Leeds Northern Guitars' future secured after acquisition by Music Venue Properties
The Call Lane grassroots music venue has been permanently protected under community ownership, removing it from commercial property market risks
A vital fixture of the Leeds city centre music scene has had its long-term future permanently secured.
Northern Guitars, located on Call Lane, has been officially acquired by Music Venue Properties (MVP), a pioneering charitable Community Benefit Society.
The purchase marks the venue's transition into permanent protection under community ownership, removing the building from the risks of the commercial property market and safeguarding it as a local cultural asset.
Northern Guitars has been supporting working musicians since 1989, and for the last decade, the venue has provided an important first step for emerging artists. After surviving the pandemic with support from the Music Venue Trust, the venue faced an uncertain future when its landlord decided to sell the building last year.
MVP stepped in to purchase the freehold, ensuring local and touring artists will continue to have a stage for years to come.
"If we had to sum up Music Venue Properties taking ownership of our building in one word, it would be: relax," said Dave Baguley and Rick Wade of Northern Guitars. "This purchase protects a rare grassroots music venue in Leeds city centre and ensures local and touring artists will continue to have a stage for years to come.
“It gives us the confidence to focus on what we do best: championing new talent and building our music community."
Baguley and Wade added that keeping the space as a live music fixture rather than letting it become "another generic bar" is something the whole cultural community can celebrate.
Since launching in 2022, Music Venue Properties has raised over £7 million to protect grassroots spaces across the UK through a combination of community investment, with fans able to purchase shares from as little as £50, and vital support from cultural partners including Arts Council England, the UK Government, and Figurative.
More than 2,500 music fans have invested in the scheme so far, including high-profile backers such as Squeeze co-founder Glenn Tilbrook, singer-songwriter Katie Melua, and Marshall Amplification’s Terry and Lesley Marshall.
The acquisition of Northern Guitars will be celebrated with a series of specially curated live events at the venue over the coming months to mark the milestone.
Music fans can continue to invest in and support the wider campaign by visiting the Own Our Venues website.