To our valued customers, incredible artists, and the entire community who have made The Empire what it is;

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the difficult decision to close the doors of our beloved venue, The Empire, on September 13th. This has been an incredibly tough decision for our family, one we have wrestled with for a long time. The Empire has been more than just a business to us; it's been a passion project, a labour of love, and a true focal point for so many incredible memories. We have poured our hearts and souls into creating a space where music could thrive and where unforgettable experiences were made.

We are immensely grateful for every single band, artist, and performer who has graced our stage. Your talent, energy, and dedication have filled The Empire with an extraordinary spirit that we will forever cherish. Our deepest gratitude also goes to our incredibly hard-working staff and crew across the years, whose dedication truly made The Empire what it was. And to our loyal customers, thank you for your unwavering support, for dancing with us, singing with us, and being a part of The Empire family.

The reasons for this closure are complex and, sadly, reflect a wider trend affecting venues across the nation. The rising costs of operation, coupled with significant changes in entertainment habits, have created an unsustainable environment for a live music venue of our kind. 

This is not a challenge unique to The Empire; it's a battle many independent venues are facing, with an average of three closures of late night venues a week in the UK over the last three months, and nearly 800 closures of venues in the last five years. 

Unfortunately, we are not immune. We hold onto the hope that perhaps, in time, music and late-night venues and culture will receive the much-needed government support they deserve.

There are still a few more chances to come and experience this incredible venue, so we invite you to come along and make some amazing memories with us.

While this chapter is closing, we are absolutely committed to ensuring that this iconic building continues to be a vibrant part of our community. We are already actively exploring exciting new projects and potential uses for the space, and we promise to keep you updated every step of the way.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for the incredible journey.