After many rumours over the last month The Barfly group has taken over the Digbeth Institute building previously run by the Sanctuary club. Currently Barfly sublet the back room with its entrance on Milk Street with a capacity of 400. This will increase their Birmingham audience sizes to 2,250, albeit split between at least three rooms. Comparatively the soon to be relocated (possibly to the old Dome building on Bristol St) Academy venue holds 3,000.
via BhamPostJoanna
This is great news – about time we had a mid-level venue in Brum…and the Barfly needs a bit of an over-haul!
Anyone know any more about the future of the Academy and when it’s likely to move??
I saw the Sanctuary was closed – I hope this is why! Let’s hope the new venue becomes the effective Academy replacement. Much more character (I have fond memories of seeing Mogwai there) – indeed, I hope they don’t arse this up in refurbishing and refitting “with state of the art facilities”. Frankly I’d rather see it open sooner and a lot grubbier.
The academy is going to the site of the old dome. For those of you who remember those long trips underneath the motorway and the ever friendly bouncers i’m sure that we will all be looking forward to it!
Story on this in this week’s weeks Music Week.
There’s city council and AWM money in the refurb presumably through regeneration zone funds no doubt. The Barfly venue at the back will increase to 600 as part of the refurb and The Sanctuary will revert back to being The Institute.
Dave
Havn’t seen much yet- can’t say