Support Motion, Protect Bristol’s Culture: Help Us to Build Our New Home
Our Story
For nearly 20 years, Motion has been at the heart of Bristol’s nightlife – a place where music unites people and unforgettable memories are created. What started as a skate park in a former gasworks has grown into one of the UK’s most respected venues, welcoming artists from around the world and generations of music lovers. More than just a club, Motion has been a home for creativity, community, and connection.
Facing Uncertainty
Unfortunately, we’ve recently received confirmation that our lease will not be renewed when it expires in July 2025, placing the future of the venue in serious jeopardy. In response, we’ve submitted a bid to purchase the property in an effort to safeguard Motion’s legacy. However, as time passes and with no response from the landowners, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the opportunity to stay is slipping away.
Reshaping Our Future
But we’re not giving up. We’ve made the decision to take matters into our own hands and start the search for a new home for Motion. And we need your help to make it happen.
If Motion has meant something to you; if you’ve danced here, fallen in love here, discovered music here, made friends, or simply felt free – this is your chance to give back. Share our story. Donate if you can. Spread the word. Help us secure a future that no one can take away.
This is the beginning of a new chapter, and we hope you’ll be part of it.
How Your Funds Will Help
Your contributions will directly support the deposit for a new venue and help us transform it into a world-class space ready to welcome a new generation of music lovers. By supporting Motion, you’re not just helping secure a new home; you’re investing in the future of Bristol’s music scene, preserving a vital cultural institution, and ensuring that independent nightlife continues to thrive in our city for years to come.
Equity Investment Opportunity
As we prepare to close the doors on our current space, we’re inviting you to be part of Motion’s next chapter. This is your chance to invest in one of the UK’s most iconic cultural institutions and help us secure a permanent home for the future of Bristol’s nightlife.
We are offering an equity investment opportunity in a freehold building, with investments ranging from £250 to £50,000 and fixed annual returns of 4% over 5 years.
This is not just an investment in property; it’s an investment in community, creativity, and culture. The UK’s leisure and hospitality sector contributes over £70 billion to the economy annually. With your support, we can ensure Bristol continues to flourish as one of the country’s leading cultural capitals.To learn more about investment opportunities, please email us at press@motion-bristol.com.
30.07.2025 // THANK YOU.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported Motion over the past 19 years. Whether you came once or were here every weekend, you’ve been part of something special.
Motion has always been more than just a club, it’s been a home for Bristol’s underground culture. A place where people from all walks of life came together to connect, get lost in the music, and feel part of something real. It’s been chaotic, raw, imperfect, and completely Bristol.
One thing we’re incredibly proud of is being the first venue in the country to secure noise easements written directly into planning conditions. That was a landmark moment. It recognised the cultural value of nightlife in a city undergoing rapid change and showed that development doesn’t have to come at the cost of identity. We’re also extremely proud to be recognised as one of the world’s best clubs.
However, the truth is that the challenges facing nightlife today are more intense than ever. It’s not just the economic pressure, though rising costs have been relentless; it’s the structural shift within the industry itself. Festivals stacking line-ups and locking in artists for exclusive runs have drained clubs of talent and energy. But clubs matter. They are where artists learn, grow, and take risks. They are where scenes are born and communities are formed. These are the spaces where barriers around race, class, and identity fall away; where people meet, learn from each other, and dance together. That’s worth protecting.
Our final weekend was a blur of emotions and pure chaos in the best possible way – 36 hours of non-stop music and memories. We wanted to sign off properly, the only way we know how. Friday night saw a huge DnB event finishing at 6am, rolling straight into a Saturday day party from 2pm to 11pm, then seamlessly transitioning into Just Jack from 6pm on Saturday until 10pm on Sunday. It felt like everyone who had ever been part of the journey showed up: friends, family, past and present staff, and people who had traveled from all over the world to be there. We celebrated our culture, together.
Motion isn’t gone; it lives on in everyone who passed through its doors, in the careers it sparked, and the city it helped shape.
Motion is Bristol.
Huge thanks to the full team who made the weekend happen: from logistics and marketing to bar staff, security, and site crew. Over 100 artists, promoters, and creatives came together to turn our wild ideas into a reality.
Special thanks to the local contributors who’ve always backed us and shaped Bristol’s scene – Anton Bailey, Kelvin & Born on Road, Hayliegh Beckles. You are what makes this city special.
A huge shout out to Just Jack: bringing them back for the opening night of our closing weekend meant everything. It wasn’t easy. There were late-night phone calls, last-minute hurdles, and constant back and forth. But we knew it had to happen. Just Jack helped define Motion’s early years: the sound, the energy, the spirit. Having them back to close the circle felt emotional, powerful, and absolutely right. Massive thanks to Dan, Tommy, and Jethro – you pulled it off, and we’ll never forget it.
We also want to be honest about what happened with the site. We fought hard to buy it. We explored every option. But in the end, it didn’t work out. The playing field isn’t level. The property system in the UK favours large investors, pension funds, and commercial developers. Rents continue to rise, and there’s a lack of opportunities for independent venues, studios, and grassroots organisations. This isn’t just about Motion It’s a wider issue of cultural spaces being priced out of the cities they helped make vibrant and liveable.
That said, we’re genuinely grateful to our landlords, who supported us over the past two decades and gave us the space to create, grow, and be ourselves. We also appreciate the backing from Bristol City Council, they stood by us where they could. But in the end, landlords aren’t obligated to sell or offer long-term leases. People make their own choices, and we respect that.
To everyone who donated to our fundraiser: thank you. Your support meant the world to us. It gave us the fuel to fight, the belief that this space mattered, and the strength to keep going.
So now it’s about what comes next. We need to adapt, regroup, and build something new; something that can stand the test of time. That’s always been our spirit, and we’re not stopping now. When we found out this could all be over, and everything you’ve seen unfolding since November; we knew we had to make the best of the situation, hold our heads high, and find a way to keep this going. The closing weekend was a celebration and a new start.
Motion 2.0 is coming, and we can’t wait to build it together.
Team Motion x
14.03.2025 // AN UPDATE ON MOTION’S FUTURE
We’ve put forward a strong, carefully thought-out bid to the landlords of the Motion site, one that not only offers a significant sum of money but also lays out a solid planning case for why the venue must remain. This isn’t just about buying ourselves a bit more time; it’s about securing Motion for generations to come.
Since we announced that our lease was ending, the support has been overwhelming. From the people who’ve raved here to the artists and promoters who’ve built their careers on our dancefloors, to local voices who understand what Motion means to Bristol; this place matters. But despite all our efforts, it’s becoming increasingly likely that we’ll have to leave the venue in July.
Our bid makes it crystal clear: Motion isn’t just a nightclub. It’s a vital part of Bristol’s cultural and economic ecosystem. It’s a space that brings people together, provides jobs, and contributes millions to the local economy. It aligns with the council’s own policies on protecting cultural spaces, yet time and time again, we’ve seen how easily these spaces can be lost. The bureaucracy and planning red tape that developers see as an inconvenience should actually be used to protect places like Motion, not leave them exposed to redevelopment. The policies exist; the question is whether the council is willing to stand by them.
We’ve been working behind the scenes to secure the strongest possible future for Motion. We don’t have a billionaire owner or a corporate backer bankrolling us—but we have something far more powerful: you. The artists, the promoters, the community, and every single person who has stepped through Motion’s doors over the past 20 years. You are the reason this venue is still alive, and together, we’ll make sure it stays that way.
We’ve secured significant financial backing and have the support of local bodies that recognise Motion’s value, including efforts to have the venue registered as an Asset of Community Value. That’s an important step, but let’s be real—it shouldn’t have to come to this.
If Motion goes, Bristol loses more than just a venue. It loses a part of its soul. This city has always been known for its independent spirit, its raw energy, and its music scene that punches far above its weight. Watching spaces like this disappear, knowing more could have been done to protect them, is gutting. It’s happening in every major city, and it’s happening here. We’re fighting it with everything we’ve got, but we need the powers that be to step up too.
We’re not done yet. We’ll keep pushing, we’ll keep fighting, and we’ll keep working towards a future where Motion, and spaces like it, can thrive. We’ve got some big news coming soon. Keep your eyes peeled.
24.11.2024 // LEASE EXPIRATION & FUTURE UNCERTAINTY
An important message from Daniel Deeks, Managing Director.
Introduction
I’m writing today to provide a detailed explanation of why our venue, Motion, will be closing in July 2025. This statement is intended to expand on our initial announcement and offer more specific details for anyone who wants a comprehensive understanding of the situation.
The UK has long been celebrated for its vibrant nightlife, with venues known for their unique atmospheres, music, and experiences. However, in recent years, the industry has faced mounting challenges, making it increasingly difficult for venues to stay open. Economic pressures, changing regulations, and social factors have significantly impacted the sector, transforming the UK’s nightlife landscape.
The struggle to keep venues open reflects broader economic and societal changes. Although efforts have been made to support the industry, these closures represent more than business losses—they signal the erosion of cultural heritage and vital social spaces. Protecting these venues is essential for preserving the vibrancy and diversity of the UK’s music and arts scenes. Without addressing these challenges, future generations risk inheriting a diminished and less diverse nightlife culture.
Despite these difficulties, Motion has remained a viable and successful business. We’ve built resilience through a diverse lineup of events and various revenue streams, allowing us to sustain operations. Our events attract people from across the UK, balancing high-profile shows with affordable options for local residents. This commitment is vital in a time when rising living costs and other pressures weigh heavily on young people. For us, music is more than just entertainment—it’s a unifying force, creating community and bridging divides in an increasingly fragmented world.
Motion’s success stems from a focus on operational efficiency, strategic partnerships, and an experienced team that adapts to changing trends. Innovation, artist collaborations, and a wide range of events have kept us at the heart of the local nightlife scene. Support from our community and our commitment to quality programming have ensured we remain relevant and profitable.
How We Got Here
Our current building is leased, and it’s always been a balancing act to respect the landlord’s potential plans to sell or realize the asset while continuing our operations. We had an opportunity to potentially purchase the building, but only if it were not used as a going concern. The costs involved meant that developing the property to create other revenue streams would be necessary to make it a sustainable long-term investment.
We created a detailed plan to maximize value for the landlord and present a significant opportunity for Bristol. Given the building’s listed status, this plan was ambitious and focused on maintaining the ground floor for its current cultural use while adding affordable creative spaces above. This vision was inspired by Bristol’s history of supporting creative communities and nurturing talent.
To determine whether this plan would align with local planning policy, we conducted an extensive pre-application process with Bristol City Council last year. The feedback was positive; the council recognized the importance of retaining the building’s cultural use and emphasized that any additional height or development would only be supported if it contributed to Motion’s ongoing role as a cultural space.
Key statements from Bristol City Council included:
“The acceptability or otherwise of the additional height will be closely linked to the actual uses that would be delivered – and the ongoing use of Motion as a cultural space, alongside the public benefits that are linked with this, is supported.”
“It is noted that application ref: 22/05850/CE established the lawful use as a nightclub, entertainment, and live music venue (Sui Generis). Motion as a venue needs to ensure the long-term longevity and viability of the music venue, which has national prominence and is an economic asset to the city.”
These comments underscore that Bristol City Council has adopted a long-term, supportive stance toward Motion. Changing the site’s use entirely or significantly altering its purpose would not be supported in the future.
This context clarifies that, despite our resilience and commitment, the pressures and limitations surrounding our building and its potential development have brought us to this point. The building’s owner understandably wants to maximize the asset’s value, which may involve future development or a potential sale. On the other hand, the council recognizes Motion’s cultural importance and insists that any changes align with preserving this use.
The implications for future development and sale are complex. If the building were to be sold or significantly redeveloped without regard for its established use as a cultural venue, it would likely face strong resistance from the council. Their policies make it clear that any change in use would need to be justified by public benefits and support Motion’s continued operation or a similar cultural asset. This means that any prospective buyer or developer would need to consider these limitations, potentially affecting the attractiveness of the sale or the feasibility of any major development plans.
Reversing the council’s support for retaining the building’s current use would require a substantial policy shift or a successful planning application that could prove alternative public benefits. This process would take months, if not years, and would face public scrutiny and potential legal challenges. It’s not just a matter of flipping a switch; extensive consultations, policy evaluations, and likely community pushback would be necessary.
A possible solution could involve development plans that maintain the venue’s cultural use on the ground floor while allowing for viable commercial opportunities above, as our previous plan proposed. This could provide a path forward that satisfies the building owner’s financial goals, aligns with the council’s policy on cultural spaces, and ensures that Motion remains part of Bristol’s fabric.
In the end, preserving venues like Motion isn’t just about business—it’s about community, culture, and legacy. Any remedy must consider the long-term benefits to Bristol’s nightlife and creative scene, ensuring that future generations inherit more than just memories.
Bristol City Council has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the city’s cultural spaces, and Motion has been a significant beneficiary of this forward-thinking approach. One impactful measure is the conditioning of deed of easements around Motion, ensuring the venue is protected from potential noise complaints arising from nearby developments. By placing the responsibility on new developers to inform residents about existing noise levels, the council acknowledges the importance of protecting long-standing venues like ours, which contribute so much to Bristol’s identity.
They’ve also adopted the “agent of change” principle, which has been transformative for venues like Motion. This policy mandates that any new residential or commercial development near an established venue must take measures to mitigate potential noise.
Uncertain Time and Impending Closure
Our lease is set to expire in July 2025, and as it stands, the current plan is for us to cease trading at that point. This impending lease expiration brings significant uncertainty and concern—not just for us as Motion’s operators, but for everyone connected to the venue, including our dedicated staff, the artists who call this place home, and the wider Bristol community that has supported us through thick and thin.
The reality is that the end of our lease brings the prospect of the building being sold or repurposed, which could mean the loss of a venue that has been a pillar of the local and national nightlife scene for years. Sale or redevelopment could spell the end of an era, transforming a vibrant cultural space into something unrecognizable and disconnected from the music and arts community it has served.
This situation has consequences beyond the closure of one venue. Motion’s loss would affect Bristol’s identity as a cultural hub and diminish its reputation for supporting arts, music, and creative expression. Venues like ours contribute significantly to the local economy, bringing in revenue not only from ticket sales but from hospitality, tourism, and local services that thrive from the events we host.
Several potential pathways forward exist, though each presents its own set of challenges. For instance, a new lease agreement would need to include terms that allow us to continue operating sustainably. Alternatively, a sale to an owner willing to uphold its use as a cultural venue could be a lifeline, though finding such a buyer depends on recognizing the importance of preserving what Motion represents.
Navigating this situation requires respecting our landlord’s decision while considering the broader implications for the local community, the cultural landscape, and Bristol’s identity as a city. Spaces like Motion are irreplaceable; they are essential.
The council and UK government also have a responsibility to uphold their policies to protect cultural venues. Their support is critical in shaping a path forward that allows Motion to thrive at its current site. By reinforcing their commitment to preserving cultural spaces, they can help secure a future where Motion not only survives but grows as a vital part of Bristol’s community.
The potential loss of Motion raises important questions about Bristol’s aspirations. Will we continue championing culture and creativity, or do we risk losing a vital part of what makes the city unique? With combined effort from local authorities, the government, and the community, we can work to ensure that venues like Motion are not only recognized for their value but actively supported for generations to come.
Summary
As we reach this difficult juncture, we are deeply saddened by the reality that Motion may have to close its doors in July 2025. Being part of Bristol’s vibrant scene has been a privilege, and the city has given us so much. Yet, it sometimes feels that Bristol doesn’t fully recognize the value of its cultural spaces. The city’s creativity and music scene are the lifeblood of its identity, but the challenges we face as a venue make it clear that preserving and supporting these spaces is not always as straightforward as it should be.
Navigating this uncertain future is challenging, especially when the value of our culture sometimes feels overlooked. Nonetheless, we remain hopeful that through collective effort and understanding, Motion can continue to thrive, and Bristol can learn to better appreciate and protect the cultural gems that make it so unique.
For any press inquiries surrounding this announcement, please contact press@motion-bristol.com