Closure confirmed for music venue that kick-started careers
BIRMINGHAM music venue The Flapper will be closed in January after 50 years – despite the fact that plans to build apartments there remain in limbo.
More than 12,000 people have petitioned to save the canal-side pub in the city centre, some of whom turned up at Birmingham City Council’s planning committee last week where its fate was due to be decided.
But the developer, Baskerville Wharf, confirmed it is to be shut anyway, prior to the committee’s decision to defer the 27-apartment proposal, so that they could visit the site. planning consultant John Jowitt, speaking on the developer’s behalf, said: “The fabric of the building requires considerable investment to bring it up to modern-day standards for a music venue, which is simply not viable.
“As landlords, the applicants have reduced the rent by 25 per cent for the last eight years subsidising the existing operation, it is clearly not sustainable.
“The applicant has previously offered to work with the operators to find another venue, however this offer has been declined. As a consequence January today.”
Jez Collins had addressed the committee on behalf of campaigners to the premises will 7, 2020 whatever close on happens save The Flapper. He argued it was the venue which helped kick-start the Editors band while providing a valuable stage for scores of up-and-coming musicians.
Mr Collins added: “The Flapper plays an integral role in the local music industry welcoming musicians and fans from across the region and the UK, contributing to the cultural economic viability of the city.
“At a time when we are welcoming more visitors to the city than ever before we should be supporting not closing our cultural assets.”
Cllr Lou Robson said that cultural venues across the city were at risk and claimed Birmingham had already delivered ‘well over our quota’ for one- and two-bedroom apartment schemes.