A SEAFRONT venue has been handed almost £5,000 to boost its live music offering after it struggled with the cost-of-living crisis. 

Chinnerys, in Marine Parade, Southend, has been a long-standing music venue but was hit hard by rising bills and falling footfall during the Covid pandemic - leaving it with equipment held together by gaffer tape. 

Now, bosses are celebrating after being handed a £4,923.74 cash injection from the Music Venue Trust as part of the charity’s “pipeline investment fund”. 

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A spokesman for Chinnerys said: “The current cost-of-living crisis has hit businesses hard, with a decreased footfall to shows and hugely increased energy costs.

“The venue is running and covering its costs but not leaving anything left over to upgrade or maintain current equipment.

“To be able to afford to upgrade these bits without the worry is a luxury we couldn’t have dreamt of before this fund came along. Thank you so much Music Venue Trust.”

The additional funding will go towards Chinnerys changing its old front lighting to new energy-efficient LED versions.

Chinnerys in-house microphone stands were kept together with Gaffer Tape, and the funds have also been used to buy new ones.

The pipeline investment fund, established in 2022, is primarily funded by ticket sales of the trust’s recent Revive Live programme of gigs around the UK, a partnership with The National Lottery.

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To date, £165,000 worth of grants have been awarded to 38 grassroots music venues since December.

Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, added: “This fourth round of the Pipeline Investment Fund once again demonstrates how much difference small amounts of money, wisely invested, can make for grassroots music venues.

“With venues facing extraordinary challenges right now, Music Venue Trust is determined to keep pressing the music industry and government to support this fund and ensure music communities right across the country can continue to access the very best in live music.”

Music Venue Trust is still seeking further donations to maintain and expand the pipeline investment fund.

For more information email ozlem@musicvenuetrust.com.