x

The latest industry news to your inbox.


I'd like to hear about marketing opportunities

    

I accept IQ Magazine's Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

news

DHP Family reveals Birmingham venue plans

The UK promoter has acquired a plot in Birmingham city centre for a "characterful and creative" new venue for Britain's second city

By Jon Chapple on 22 Aug 2017

George Akins, DHP Family, new Birmingham venue

DHP Family MD George Akins


DHP Family is to open a new music venue in Birmingham next year, as part of plans to develop its business in Britain’s second-largest city.

The independent national promoter – which also owns and operates several venues and festivals, as well as a ticket agency, alt. tickets – has acquired a plot on John Bright Street in Birmingham city centre, and says it plans to increase the number of shows it promotes in the city ahead of the opening of the as-yet-unnamed venue.

“Opening the venue in Birmingham is part of a strategic move to develop the DHP brand in this key region,” explains DHP Family owner George Akins. “We think it’s an area that’s very strong at arena level, but presents an opportunity for growth at the small-to-medium end of the market.

“Birmingham is the UK’s second city, and has a rich musical heritage, but the city centre has lacked a characterful and creative venue for a long time. We believe with the revitalisation of the area around New Street station that the time is right to create a place that the music fans of Birmingham will welcome.”

“Birmingham has a rich musical heritage, but the city centre has lacked a characterful and creative venue for a long time”

As with other DHP venues, including Oslo (350-cap.) in Hackney, east London, and Rescue Rooms (450-cap.) in the company’s home city, Nottingham, the Birmingham venue will include an F&B offering alongside live entertainment and club nights.

Anton Lockwood, DHP’s director of promotions, adds: “We plan to use the skills and knowledge we’ve gained from award winning venues like Rock City, Oslo, Thekla and Rescue Rooms to deliver something exciting that echoes the DHP values and standards but is also a unique experience to Birmingham.”

The opening of the Birmingham venue will bring DHP’s venue portfolio up to nine across four UK cities. The company earlier this year reopened its two newly acquired London venues – Borderline in Soho and the Garage in Islington, which it bought from Live Nation last May – after a programme of refurbishment.

 


Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.