Musicians such as Tim Burgess and Frank Turner have lent their support to Manchester’s Night & Day Cafe as complaints from just one local resident have been enough to throw the venue’s future into doubt.
According to reports one individual who has lived nearby for less than one year has registered a Statutory Nuisance Abatement Notice through Manchester council which, if not dealt with by the venue, could result in a prison sentence or £20,000 fine for its owners.
“The worst case scenario is that we shut down – bringing an end the employment of everyone who works here, not to mention destroying one of the major hubs for live music in Manchester, for local and international musicians,” Night & Day booker/promoter Gareth Butterworth has told the Manchester Evening News.
“It’s very upsetting. We understand that this resident has lived here for less than a year. We’re an independent business that’s been a staple of the Manchester arts scene for 23 years. We tried to speak to the resident, to explain the nature of our business, and we understand noise can be annoying – but why would you choose to move next door to a live music venue if noise is going to be an issue?”
Both Burgess and Turner have taken to Twitter to register their disbelief at the developments. “Some misery moaning about @nightanddaycafe being noisy,” Burgess wrote. “It’s been there 23 years, the moaner moved nearby last year.”
Turner, meanwhile, encouraged his followers to sign a petition which is urging the local council to drop the notice. That can be found at this link.
