Licence granted for grassroots local music venue

Underground Bar will launch in the basement of 29-31 George Street

A "grassroots alternative music venue" supporting "local bands, independent music communities and alternative subcultures" is to open in a city centre.

Underground Bar will launch in Oxford in what used to be Cirkus nightclub.

The city's music scene, which gave prominence to bands such as Ride, Radiohead, Supergrass, Foals, and Glass Animals, has had a number of venue closures in recent years, including The Cellar and The Wheatsheaf.

Yola Kucel, who made the application, said she felt "passionately" that Oxford had "no offerings" for young people "experimenting with various genres or music and fashion".

The new venue, below Gourmet Burger Kitchen, will include a main bar area with fixed seating, dance floor space, a DJ booth, and a cloakroom.

A licence was granted by Oxford City Council at its latest licensing meeting, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Ms Kucel said: "Underground Bar would ultimately offer a safe licensed space for people to enjoy music and social time as opposed to unregulated alternatives.

"Oxford is home to a diverse and vibrant late-night population including students, academics, local residents and visitors."

She added that the bar would "provide and give the community a much-needed space where it is all about the music" and that it would "help diversify nightlife beyond traditional or chain venues".

'Amazing culture'

City councillor Anna Railton welcomed the news.

She said: "Lots of people are dismayed at live music venues in our city being gradually lost.

"If you value things you've got to protect them and that is true for live music venues for all genres.

"It's part of this city's amazing culture and brings people together."

The George Oxford Hotel, which has rooms on the upper floor, objected to the application over concerns about the impact it would have on guests.

Ms Kucel co-ran Kiss Bar on Park End Street for 23 years, which closed last December, and hosted Goth night Intrusion.

The future of some other music venues is in doubt, with SJE Arts announcing its closure in June, and Oxford University's redevelopment plans potentially affecting Common Ground in Wellington Square.