Pub raises more than £17k through Crowdfunder to 'clear debts'

The Post Bar Live Music & Grill in Tottenham, which was established in November 2018, started the fundraiser on Crowdfunder earlier this year and reached a total of £17,160 from 406 supporters by Friday 26 April.

Combining “hospitality, theatre and music”, the pub, which has been recognised by Arts Council England as a grassroots music venue, claimed to have curated and hosted more than 200 events per year since it opened.

However, the Crowdfunder page stated the businesses had been “feeling the strain from mounting challenges” in the past year and needed some help to continue its “commitment to live music”.

Significant challenges 

The page said: “The past year presented significant challenges, with over 120 grassroots music venues shutting in the UK alone.

“We're in solidarity with our peers across the grassroots sector, grappling with escalating energy and supplier costs, burdensome VAT, and soaring rents. 

“The London hospitality scene, in particular, is feeling the strain from these mounting challenges and the relentless surge in supplier expenses.

“Despite the challenges and sometimes wondering how we can keep going our commitment to live music is still there we just need some help.”

In addition, the pub explained while it had opted to not take bounce back loans during the pandemic, it had accrued debts over the past year due to increased utility rates and “tax obligations”.

On the back-foot

This comes as the number of pub closures surged to their highest total level for more than a decade in 2023, recent data from Price Bailey​ revealed.

The page continued: “Recently, we've revitalised the space, reduced prices, and made most nights free entry before 11 pm.

“We've hosted family events again, reintroduced food delivery, and adjusted our live music programming due to uncertain ticket returns.

“We don't want to lose the live music aspect of our venue so we need your help.”

It added: “We have to keep The Post Bar going but we worry if our fundraiser isn't successful we will forever more be on the back-foot and we won't be able to support the business and close the doors entirely.”