Grassroots arts venue reopens after closure fears

A groundswell of local support has led to a music venue reopening, its owner has said.

There were fears in March that the Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, could close down after its long-time manager left.

However, there was an outcry from musicians and after almost four months, the grassroots music centre reopened in August - and it has been hosting a weekend of live performances to mark its comeback.

Lucy Allen, a member of the Hunter family who own the club, said: "The local music community stepped up and said, 'this is really important and we want to help you get the club back on its feet'."

Allen, the centre's joint manager, added that locals wanted to "turn it back into something which is really needed in Bury St Edmunds".

"We've been working with lots of wonderful people, and it's a really strong grassroots music space and we're also trying to do that for the arts as well, so... visual arts theatre, language, dance."

The venue, in St Andrew's Street South, has provided a platform for bands and performers to showcase their music since 2009.

The centre underwent months of refurbishment, and its reopening has been welcomed by a string of local musicians who have been taking to its various stages at this weekend's Roomsfest event.

Josh Read, 24, from Suffolk band Decoupage, said: "Venues like this, and the rehearsal space connected to it, are vital as it's how bands get started and they eventually progress to playing bigger places.

"These promoters give them a chance while they're still cutting their teeth and learning their craft - without places like this there would be no live music.

"The prospect of this place was soul crushing... it's a lifeline for young bands starting up."

Fellow musician Sybbie Hoggar, 18, from thrash metal outfit Hello Kitty Funland, said: "It's important that we have places to go that aren't school or home.

"People value community a lot and it's really important that there's a space for that to happen."

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