Many face risks from rising property costs, lack of profitability, and competition from commercial development, leading to closures and job losses.
• What is the proposed ticket levy?
  It's a suggested contribution from arena and stadium gigs to support smaller grassroots venues and emerging artists financially.
• How has the government responded to the music venue crisis?
  The government has backed the ticket levy, reversed planned business rate hikes for venues, and provided extra financial support to pubs and live music spaces.

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