Music venue unveils £1.7m expansion plans

The £1.7m expansion would see more recording studios for local bands in Frome

An independent music venue has announced a £1.7m plan to expand.

The Cheese and Grain, in Frome, Somerset, celebrated its 25th birthday last year and said the proposals, which are subject to planning permission, would support local and upcoming musicians.

It would see a new rehearsal space and more editing suites built between the Canoe Club and the rear of the Cheese and Grain tower.

Steve McArthur, director at the Cheese and Grain, said: "We really want to increase our training programmes for younger musicians in the west country and this will help."

The Cheese and Grain has enjoyed worldwide attention for attracting famous musicians over the years.

Sir Paul McCartney performed at the venue for a warm-up gig before his headline set at Glastonbury Festival in 2022.

The Cheese and Grain said expansion will not affect the current parking area at the venue

The recording studio at the rear of the venue is used by internationally famous artists, but it said this is squeezing out local bands.

Having survived the Covid pandemic and a cost of living crisis, 2023 saw a record number of gigs and events at the Cheese and Grain as well as record ticket sales.

The venue has been shortlisted for levelling up money and will find out soon if it has been successful.

'Big boost for Frome'

Mr McArthur said they "lost a generation" in training local people in a whole range of music industry skills, including sound and light engineering, logistics, hospitality, and marketing due to the pandemic.

He continued: "It's a lot of money but it will be a big boost for Frome and the local economy.

"If we get planning permission and the funding, we anticipate building would start next summer in 2025."