Five DHP Family live music venues have been identified as the UK’s most popular grassroots venues. These include Rock City, The Bodega and Rescue Rooms in Nottingham, and Borderline and Garage in London. Live entertainment guide, Ents24 collated the list of most popular grassroots music venues region by region. Of the 22,500 active venues listed on Ents24, five DHP Family’s venues came out on top as venues most tracked by Ents24’s two million monthly visitors.
Anton Lockwood, director of DHP Live said: “It’s particularly pleasing to see our venues are among the most popular in the country with the people who really matter – the people who buy tickets and get out to see live music. DHP is committed to having independent venues which provide the best experience for people attending shows. Thanks to Ents24 for showing that people are looking out for what we do!”
DHP Family dominated the East Midlands category, with The Bodega, Rescue Rooms and Rock City winning best small (under 350 capacity), medium (351-650) and large (651+) venue respectively. Over in London The Borderline came out on top for best small venue, while The Garage won best medium. Acquired by DHP Family in May 2016, The Garage, with a long and rich history within London’s live music and nightlife scene, is due to relaunch in February with two independent live music spaces as well as a daytime coffee spot, craft beer and cocktail bar.
Ents24’s Adam Brooks said: “As founder members of the Music Venues Alliance, veterans of Venues Day, and through our daily work with the 22,500 active venues listed on Ents24, we put our belief in the cultural and economic importance of the UK’s live music venues into practice. Whilst the business of running an amazing venue isn’t a popularity contest, we wanted to recognise the grassroots venues that fans return to again and again, and encourage everybody to take a look at what’s happening near them during Independent Venue Week – and beyond.”
The full list of the UK’s most popular grassroots venues can be found online here