Sheffield Community Media, which runs the Sheffield Live broadcaster, has launched a crowdfunder to reopen the former Tap and Barrel pub on Castlegate as a live arts and media venue. The group bought the building earlier this year with help from social investment lender The Key Fund.
The organisation is inviting members of the public to become community shareholders and co-owners in the development.
Fundraising target and timeline
Sheffield Community Media aims to raise £150,000 through community shares, bonds and possible arts grants. The group hopes to move from its current home at the Workstation by the end of the year and reopen the building to the public by the middle of next year.
The reopened space will operate as a pub and cafe bar with a focus on live music, performing arts and media. It will host local musicians, theatre and spoken word events.
Community ownership model
Steve Buckley of Sheffield Community Media said the funding was already in place to make the building habitable and move the studios into it, but bringing it into public use required additional funding.
"By the middle of next year, we'd like to reopen the building to the public as a pub, cafe bar with a live arts and performing arts focus, bringing in local musicians, theatre and spoken word," Buckley said.
Buckley pointed to successful community shareholding projects elsewhere in Sheffield, including the Gardeners Rest pub, Portland Works and Sheffield Renewables. These operate on a one-member, one-vote basis, giving shareholders an opportunity to influence the direction of the organisation.
Building location and history
The new arts space is situated opposite Lady's Bridge on Castlegate, at the corner of what was once the inner courtyard of Sheffield's medieval castle. No name has yet been chosen for the building.
Sangita Basudev, co-founder of Sheffield Live, said: "So many people have shared with us their memories of the pub and its neighbourhood and their hopes for what it can become in the future. Now we need people to get on board, as community shareholders, to help raise the investment needed to restore and renew this unique city centre asset."
