A music venue has been saved from closure after a charity stepped in to buy the historic building.

The Booking Hall in Dover has been taken over by Music Venue Properties (MVP), which is part of the Music Venue Trust, a charity that works to safeguard grassroots music venues across the UK.

Earlier this year, business owner Stuart Cameron spoke about how the venue, in a 165-year-old former train station, was at risk of closure as the landlord was looking to sell the Grade II-listed property.

Mr Cameron set up a fundraiser in April with the hope of buying the building and managed to raise more than £22,000.

After seeking advice from MVP, Mr Cameron realised the building was “more affordable” than he first thought and worked with the trust on the community purchase.

Now the purchase is complete, he said he is “very excited for the future of the venue”.

“It has been a long journey but we are relieved,” said Mr Cameron.

“We have a lot planned over the next two years which will hopefully see many improvements to the venue for customers and touring acts alike.

“Many of these improvements simply would not be possible without ownership of the building.

“Most importantly the venue is now protected for the foreseeable future.

“Without Music Venue Properties stepping in to purchase the venue, the most likely outcome would have been a property developer turning the building into flats/offices.”

Mr Cameron says there are “exciting times ahead” and he is looking at ways to increase the venue capacity.

“To know that the venue is secure for many generations to come is a great relief and definitely something to celebrate,” he added.

“Having MVP as a landlord, one who shares our vision for the venue, enables us to plan for the future – both in the short term and long term.

“As well as continuing to support local musicians and provide a stage for up-and-coming artists, we are already having positive discussions with MVP about how we could make changes to the building, which could allow us to increase our capacity and in turn bring bigger bands to Dover.

“These certainly weren’t the kind of conversations we could have had prior to MVP’s ownership so we look forward to working together to realise the potential of the building.”

Mr Cameron started The Booking Hall in 2017 offering a 280-capacity space for both up-and-coming and established artists including Don Broco, Frank Turner and Soft Play.

Known for its rich history and role in live music and events, The Booking Hall will now benefit from long-term security under MVP’s initiative called #OwnOurVenues.

The initiative first launched in 2022 and focuses on removing grassroots music venues from vulnerable commercial leases by placing them into community ownership.

The aim is to provide long-term stability to venues, something the charity says is essential for fostering local talent and providing cultural value to communities.

Matthew Otridge, chief operating officer at Music Venue Properties, said: "We are delighted to announce that The Booking Hall has become the fourth venue that MVP has moved into community ownership.

“As the only recognised Grassroots Music Venue in Dover, it was crucial that MVP got involved when we did to safeguard this vital community hub.

“It became clear to us that we had made the right decision when the campaign to save the venue received significant backing from the people of Dover and beyond, and we'd like to thank them alongside our partners at Arts Council England and Figurative, for making this happen"

A plaque will be installed on the outside of the venue dated October 25, to mark when the purchase was complete.

Claire Mera-Nelson, director at Music - Arts Council England, said: "We’re thrilled that another grassroots music venue has had its future secured by Music Venue Properties through the investment of Arts Council England and other partners and the commitments made by music fans and the local community.

“The Booking Hall is a vital part of Dover’s grassroots music scene and we’re looking forward to seeing them thrive and continue to provide outstanding experiences for artists and audiences for many years to come."

Music Venue Properties is a Charitable Community Benefit Society (CCBS) created by Music Venue Trust to purchase grassroots music venues across the UK, conserve them as cultural sites and remove them from commercial ownership.

Utilising a friendly ‘cultural lease,’ it aims to reduce rents, make contributions to insurance/repairs and offer rent breaks in the face of adverse conditions.