The Joiners and The Croft bought by 'Own Our Venues' Community Ownership Scheme

06 November 2025 - Press release

Music Venue Properties (MVP), the pioneering Charitable Community Benefit Society, announce the purchase of The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol under its Own Our Venues initiative with support from Arts Council England. 

The two grassroots venues, where artists including Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, PJ Harvey, Oasis, IDLES and Wet Leg played early in their careers, will now have permanent protected status and will benefit from long-term security. Dubbed The National Trust for Grassroots Music Venues, Music Venue Properties, originally created by Music Venue Trust (MVT), focuses on removing the venues from vulnerable leases by purchasing the freehold of the buildings and placing them into community ownership. 

“We want to thank every single person who has bought a share in the scheme and ensured The Joiners’ future. As one of the most important live music venues ever to exist in the UK this is a win for all independent live music across the globe - with this now in place we will be here for another sixty years and potentially FOREVER! There are still more venues that need to be secured so please do invest if you can, much love and stay true,” said Ricky Bates, venue operator. 

“The Croft reopened recently but the future was still very uncertain” says World Famous Dive Bars’ Marc Griffiths. “Now, with MVP as the landlord, we know that this legendary venue will be part of Bristol’s unique music ecosystem for generations to come.” 

Since launching in 2022, the Own Our Venues campaign has raised almost £4 million through a combination of community investment — with music fans buying shares from as little as £50 — and vital funding from cultural partners. This includes £500,000 from Arts Council England, which played a key role in securing the purchase of these two iconic venues. The Joiners and The Croft join The Snug in Atherton, The Ferret in Preston, Le Pub in Newport, The Bunkhouse in Swansea and The Booking Hall in Dover in the growing portfolio of venues now owned by the music community. 

More than 2,000 music fans have now invested through the Own Our Venues Community Share Offer, including Marshall Amplification’s Terry Marshall and his wife Lesley, singer-songwriter Katie Melua and Squeeze co-founder and frontman Glenn Tilbrook. “We must do everything we can to ensure that these buildings are protected from development and the venues safeguarded for generations to come. They are essential, not just for fostering local talent but to ensure that our communities have access to cultural hubs and affordable live music,” said Glenn. 

Singer-songwriter Frank Turner added: “I grew up going to, and later playing, shows at the Joiners Arms, and I simply would not be doing what I do today without that space, and spaces like it. Music Venue Trust has long stood at the forefront of saving our vital cultural heritage in the UK. Three, if not four, cheers for Music Venue Properties and the Own Our Venues campaign, long may it thrive.” 

IDLES frontman Joe Talbot added: “The Croft! What a dream to have an institution of creative and social combustion be taken back by the community! I am excited for our city and its people to celebrate and witness an example of positive investment in the community, by the community whose ideas and art can help us connect and change the world. That sounds dramatic but it’s the grassroots venues that are the birthplace of revolution. Thank you to the hard work of Music Venue Properties so we can Own Our Venues.” 

The current phase of the Own Our Venues campaign has reached 82% of its £1.5 million target to bring seven more vital grassroots music venues into permanent community ownership. These venues are Esquires in Bedford, The Sugarmill in Stoke-on-Trent, Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham, The Pipeline in Brighton, Northern Guitars in Leeds, Gut Level in Sheffield, and Little Buildings in Newcastle. Music fans can continue to invest and support the campaign which runs until November 14, 2025 at www.ownourvenues.com. 

“The purchase and securing of The Joiners and The Croft, two iconic buildings that have launched international carriers and sit at the heart of their communities, marks a historic milestone for Music Venue Properties. With these additions, 7 grassroots music venues across the country are now permanently protected for further generations and it proves the power of community ownership” says Matt Otridge, COO Own Our Venues (Music Venue Properties). 

“But the work isn’t over and there are still many more venues under threat. This phase of the Own Our Venues campaign closes in just 2 weeks, and we are calling on everyone, the industry, artists, government and music fans to come together and invest what they can. Every contribution helps us to secure more venues and each investor can then stand alongside those who already proudly say: we own these venues.” 

Dr Claire Mera-Nelson, Director, Music – Arts Council England, said: “We’re thrilled that another couple of iconic grassroots music venues have had their future secured by Music Venue Properties through the investment of Arts Council England and the incredible community support shown by music fans and the local community. Both The Croft in Bristol and The Joiners Arms in Southampton are legendary touring venues that have launched the careers of our most treasured musical artists, highlighting the importance of these spaces, and we’re looking forward to them continuing to provide outstanding experiences for artists and audiences for many years to come.” 

The ‘cultural lease’ that MVP has created provides long-term security for operators by offering stability and support not afforded by most typical commercial tenancies. It ensures fair, sustainable rent, annual contributions toward essential maintenance, and ongoing support in areas such as financial sustainability and operational best practice. This comprehensive support and having a supportive and benevolent landlord helps venues focus on their mission to bring music to their local communities while ensuring that communities have permanent cultural spaces for future generations.

More information and other supporting documents are available on the Music Venue Properties websites: www.ownourvenues.com   www.musicvenueproperties.com