Just days left to stop The Cellar from closing

Stewart Lee is backing a campaign to save a significant Oxford venue from closure.

The comic played The Cellar several times in the 2000s, when it regularly ran comedy nights.

It sill hosts stand-up nights but is more widely known as an indie music venue which has played host to the likes of Foals, The National Mumford & Sons and Supergrass’s Gaz Coombes early in their careers. 

However it is now at risk because new regulations mean its fire escape is not big enough for its 150 capacity – meaning the maximum audience has been cut to just 60, which is unviable.

The Cellar has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the £80,000 it needs to come up to scratch and expand the capacity again.

And while £67,000 has been raised already, there are just five days left to raise the remaining £13,000.

Lee has vowed to donate unusual objects found in his own cellar, as well as a set of all his available DVDs, books, CDs, vinyl etc, to one of the donors chosen at random.

And he may perform some sort of fundraiser at the venue in the New Year should the initial target be reached. 

Many local bands have also donated rewards to the crowdfunding campaign, which is here. 

Venue manager Tim Hopkins said: ‘We feel The Cellar is an important place fro young musicians and DJs to come and hone their craft before they go on to bigger venues. There’s a real big gap in the market for stepping-stone venues.’

Published: 22 Nov 2018