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
