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Plans to convert Oxford venue space into shops withdrawn
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 6 October 2017
Plans to convert the basement space in Oxford used by music venue The Cellar into a retail unit have been withdrawn by the building’s landlord. It’s hoped that this means the future of the popular venue is now assured.
As previously reported, a petition was launched in late August after it emerged St Michael’s And All Saints’ Charities, which owns the property, had submitted a planning application to redevelop the building, which already has a retail space above the basement venue. Foals, Ride, Glass Animals, Objekt, Rob Da Bank and Young Knives were among the artists and DJs who called on the landlords to have a rethink.
At the time the venue’s manager, Tim Hopkins, told reporters: “It is devastating news, not just for The Cellar team, but for the Oxford music scene as a whole. The loss of an important cultural asset such as The Cellar is a matter of concern for everyone, not just the music fans and musicians of Oxford. It should be of concern to anyone who cares about jobs, the night-time economy, local creativity and the social community of the city”.
Earlier this week the venue announced that it had received “amazing news” that “the planning application that our landlords [submitted] has been withdrawn”. Saying that the support they had received since news of The Cellar’s impending closure broke was “beyond our wildest dreams”, the team running the space added “now, not only has the current application been withdrawn, the local and national community has most certainly heard loud and clear how vital the survival of small music and arts venues are to our lives”
Although it’s still not entirely clear what St Michael’s And All Saints’ Charities is now planning following the withdrawal of its redevelopment proposal, the Cellar team said that they hoped they could now “come to a positive resolution” with their landlords about the future of the venue “so we can continue to make our contribution to this vital aspect of all our lives that we care so passionately about”.
