Motion Bristol to shut down in July, announces plans for ‘Motion 2.0’ at new location
Motion has announced that it will close permanently at its current site this coming July, but plans to return in a new location with ‘Motion 2.0’.
The long-running Bristol nightclub first appealed for support to prevent its closure last year amid revelations that its lease will expire in July 2025. Motion’s owners insisted that they would “keep fighting to secure the strongest possible future” for the club in an update last month.
“It’s not easy to put this into words,” the club announced on Instagram earlier today (April 28). “In July 2025, we will be closing the doors of Motion on Avon Street for the very last time.”
Read this next: Motion Bristol appeals for support to prevent closure in 2025
The club insisted they had done “everything we could to change the outcome,” however “Motion, as we know it, is coming to a close.”
“We submitted a detailed bid to buy the site, backed by full funding and a long-term vision for its future. But despite doing everything right, it’s become increasingly clear: we will not be open past July,” they continue. “This isn’t just the end of a lease. It’s the end of an era, not just for us but for the entire community who have collectively built something special here.”
“From the staff who’ve poured their hearts into every night, to the artists who’ve lit up our stages, to the city of Bristol that’s danced alongside us every step of the way,” they added. “Over the last two decades, we’ve had the space to take risks, to fail and to fly. To push boundaries. To be part of something bigger than ourselves. For that, we are genuinely thankful to our landlord for the time we’ve had.”
Owners of the venue, which has operated on the same site in Bristol’s Temple Meads for some 19 years, announced the launch of a new campaign to raise money towards the opening of a permanent new home.
The campaign, titled #KEEPMOTIONMOVING, hopes to raise £250,000 to secure “a permanent home for Motion by relocating to a freehold property in Bristol” and establish a new space for both Motion and Motion’s sister venue, Marble Factory.
“Motion is more than just a club, it’s a cultural institution that has put Bristol on the global music map,” says Motion’s Managing Director, Daniel Law-Deeks.
Read this next: Why you should be excited about Bristol’s music scene
“Losing it would be a devastating blow to the city’s nightlife, economy, and creative industries. We need our community’s support now more than ever to ensure Motion’s legacy continues.”
By establishing ‘Motion 2.0’ on a site owned by the club, owners say it would allow the venue to continue operating while protected from “external pressures” that have “already forced the closure of numerous venues across the country”.
The venue is calling on its community to crowdfund for the club’s future, asking for donations or investments. Those who donate can receive “exclusive rewards” such as limited edition merchandise, VIP guestlist access and “lifetime membership opportunities”.
Find out how to support Motion’s future here, and read their full statement below.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter
