A grassroots music venue in Sheffield has announced its closure, due to the impact of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Dorothy Pax, located at Victoria Quays, confirmed that all upcoming events had been cancelled, with refunds issued to ticket holders.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the venue said: “We’ve had our fair share of battles and we’ve always come out the other side, but we’ve got too many wounds to lick now to continue.”
Describing the decision as ‘not an easy one to make’, the venue reflected on its history, stating: “We’ve had some amazing parties, produced several festivals, hosted countless world-class talent on our stage, laughed, cried, shared incredible evenings, made lifelong friends, and boogied the night away.”
“However, we cannot continue to do so.”
The venue urged supporters not to offer potential solutions, saying it had “exhausted every possible avenue.”
The Music Venue Trust, which advocates for grassroots live music, described the closure as another blow to the industry.
A spokesperson for the Trust said: “They provided opportunities for young people, gave resources, time and space to those who couldn’t afford it otherwise, shopped locally, took risks on new artists, and were ambitious and kind.”
“Sold-out shows no longer necessarily pay the bills.”
The charity warned that the financial model for grassroots live music had “collapsed,” with revenue from bar sales—previously relied upon to offset losses—falling due to the cost-of-living crisis.
“This is another horrible day for the charity, for Sheffield, and for music fans and grassroots artists—present and future,” the statement added.
Following the closure, former staff have launched a fundraiser to support employees and freelancers.
Briony Tuplin, the former general manager of The Dorothy Pax Ltd, said the fund would help staff while they looked for new jobs.
She said: “It all sounds very cliché, but we are a big family here, and we’d like to have one final hurrah together too. This is on top of any wages we’ve been paid and redundancy payments.
“We appreciate all the support that you will be showing, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
To support the Dorothy Pax Fundraiser, visit here.