Westcliff's nightclub hoping to revive grassroots nightlife

The Moonraker is located beneath Station Road's Lamb and Lion pub, and in recent months has been offering free venue hire and recording services on Fridays to new bands looking to grow their audiences and find an affordable performance space.

Events manager, Jacob Lowings, believes that his approach will not only benefit musicians in Southend and Westcliff, but also create a more diverse and exciting live music scene for punters. 

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"What we do is much more community focused, we offer free venue hire and also record and film the performances for the artists,” said Jacob.

“I know how hard it can be for bands to find somewhere to play - the more well-known music venues are inaccessible to lesser-known bands and it’s my belief that if we let culture die in the city, the city will die with it.”

Passion - Jacob, pictured with bar staff, Angel (Image: Jacob Lowings) The Moonraker is run by the same team behind Hamlet Court Road's Craftsman Pub and according to Jacob is the only venue in the area offering free hire and the recording of performances for its artists. 

Live music venues across the country have been facing hardship since the Covid-19 pandemic, with record numbers shutting down in recent years. 

Jacob believes that The Moonraker's approach will help encourage more residents to enjoy live music, while also giving artists content that can be shared online. 

Opportunity - New acts can perform to a decent sized audience at The Moonraker (Image: Jacob Lowings) "We've tried to create something more holistic for people in the area, especially those who don’t want to go clubbing, to hear a cover band or pay a large amount to go and see a live band," he said. 

The Moonraker's live music nights are not only free for performers, but also for punters, and have so far proved a hit. 

Popular - The Moonraker is a hidden gem of Southend's nightlife scene (Image: Jacob Lowings) Despite only being started at the start of the year, the events are already gaining a strong base of committed music fans. 

"Our community-focus isn't just around music," said Jacob. 

"There are currently talks going on with Southend City Jam and are hoping to find a Southend artist who can decorate one of walls and just build up that creative community."

You can find out more about venue's events at themoonraker.uk/moonraker