It's taken 15 months of rumour, wrangling and trauma but finally there's some good news for The Cellars. The News are reporting that the venue has been saved from auction (and possible closure) after one of its long-time patrons bought the pub from Enterprise Inns. If that wasn't cause for three rousing huzzahs the venue has also announced that, as it's no longer tied to a chain, the beer range has been refreshed and prices lowered. Smashing.
I really like The Cellars, it's a fine cosy venue and that it's been saved from being turned into flats or a convenience store welcome news indeed. Over the next few months the venue has a veritable plethora of musical delights on offer, from the likes of the eccentic John Otway, the legendary Dean Friedman and newcomer Jazz Morley in October, Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls (from The Wonder Stuff), Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo and Mama's Gun in November plus a smörgåsbord of new local talent from Jurassic Mark's showcases in December.
A fine selection of gigs forthcoming I'm sure you'll agree, and there's plenty more to whet the appetite on their website. Now all they've got to do is make sure they don't leave the tables in place by the front of the stage (I know, some people are never satisfied).
Showing posts with label The News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The News. Show all posts
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Curtains for the Pyramids?
The News is reporting that Portsmouth City Council are pulling the plug on The Pyramids; apparently the cost of upkeep is too great to justify the expenditure given the numbers of people using the facility.
Of course it could be argued that, if proper investment had been made in the building over its lifetime, it wouldn't be in the rundown and more than a little bit dog-eared condition it now finds itself (and so the numbers of people using it wouldn't have plummeted). The bean counters have spoken however, and the complex looks likely to be demolished. In its place will be built a shiny new hotel and conference centre (which is just what Portsmouth needs... not).
The Pyramids might not be the greatest venue in the world but it's still a venue and one that fills a prime spot in the Portsmouth scene. It sits between The Wedgewood Rooms and The Guildhall, catering for bands too big for one and too small for the other, so it's going to be sorely missed should/when it goes (already the Frog On The Front, underneath the complex and one-time home of Messclean, has closed).
When The Pyramids was first used as a venue for bands it was, if memory serves, at the instigation of the Portsmouth Venue Campaign. Ironically, in their efforts to build a new venue in the city the ended up creating one out of a leisure centre. I wonder if they can do the same with a conference centre.
Of course it could be argued that, if proper investment had been made in the building over its lifetime, it wouldn't be in the rundown and more than a little bit dog-eared condition it now finds itself (and so the numbers of people using it wouldn't have plummeted). The bean counters have spoken however, and the complex looks likely to be demolished. In its place will be built a shiny new hotel and conference centre (which is just what Portsmouth needs... not).
The Pyramids might not be the greatest venue in the world but it's still a venue and one that fills a prime spot in the Portsmouth scene. It sits between The Wedgewood Rooms and The Guildhall, catering for bands too big for one and too small for the other, so it's going to be sorely missed should/when it goes (already the Frog On The Front, underneath the complex and one-time home of Messclean, has closed).
When The Pyramids was first used as a venue for bands it was, if memory serves, at the instigation of the Portsmouth Venue Campaign. Ironically, in their efforts to build a new venue in the city the ended up creating one out of a leisure centre. I wonder if they can do the same with a conference centre.
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