Fatboy Slim Joins Forces to Rescue Brighton's Beloved Music Venue

Fatboy Slim, whose real name is Norman Cook, has played a big part in saving a small but important music venue in Brighton called The Pipeline. Along with other supporters, including Andy Burnham and Glenn Tilbrook from the band Squeeze, Fatboy Slim invested money to help buy the building. The Pipeline is now owned by a group called Music Venue Properties, or MVP, which works to protect music venues by buying their buildings and making sure they stay open for musicians and fans. Fatboy Slim said he loves small venues like The Pipeline because they remind him of his early days in music, when he was just starting out. He believes these places are where musicians learn their craft and where unforgettable memories are made. He also said that small venues are the lifeblood of the music industry, but it is hard for them to survive because of high costs and other challenges. By owning the building, MVP can make sure the rent stays fair and the venue has a secure future.

The Pipeline is the tenth venue that MVP has bought in the UK. The group raises money by letting people invest in community shares, which means anyone can help save music venues. MVP now owns other venues like The Booking Hall in Dover, The Snug in Atherton, and The Joiners in Southampton. Their goal is to protect these important places so that musicians have somewhere to perform and fans have somewhere to enjoy live music. Thomas Evrenos, who has run The Pipeline since 2017, said he is very happy about the change. He explained that having a landlord who understands the importance of music makes a big difference. If someone else had bought the building and raised the rent, he might have had to close the venue.

Peter Cornforth from MVP said that Brighton is a vibrant city, but it needs live music spaces for people to learn and grow. He believes that grassroots venues are important for both artists and the community. According to the Music Venue Trust, more than half of the UK's small music venues made no profit last year, and thirty venues closed, causing thousands of people to lose their jobs. However, more people are going to concerts at small venues, with 21 million fans attending shows by new artists. Thanks to the efforts of Fatboy Slim, MVP, and other supporters, venues like The Pipeline can continue to help musicians and bring people together through music.