A CROWDFUNDING campaign has been launched to help keep the doors of a live music venue in Bradford city centre open.

Sally Brown’s on North Parade opened in November 2021 but announced last weekend that it would be shutting “with immediate effect”.

Owner Steven Davis cited several factors that contributed to his decision, one of which he said was a certain “negative attitude and mindset when it comes to Bradford that seemingly prevents any growth”.

A campaign has now been launched to help save the venue after the news was met with sadness and disappointment.

Steven said: “Crowdfunding was not something we had considered as a route to help save Sally Brown's.

“We are a 100 per cent self-funded start-up live music venue based in Bradford, like many other music venues, we have been struggling with the rising costs to operate a business.

“Sally Brown's has closed its doors, and as it stands this is permanent.

"We wouldn't have dreamt to ask for funding of any sort to remain open, however we have been completely blown away by the support from our customers online having close to 800 comments over three Facebook posts supporting us and urging us to fight.”

He added: “We were asked if we had considered crowdfunding to help us get back on our feet to ensure we can continue contributing to bills to allow time to secure additional funding from a start-up loan.

“A start-up loan can take anything from between 6-8 weeks and is something that we'd not considered previously or deemed an urgent requirement.

“We'd managed up until this point going month to month, however unfortunately and relatively quickly, business costs have increased, and we'd seen another fall in footfall, possibly due to the cost-of-living crisis and potentially due to the regeneration work taking place currently on North Parade.

"Now it's clear that we must consolidate operational costs.

“We are so passionate about Sally Brown's success; all the hard work has already been done.

“Any funding will help us to get back on track to re-focus, re-align and allow time to secure additional loan-funding for us to ensure we open throughout the week.

“Currently all revenue is accumulated from just Friday and Saturday nights, we have some great plans that will enable us open through the week that will ultimately increase revenue and stabilise the business.”

To read more about the campaign and to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/save-sally-browns

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