Liverpool’s Zanzibar Club is closing down permanently

Liverpool’s The Zanzibar Club is closing down permanently due to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its inability to open.

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The 300-capacity live music and club venue was established in 1990 , and has hosted acts from Arctic Monkeys and Noel Gallagher to Grandmaster Flash and No Fakin’.

In a statement about its closure, the venue’s director Scott Burgess said: “The Zanzibar Club has been a true survivor over the past 30 years, but with the current climate of uncertainty and the probability of remaining closed for a year, we have had to make the heartbreaking decision to permanently close our venue.

“With very limited time left on our lease and too many years of wear and tear on our building structure puts us in a financially unattainable position to reopen.”

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Burgess also noted: “COVID-19 has been a massive kick in the teeth for everyone. There have been a tragic amount of lost lives. People's hopes, dreams and livelihoods completely destroyed.

“The entertainment and music industry has had the roughest ride of all. With business restrictions and lack of proper guidance, music venues will be among the last ones to reopen.

“From all the Zanzibar crew past and present we would like to say a huge thank you to all the performers that have graced the stage at Zanzibar and brought music and joy into many people’s lives.”

Patrick Hinton is Mixmag's Digital Features Editor, follow him on Twitter

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