New owners found to keep Bear Club ‘on the rails’

Justin Doherty behind the bar at The Bear Club
Justin Doherty behind the bar at The Bear Club

The Bear Club will get a new lease of life after new owners were announced. 

The internationally renowned jazz and blues music venue was due to close after the former owner Justin Doherty admitted the “financial sword of Damocles swings overhead”.

But new owners Neil and Giles have been revealed, with the club set to reopen in February under their stewardship. 

In an email bulletin to fans of The Bear Club, Mr Doherty wrote: ‘Having been approached a few weeks ago, meetings have taken place at a furious pace to see what is possible and how, when and what might be the future.

‘I will be gone, remaining only in spirit and questionable carpentry, but the club will ride again.
‘The new owners, Neil and Giles, love The Bear. They are passionate about keeping it alive, and that motivation had to be listened to. 

‘If one thing has been consistent over the last few months, it was the question from all of you as to whether there was anyone to buy it, or hand it over to. 

‘Until this point, and across the years, the answer was a solid no. Of course, there was a lot of flippant offers over the bar, but there really hadn’t been anyone who’d demonstrated the equal amount of passion, ethos and respect that was required to pry this project from my fingers. 

‘Well, essentially, that’s it. We have a handful of amazing Bear events left under my reign, I’ll be seeing you all there, and then I’ll ride off into a future of more filmmaking, music, therapy… who knows. 
‘Your job, now The Bear remains, is to return the love to Neil and Giles. Let’s reward them for sticking their necks out for Luton and music, and for keeping this thing on the rails.’