South London grassroots venue Matchstick Piehouse launches crowdfund for its survival

Matchstick Piehouse has launched a 'Save the Piehouse' Crowdfunder to guarantee its future, after its landlord threatened to end its lease unless the venue pays its rent arrears in full by the end of the week.

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The venue cites being unable to trade during lockdown and mixed trading in the years after as the dominant factors behind the rent arrears, and is now appealing to the public to ask for donations.

"We understand that in the midst of the cost of living crisis, especially at a time that many people are donating to various political campaigns, asking for money is difficult. We wouldn't be doing this unless we absolutely had to," Piehouse states on its fundraiser page.

The community orientated venue and arts space has been running on 213-4 Edward Street in Deptford for five years and prides itself on its diverse portfolio of events, which range from queer cabarets and anarchist performance art nights to folk jam sessions and its weekly jazz concert, Steam Down.

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Matchstick Piehouse was set up, built and staffed, for a couple of years, by volunteers "with the vision of providing a home for art which isn't based on commercialism, a business which respects their staff, and a space which welcomes people with all ranges of ability and needs who may have felt excluded from mainstreams venues," with its goal being "maximum empowerment for everyone that we engage with."

Alongside its Crowdfunder page, Matchstick Piehouse has announced four 'Save the Piehouse' events with proceeds from the gigs and club nights going towards its rent arrears.

Donate to the 'Save the Piehouse' fundraiser here

Tibor Heskett is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Twitter