LONDON (CelebrityAccess) — It’s the end of the line for DHP Family’s long-running Soho nightclub The Borderline, which will shut down at the end of August.
“We’re sorry to say that the end has finally come for Soho’s legendary live music venue Borderline. After 35 years in business, we close our doors for the final time this August,” DHP Family said in a statement.
In the leadup to the final night, the 300-capacity club is still hosting several shows, including a performance by Pearl Jam tribute group Pearl Jamm on August 21st and Night Riots on August 22nd.
Then, on August 23rd, the Borderline will host a farewell event billed as “The Final Countdown” with resident DJs playing tracks from the long list of artists who have performed at the club over the years.
DHP Family attributed the closure, which was originally announced in May to increasing rents in the area.
“With ever increasing rents, rising business rates and ongoing redevelopment plans for Soho, we’ve taken the decision to close the venue by 31 August 2019. We will reinvest into the other areas of its venue portfolio with £1 million earmarked for work on the Thekla in Bristol; the upcoming 40th anniversary for the iconic Rock City in Nottingham and work underway to open its first Birmingham venue while The Garage in Islington has just won protection from the council’s local plan following a campaign to safeguard its future,” a spokesman for DHP family said in a statement in May.
Managing director George Akins added: “This has been a difficult decision, but given intentions by the landlord to increase the rent significantly for a second time since we took it over in 2016 as well as plans to redevelop the building housing the Borderline, we now know the venue doesn’t have a long term future so it makes no sense for us to continue to invest.
“We’ve had an amazing two years at Borderline with some fantastic shows and want to thank everyone for their support from agents, promoters, and artists to all the thousands who have come to the gigs and club nights. We’ve put our all into trying to revive this iconic venue but unfortunately, it has been impossible to turn into a sustainable operation due to so many external factors. This is a sad day for all of us who love live music and believe in grassroots venues.”
The Borderline debuted as a concert venue in 1985 and was acquired by DHP Family in 2016. The club shuttered for extensive renovations in 2017 in an effort to revitalize the room.
