The future of a much loved grassroots music venue in Newport has been safeguarded. Music Venue Properties (MVP) has announced Le Pub as the latest venue to join its portfolio. It is part of its mission to ensure music venues remain cultural hubs for their communities.
The High Street venue will now benefit from long-term security under MVP’s #OwnOurVenues initiative. Dubbed The National Trust for grassroots music venues, the movement was originally launched in 2022 as a crowdfunded project.
Le Pub, also known as Le Public Space, has been a cornerstone of the city’s music scene since its opening in 1992. Renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, the venue operates as a bar, restaurant, and nightclub, hosting live music from big names like Skindred and Kids in Glass Houses, and events that have defined the city’s cultural landscape. For the latest Newport news, sign up to our newsletter here.
The stage area inside Le Pub
(Image: Music Venue Properties)
People play pool inside Le Pub
(Image: Music Venue Properties)
Manager of Le Pub, Sam Dabb, said: “We are very excited to be part of the Music Venue Properties family of owned venues. Having a landlord who is as passionate about live music as we are, will make a massive difference to us and guarantee the venue’s future in Newport.”
Music Venue Properties (MVP) has also purchased The Snug in Greater Manchester, The Ferret in Preston, The Bunkhouse in Swansea and, most recently, The Booking Hall in Dover. To date almost £2.8 million has been raised from over 1,300 individual investors and funding. The scheme has received additional support from the Community Ownership Fund including £250k to realise the purchase of Le Pub.
Sam Duckworth, who performs as Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, said: “Grassroots music venues are places where communities live. I am lucky to have been hosted by many over my career and they show you the personality, spirit and heartbeat of the community they call home. South Wales is a wonderful part of the world, full of a unique mixture of fight, creativity and heart. Le Pub is the true embodiment of a community venue. It looks out for the people of Newport who love it and treasure it in return. Its permanence is a wonderful thing. A decade ago, I sponsored a toilet to help keep it open, now it lives forever.”
Founder of Music Venue Trust, Mark Davyd, said: “Le Pub was one of the very first venues to join the Music Venues Alliance, and has been, for the last ten years, one of the most vocal and active campaigning voices about the importance of grassroots music venues to our communities, towns and cities. Le Pub sits right at the heart of the blossoming Newport live music scene and is absolutely central to the future of Welsh music. To see it taken into protected ownership, guaranteeing its future for decades to come, is a huge step forward for live music in Wales and a beacon of what can be achieved through projects like Music Venue Properties.”
And COO of Music Venue Properties, Matthew Otridge, added: “For years, Le Pub have been at the forefront of the Community Shares movement amongst the GMV Community, so it feels only right their long-term future has now been secured by Music Venue Properties, an organisation that would not have existed if not for Community Shares and those like Le Pub who paved the way. I’m grateful to be a part of this amazing story and look forward now to working alongside Le Pub and its community of investors to help realise its vision for the rest of the building.”
Newport City Council leader Dimitri Batrouni said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for Le Pub and the city. We know that music has played, and continues to play, an integral role in the life of the city, and has recently seen a welcome resurgence that is supporting amazing local talent and attracting both locals and visitors to the city.
“Music was highlighted as something people were interested in, and wanted to see more of, in the public engagement in our placemaking plan. I’m sure this news will be widely welcomed.”
Councillor Emma Corten, cabinet member for culture and communications, added: “Le Pub is embedded Newport music lore and I would like to pay tribute to Sam Dabb who is the driving force behind the success of Le Pub over the last 30 years. I am overjoyed that its place on the High Street is now secured and that it will always form part of the fantastic music offer on High Street alongside other independent venues such as McCanns, The Cab and the Corn Exchange.
“We are incredibly grateful to Music Venue Properties for recognising how important the venue is – and by association, how important Newport’s music scene is – by making sure it will continue being a grassroots venue for many, many years to come.
“We are committed to developing and supporting culture in Newport both for the benefit of residents and visitors to the city – and the Music Trail with Focus Wales in March is a big step on the journey, with businesses and grassroots venues such as Le Pub helping to showcase what the city has to offer. Work is progressing well on our cultural strategy and destination development plan which, together with the placemaking plan, will ensure Newport reaches its potential.”
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