Locals rally to save venue from redevelopment

Club 85 in Hitchin has been described as having an eclectic, inclusive feel that crosses generations

A grassroots music venue that was due to be turned into flats could be saved by public donations.

Club 85 in Hitchin has hosted more than 10,000 artists in the past 23 years, including James Bay, Enter Shikari and The Subways.

Bob Marden, who has run Club 85 since it opened, has set up a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) to purchase and run the venue.

"It means we can attract grants and match funding. We’re going to be doing a share sale so that the local community can buy shares, so it would then go into community ownership and secure it forever," he said.

A planning application to turn the club into housing is now on hold, giving supporters the chance to buy it.

They will need to raise £2m through crowd funding.

The club 85 has hosted over then thousand artists in the past 23 years

Fans of the venue say it has a very eclectic, inclusive feel that crosses generations.

“I’ve got people who come and watch their children play on our stage when they played on our stage 20 years ago,” said Mr Marden.

Peter Gill, 69, from Hitchin, said his son had been performing there since he was 12.

“I’ve been there with all ages, from the average age on stage being 15 or 16.. but I also go with a group of friends who are retired rocket engineers in their seventies," he said.

"Most of the places I used to go to in Hitchin back in the day, like The Regal and The Hermitage, have gone.”

"It’s more than just a music venue, it’s like a training centre for the young people that work there."

Bob Marden has received messages of support and said he was hopeful enough money could be raised

'Inclusive creativity'

Shar Atherley told BBC Three Counties Radio it would be devastating to lose Club 85.

"I’ve been going to Club 85 since I was about 17," she said.

"It’s always been a home to me, full of special, eclectic people and everyone always feels so welcome. It’s such a beacon of inclusivity.

"Without it, there wouldn’t be such a special, cultivated vibe in Hitchin, there wouldn’t be places for neuro-atypical people like me to go."

Mr Marden wants to turn Club 85 into "a centre of inclusive creativity" for exhibitions, rehearsals and filming in the daytime. The downstairs bar would become a music lounge bar with a small stage and piano, he said.

"It’s part of the community, we’ve got to keep it going. There’ll be a huge hole in this area if it were to disappear," he added.

The building is owned by a private landlord who is retiring and wants to redevelop the site, which could mean an end to Club 85.

Mr Marden has received messages of support and said he was hopeful enough money could be raised.

“We’ve had some amazing offers coming in," he said.

"We’re talking to all sorts of interesting bands."