Luton Town Football Club have stepped in to save the town’s world-renowned jazz and blues venue The Bear Club from closure, saying that “we simply could not stand by and let it happen. It means too much to the town.”
In January, the building in Mill Yard, just off Guildford Street, in which the popular night spot resides, was put up for sale, sparking fears for the “worst case scenario” by owners Giles Willits and Neil Simmonds.
A month later community efforts failed to secure the club’s future from a prospective new owner of the building’s freehold, who was not keen to retain the popular music spot.
However, the Bear Club’s owners teased a “promising development” in March, and it has now been revealed that the Hatters’ property division, 2020 Developments, is about to complete the purchsae of the Mill Yard site, saying in a statement, ‘town’s much loved The Bear Club is secured – in its current location, and in its current format!’
It comes after years of difficulties with the closure of the club threatened on mutiple occasions, despite being voted ‘one of the top 25 jazz clubs in the world’ by AllAboutJazz in 2018. But now The Bear Club will be seen as the first step in regenerating the area between Luton Railway Station and Luton Town’s new stadium which is set to be built at Power Court.
In a statement, the CEO of Luton Town FC and 2020 Developments, Gary Sweet said: ‘When we learnt that the building was about to be sold to a buyer which meant The Bear would be left homeless, we simply could not stand by and let it happen. It means too much to the town, its endangered nightlife and its independent cultural spirit.’
Michael Moran, 2020 Development’s Chief Operating Officer, added: ‘The acquisition of the Mill Yard building, and safeguarding of the Bear Club, is very important in the wider context of our commitment to the regeneration of Luton’s town centre.
‘As we’re soon to launch detailed plans for our exciting new stadium on the adjacent 20-acre Power Court site, and with The Bear Club sitting between us, the prospering cultural quarter, the train station and alongside the new Stage development, this is the start of a new era for a long-neglected area of the town that’s being brought back to brilliant new life. This location is a good investment for the club too, as we aim to fulfil the great potential of the whole area for our local and football communities.’
The Bear Club owners Mr Willits and Mr Simmonds, said: ‘The Bear Club is an important cultural asset for the town and we’re utterly delighted that the new owner of the building is stepping in to safeguard the future of the club in its current venue. We very much look forward to working with them.’
The news also comes two weeks away from Luton hosting Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Stockwood Park, a music festival which is set to see 100,000 fans flock to the town over the May Bank Holiday weekend, which will be headlined by Coldplay. Luton Town were also the host venue when Radio 1 made the announcement, while their Power Court stadium plans are expected to also contain a large capacity music venue.
