Cellar nightclub in Oxford faces closure threat

The Cellar, in Frewin Court, off Cornmarket, is one of the oldest gig venues in Europe, with live bands performing in the basement club, and its predecessor, for more than 45 years.

It has played host to breakthrough local bands like Foals, Stornoway and The Young Knives and international acts such as Mumford & Sons, Crystal Fighters and The National.

Foals at The Cellar (Picture Paul Tipping)

Last year more than 13,600 supporters, including musicians and politicians, backed a petition to save the club after its owners applied to Oxford City Council for permission to redevelop the basement venue into storage space for the shop space above, previously occupied by cosmetics store Lush.

Now, however, the future of the late bar again hangs in the balance after it was ordered to cut the number of people it allows in from 150 to just 60, making it unviable as a live music venue.

Its current capacity was agreed in the 1970s and remained unchanged until last week's check by Oxfordshire County Council inspectors, who said the venue's 70cm fire escape was 30cm too narrow.

Owner Tim Hopkins said: "We are shocked and frustrated. It is very disappointing and has halted negotiations on our lease.

"Once you have taken our staff into consideration, we can only sell 50 tickets for each show. One promoter has already pulled out and I am having to tell the others to stick to 50 tickets.

"We take health and safety very seriously and care for our customers and have fixed a lot in the venue.

"But it's an old building and we can't get around the fact our fires escape isn't wide enough. We have been told that to continue as we are, our fire escape needs to be one metre wide – but that would cost tens of thousands of pounds to do because they are all load-bearing walls."

He said the only realistic solution would be for the club to expand into the empty shop unit above, which has two additional fire escapes.

The shop could then be converted into a cafe for day time use.

Lush left the premises to move into the new Westgate centre, leaving no permanent occupier. The rest of the building, with the exception of The Cellar, is being renovated by owners St Michael’s and All Saints’ Charities who have no current plans to improve the fire escape.

Mr Hopkins said: "My intention is to take on the shop. We are looking into our options and have asked the landowner how much it would cost to rent the shop out, but we haven't been given a figure."

On the importance of the venue to local music scene, he said: "We have been a home of live music for at least 45 years, making it one of the oldest gig venues in Europe.

“There’s a lot of history and it’s been a stepping stone for a lot of bands.

“There is already a shortage of venues, and to close a place of this size would leave a massive gap.

“It’s used by breakthrough bands, students, different sections of the community and for fundraisers. But once it's gone, it's gone."

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service Fire Protection and Business Safety Manager, Dave Bray, said: “On inspection, the alternate means of escape from the basement premises was found not adequate for 150 people.

“After discussions with the licensee and with the licensing authority about the contents of the buildings fire risk assessment, the licensee agreed to limit numbers until the alternate escape route is improved.”

Rupert Sheppard, Clerk to the Feoffees at St Michael’s and All Saints’ Charities, said: “If The Cellar want to rent the shop they need to talk to our agents Cluttons.

“They need to make an official approach and come up with a detailed plan. No proposals have been put to us from Cluttons.”