Help save Alma Vale Studios in Bristol

Alma Vale Studios, a cherished space for the music community in Bristol, is in grave danger of closure due to an unjust rent hike and additional financial burdens imposed by our landlord and the property management company. We urgently need your support to keep our beloved music studio alive and thriving.

For 50 years, Alma Vale Studios has been a beacon of creativity, providing an unrivaled recording space for local bands and serving as a nurturing environment for music teachers and young musicians alike. Our studio boasts a beautiful bespoke live room equipped with a full grand piano and state-of-the-art musical equipment, making it a unique and inspiring space for music creation and education. Situated in a safe area next to a local train station, it also provides the ability to access the space using public transport. Our mission has always been to foster a supportive environment where creativity can flourish, and countless local talents have benefited from the resources and camaraderie offered within our walls.

Despite our best efforts to negotiate reasonable terms, our landlord has demanded a staggering 70% rent increase, along with burdensome changes such as up-front quarterly rent payments and a service charge of £750 per annum, none of which were part of our previous lease. It's worth noting that our current space lacks essential amenities such as natural light, hot water, heating, fire escape, and disabled access. Moreover, our own research found similar commercial lets in the area that offer better facilities at lower rates than what we currently pay. Fortunately, our old lease provides us with "security of tenure" under the Landlord Tenancy Act 1954, placing us in a strong legal position to demand fair lease terms.

We have put in a signicant amount of our own money into improvements to the space including acoustic engineering , sound proofing and an air filtration system which has made Alma Vale Studios one of the best acoustics for recording in Bristol. Now we have an urgent need to raise funds for ongoing legal costs. Our property litigation solicitor has advised a staged approach, beginning with commissioning an official agent to survey our space and determine fair market value for rent. The estimated cost for this survey ranges from £800 to £1500. Subsequently, we will engage the surveyor as our legal representative to negotiate with the landlord, leveraging their expertise in commercial property matters. In the event of continued impasse, we may need to file a petition in county court, incurring additional legal expenses. We are confident this “nuclear option” will not be necessary when the landlord recognises we have community support to fight this.

We refuse to let Alma Vale Studios become another casualty of unchecked rent increases. That's why we're launching this GoFundMe campaign to rally support from our community, fellow artists, and allies who believe in the power of music and the importance of preserving cultural spaces like ours. Furthermore, we pledge that 100% of any contributions remaining after our expenses will be donated to local Bristol Housing charity Acorn, supporting efforts to address housing challenges in our community.

Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference in our fight to save Alma Vale Studios. Together, we can send a powerful message that the arts matter, and that cultural spaces like ours deserve protection and support.

Please help us publicise this fundraiser by adding it to your social media accounts. Together, we can ensure that Bristol continues to thrive as a hub of artistic expression.

Thank you for your support.