Blackpool's under-threat Waterloo Music Bar boosted by £10k grant

The Waterloo Music Bar, which plays host to local bands, big name acts and even performers from America, has been badly hit by the coronavirus lockdowns.

Boss Ian Fletcher says the Waterloo, at the corner of Waterloo Road and Central Drive, was running at a loss when it briefly reopened in September and only the sale of the Waterloo's own merchandise kept the operation ticking over,

The scale of its problems came to light when the Music Venue Trust (MVT), a charity which tries to protect hundreds of UK grassroots music venues, put the Waterloo on a 'red alert’ list of the top 30 music venues across the UK most at risk of closure.

This included a major Crowdfunder appeal which has so far raised almost £24,500 due to massive support for the Waterloo - and now the MVT has raised additional funds for all the venues and given £10,000 to the Blackpool operation.

Ian said: "I'm delighted by this, it's like an early Christmas present and I can't thank the MVT enough, they do such brilliant work trying to help our music venues.

"But I'd also like to thank all the people who have donated to the appeal, the response has been absolutely incredible.

"I feel very grateful that so many people appreciate what we've been trying to do here.

"The reason we're still here now is because of all the people who've bought merchandise, bought raffle tickets, donated to the fund and because of the bands who helped in various ways.

"To all of those people I'd just like to say a big thankyou."

Blackpool musicians are among those who have helped, with an online live stream performance by the SandAid members earlier this month raising more than £700.

The target total is £50,000 and the overall funds so far stand at almost £34,500, thanks to the MVT grant, with 40 days left of the appeal to run.

Mark Dayvd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, said: “As we approach the end of this horrendous year for grassroots music venues we felt the need to make a direct intervention in order to provide some relief for 24 venues who were unable to access the funding they need to survive.

"We have received incredible support from audiences, artists, individual donors, companies who have made financial contributions and from the wider music sector.

"As a result, we are able to make a distribution of £230k of emergency funding to stave off the immediate threat of closure and provide a firm footing for survival.

"We want to thank everyone who has helped, supported and contributed to our #saveourvenues campaign this year."

To donate to the appeal, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/waterloomusicbar