Liverpool Music Venues

[john]

At last the Picket opens tonight with Deaf School and friends, should be a good night.
Keep music live

[Paul D]

The original Picket gave birth to some of our greatest bands so this new venue is necessary to give up and coming bands a much needed leg up,let's hope they can save Parr Street studios now,you can't just close the biggest recording studios outside of London like that for crappy appartments.

[Kev]

The original Picket gave birth to some of our greatest bands so this new venue is necessary to give up and coming bands a much needed leg up,let's hope they can save Parr Street studios now,you can't just close the biggest recording studios outside of London like that for crappy appartments.

ROCK star Phil Collins's property company has announced it will not shut down Liverpool's under-threat Parr Street studios, less than a week after a deal to save it collapsed.

But other businesses sharing the city centre site, including the celebrated 3345 private members club, a hotel and local design firms, still face the axe.

The pension fund that officially owns the Parr Street building, which belongs to the ex-Genesis frontman and two other former band members, yesterday announced it was withdrawing it from sale.

A statement posted on the official Genesis website said a new management team was being brought in to run the centre and review all of the businesses based there.

It comes less than a week after the company announced the site was being put on the open market, prompting fears the studios would shut down in the next few days.

A business consortium led by singer Thomas Lang, who is behind the 3345 bar tried to buy it, but the deal collapsed. The recording studios are the largest outside London and have attracted names such as Pulp, New Order and Coldplay.

The statement issued by the pension fund yesterday read: "The Trustees have decided to withdraw the building from the market and contrary to the rumours and half truths, Parr Street Studios will not be closing but will continue to be run by the present owners under a new management company.

"Although the staff have been advised that their present employment will cease at the end of June it is anticipated that most of them will be employed by the new management company.

"With regard to the rest of the building, a review is to take place as to the best commercial use of the upper floors and it is anticipated that some changes will be made."

The statement went on to question the trio's motives and personally attacked Mr Lang.

The pension fund claims that the business consortium offered £1.2m for the building, which it felt was too low because there would be a potential increase in value if planning permission was given and it was later upped to £1. 35m.

It added they pulled out of a deal because they were unhappy with the contract and the price they were being offered as well as questioning the motivates of the consortium.

It wanted to add a clause saying they must share the profits if the building got planning permission but was then sold.

Last night Mr Lang said: "I have got no confidence in the integrity of this announcement. The management has not contacted any of the tenants and it certainly looks like they want me out.

"We are seeking legal advice on this. This is not the end." Agents for the owners applied for planning permission to turn it into 47 apartments along with shop, office and leisure space but the application has still not been resolved.

Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside,: "I'm extremely surprised at the comments made because I have always found the consortium to be upfront and honourable.

"We must retain as much of this centre as possible. It is a very important part of Liverpool."

samlister@dailypost.co.uk

[Paul D]

I was made up when I heard this but Thomas Lang was still very cautious about this development so I'm not sure if he knows more than he's letting on about,surely the European Capital of Culture can't let the biggest recording studio outside of London be turned into appartments? Isn't this what culture is all about?

[Kev]

MUSICIANS and politicians have called on Liverpool council to save one of the city's most important cultural centres by ploughing £250,000 into a takeover bid.

Small businesses based in the Parr Street complex have been served with eviction notices, including the celebrated 3345 private members club, and told they must leave by July 31 by rock star Phil Collins's company, which owns it.

Last night, councillors on the Waterfront Neighbourhood Committee passed a motion calling for the council to hand over cash to help the consortium of tenants and local businesses buy the building.

Labour councillors have also sent an open letter to the council leader Warren Bradley and new chief executive Colin Hilton calling for them to intervene.


The pension fund that officially owns the Parr Street building, which belongs to the ex-Genesis frontman and two other former band members, wanted to close the centre and turn the building into apartments.


A business consortium led by singer Thomas Lang, who is behind the 3345 bar, tried to buy it, but the deal collapsed.


The recording studios are the largest outside London and have attracted names such as Pulp, New Order and Coldplay.

Owners Hit and Run then announced they were withdrawing the building from sale and the studios would remain open. But other businesses sharing the city centre site, including local design firms and music management companies, have been told to leave.

Cllr Steve Munby said: "How can we go forward to European Capital of Culture if we lose this? The council has a moral duty and a businesses and cultural incentive to protect Parr Street."

The consortium of tenants and local businesses has spent all year negotiating to buy the businesses for a price agreed in January.

"Now they've jacked the price up to £1.6m and issued eviction notices to the tenants. We need to call their bluff. Liverpool Culture Company spent around a quarter of a million on a one-off event at the Royal Court. Surely they can find the same amount to save the Parr Street studio?"

Earlier this year, agents for the owners applied for planning permission to turn it into 47 apartments along with shop, office and leisure space but the planning application has been deferred.

No one from Hit and Run was available for comment last night.

[Paul D]

I've done my bit by emailing the people on this list and I think everyone should do it even if you write one email and copy and paste it and send it to the other email addresses,it only take you a minute and will be worth it if we win.:snf (41):

I am writing to give you the latest news on the campaign to save Parr Street Studios, 33/45 Parr Street and all the groups and businesses working out of the building, who are threatened by Hit and Run's plans to convert the building into luxury flats.



Since January a local consortium representing tenants and two city centre entrepreneurs have been negotiating with Hit and Run to buy the building and preserve and promote existing uses. Hit and Run had said they would sell the building for £1.3 million. It seemed that the studios and the other businesses were saved and then late in May, Hit and Run suddenly withdrew from negotiations and announced they were putting the building back on the market.



In response to the wave of protest that followed they said they would keep the studios open, under new management and would sell the building to the consortium for £1.6 million. Earlier today tenants of the building received notice to quit from Hit and Run by July 31st, which would destroy much of what goes on in the building and casts grave doubt over claims the studios will stay open.



In response I and my fellow ward councillors have written to the Leader of the Council and the Acting Chief Executive calling on them to find £250,000 to help the consortium bridge the gap between what they had raised and the new asking price of Hit and Run. Joe Anderson, the Leader of the Labour Group has written to the Chief Executive of the Capital of Culture Company to ask the Board at a meeting tomorrow morning to find the money to bridge the gap. Similar sums have been spent on one-off events so it seems reasonable to invest in the long term culture of the city.

You can help by

- continuing to write to newspapers andthe music press, ringing radio stations, etc.

- e-mail the Genesis web site (treat with sensible scepticism thestatements about Parr Street you may find there) and Hit and Run: holly@hit-and-run.com calling on them to withdraw the eviction notices and re-open discussions with the consortium.

- e-mail the Leader of Liverpool City Council calling on him to find the £250,000 needed to bridge the gap to allow the consortium to buy the building: warren.bradley@liverpool.gov.uk and the Chief Executive of the Capital of Culture Company asking them to find the funds to bridge the gap: jason.harborow@liverpool.gov.uk


Thanks.

Councillor Steve Munby, Labour Councillor Riverside Ward.

[Kev]

THE council will step in to find £250,000 to save Liverpool's Parr Street studios after a unanimous vote last night. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17376768%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=council%2din%2dmove%2dto%2dsave%2dstudi os-name_page.html)

[Paul D]

THE council will step in to find £250,000 to save Liverpool's Parr Street studios after a unanimous vote last night. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17376768%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=council%2din%2dmove%2dto%2dsave%2dstudi os-name_page.html)


What took them so long? this is seriously good news though.:)

[Terry]

Well i'm sure there will be a sigh of relief after hearing that news!.But it still seems like all is not cut & dry yet unless i'm mistaken.Is there still a danger of this place being under threat if the money is not found in time?.
I presume the other businesses in there are ticking over & able to cover their rents.:snf (41):

[Paul D]

Well i'm sure there will be a sigh of relief after hearing that news!.But it still seems like all is not cut & dry yet unless i'm mistaken.Is there still a danger of this place being under threat if the money is not found in time?.
I presume the other businesses in there are ticking over & able to cover their rents.:snf (41):

Yes I don't reckon it's safe until the money is found but at least the council have give it their backing which is something they had remained tight lipped about in the past so we're now moving in the right direction at least.

[Kev]

THE future of the world-famous Parr Street studios in Liverpool was assured today after city councillors agreed a £50,000 loan. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=world-famous-parr-street-studios-secure%26method=full%26objectid=18697596%26siteid= 50061-name_page.html)