Exchange, Bristol

For the Grade I listed Georgian Palladian building in Bristol, UK, see The Exchange, Bristol.

Exchange
Map
Location72 - 73 Old Market,
Bristol,
BS2
Capacity250
Opened2012

Exchange is a community-owned music venue in the Old Market area of the city of Bristol, in South West England. The first community-owned music venue in the city.

History

Opened in 2012, it transferred to community ownership by becoming a Community Benefit Society in January 2019 after raising over their target of £250,000 through the selling of shares.[1][2][3][4]

Independent record label Specialist Subject Records opened a record shop upstairs in the venue in August 2017.[5]

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the venue found challenges continued after restrictions were lifted. In February 2022 they mentioned to BBC News that international artists were pulling events or postponing until spring.[6]

In January 2023 the venue announced it would have to reduce opening hours in its cafe/bar due to the current financial climate.[7]

Bristol City Council announced in December 2023 that it had cut arts funding for the venue from April 2024.[8]

References

  1. ^ Wray, Daniel Dylan (20 July 2022). "'We don't want money going to private landlords': UK music venues turn to community ownership". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Bristol music venue Exchange launches appeal to help save it from closure". Bristol Post. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Bristol music venue Exchange saved from closure". Bristol Post. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Exchange hopes to become Bristol's first community-owned live music venue". Bristol24/7. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Specialist Subject's First Record Shop Opens On Old Market". Bristol24/7. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  6. ^ Robinson, Harriet (6 February 2022). "Covid: Bristol music venues and nightclubs "need more support"". Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Bristol gig venue Exchange to reduce opening hours 'with heavy heart' due to cost of living crisis". Bristol Post. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Bristol City Council defends cultural venue funding cuts". BBC News. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2024.

51°27′20″N 2°34′58″W / 51.455551524322274°N 2.5828894080375955°W / 51.455551524322274; -2.5828894080375955