The Pipeline, a Brighton music venue, has been purchased by Music Venue Properties (MVP), a non-profit organization dedicated to securing the future of grassroots music venues. Among the investors supporting this acquisition are DJ Fatboy Slim and Andy Burnham.
MVP operates on a model of buying music venues to ensure their longevity, earning it the nickname "The National Trust for music venues." Thomas Evrenos, who has managed The Pipeline since 2017, expressed relief at the change in ownership.
"For the future of the venue this means a lot because having a landlord that understands what we are doing, and realises that our purpose is to create a place that is good for musicians, is super important," Evrenos stated. "I'm super happy. If it didn't turn out like this and someone had tried to increase the rent, then I would have probably given up."
Peter Cornforth, representing MVP, highlighted the importance of live music spaces in vibrant cities like Brighton. "Brighton is a really vibrant place but you need live spaces for people to come and learn their craft," Cornforth said. "We are about the preservation of the key role that grassroots venues play, both for artists and in their communities."