The aim is relocation to a new permanent home
A club night at Motion in Bristol(Image: Motion)
Bosses at Bristol’s most famous nightclub venues have announced they intend to buy a new site and move there, and have launched a campaign to raise £250,000 to be able to do it.
Motion and its sister venue The Marble Factory are set to close in July after the site’s owners chose not to renew the lease with the club that has been there nearly 20 years.
The club is in a former industrial site near Temple Meads station and is at the heart of the new Temple Quarter regeneration zone with similar sites around it being redeveloped for student accommodation.
Now, Motion are launching a #KeepMotionMoving campaign, with the aim of raising £250,000 to ‘establish a permanent home for Motion and its sister venue, Marble Factory – ensuring their lasting impact on Bristol’s vibrant music scene’.
Last month, Motion announced it had received ‘significant financial backing’ in its fight to stay open, but attempts to persuade the site’s owners to sell it to them and allow the club to stay appear to have failed as the lease ending deadline approaches.
Now, instead of talking about efforts to remain on the Temple Quarter site, Motion are instead now focussed on finding somewhere else.
A spokesperson for the venue said: “The campaign is focused on securing a permanent home for Motion by relocating to a new freehold property in Bristol. By owning its space, Motion can remain protected from the external pressures that have already forced the closure of numerous venues across the country.
“To achieve this, Motion is calling on the community, music lovers, and investors to contribute through crowdfunding or investment opportunities. All funds raised will be held in trust, ensuring that Motion remains a dedicated space for music and the arts for generations to come,” she added.
READ MORE: Motion reveals ‘significant financial backing’ in fight to stay openREAD MORE: First image of the complete transformation of Temple Quarter revealed
Daniel Law-Deeks, the managing director of Motion, added: “Motion is more than just a club, it’s a cultural institution that has put Bristol on the global music map.
“Losing it would be a devastating blow to the city’s nightlife, economy, and creative industries. We need our community’s support now more than ever to ensure Motion’s legacy continues.” he added.
The campaign is asking for financial support in two different ways. There’s a crowdfunder which is accepting donations in return for exclusive rewards including limited-edition merchandise, VIP guestlist access and lifetime membership opportunities.
A queue for Motion garden party in 2021(Image: Bristol Live)
And then there is an investment option, through which Motion said investors can earn a four per cent annual return.
As the final weekend Motion is open draws nearer, more details have emerged about Motion’s plans for that closing weekend. Tickets for the last day – Saturday, July 19, will go on sale on Wednesday, April 30, with sign ups for the final 6pm – late event, opening on Monday, April 28.