The Stroud Sub Rooms makes first profit since charity take over

The Stroud Subscription rooms has made its first ever profit since being taken over by a charitable trust in 2019.

The former council-run venue recently played host to Leo Sayer and has attracted many big names in recent years including Van Morrison, who rang up personally asking to play there due to its reputation.

Hugh Phillimore, the former director of the Cornbury Music Festival, volunteered to help run the venue after he fell in love with it.

“I just love that kind of challenge,” he said. “When we started here it still stank of boiled cabbage, the sound was still rubbish and the bar was still tiny. But we worked out bit by bit how to make this place work.”

This year, the Sub Rooms made a small surplus for the first time and is bucking a trend of struggling venues.

According to the Music Venue Trust’s latest annual report, 2024 saw the number of venues across the UK reduce from 835 to 810.

It called this a “significant improvement on the rate of decline” on the previous year when 125 closed down, but that 43.8% of venues reported a loss.

Mr Phillimore says the reason the Sub Rooms has succeeded is in the way it is run.

“It’s 400 seated, 500 standing so it’s not huge, but it’s just about enough,” he said.

“What we’re trying to do, and it may break us, is we’re doing a huge volume of shows because every night you’re doing a bar.

“What I didn’t realise when I started here, is that it’s all about selling the drinks and selling the food and the T-shirts and the this and the that.

“We’re all absurdly passionate about it!”

Leo Sayer, who is now 77, recently played to a sellout crowd at The Sub Rooms.

Before the gig, Mr Phillimore served him and the band dinner in the dressing room upstairs, not the sort of service many venues offer.

“They’re all fantastic here,” said Mr Sayer. “It’s a labour of love for them.

“Just to be here and and have the privilege of looking at all these wonderful posters and the people who have been here before.

“The Beatles, Van, of course… all the famous acts.”

Also key to the venue’s success is the number of volunteers who work alongside only two full time members of staff.

Heather Massey, the community outreach and volunteer manager, said: “They support us from welcoming people to the venue, helping with maintenance, fixing things from doors to painting.

“They support us in the cafe, and we’ve also got a wonderful team of young people doing work experience here in the tech department.

“So they’re learning sound and lighting, but they’re not just learning it, they’re bringing loads of enthusiasm to it as well.”

As the audience arrive to settle in for Leo Sayer’s show, Mr Phillimore is upstairs washing up, but also thinking about who he can book next for the venue.

“I was thinking the other day whether I should ring Bob Dylan’s agent on the basis that Bob and Van have toured together and Dylan’s coming over next year.

“I don’t think he ever plays small shows, so watch this space. I might have a go and see what happens.”