Thousands sign petition to save Antwerp Mansion from closure by council

Debbie Manley | 26th February 2018

A petition to save Antwerp Mansion from closure by Manchester City Council has attracted thousands of signatures in just days.

Antwerp Mansion announced the shock closure via Twitter and Facebook during the weekend – and the news was greeted with sadness and anger about yet another venue closing.

Antwerp Mansion is a converted Victorian mansion on Kent Road West in Rusholme, South Manchester, and has become a firm favourite with clubbers and live music fans. It has events listed into April but the announcement could mean it closes on Saturday 24 March.

Rusholme councillor Rabnawaz Akbar said: “We are really sad to see it close because around six or seven years ago the local residents and local councillors, including myself, were fully supportive of the initial proposals and plans but unfortunately, those proposals and plans did not materialise as we were led to believe.

“In 2017, Greater Manchester Police figures show that there was a 180% increase in ‘theft from persons’ compared to 2016 in Rusholme and a significant part of the increase was concentrated around Antwerp Mansion.

“Aside from the crime and disorder issues, local residents have reported an increase in anti-social behaviour well into the night and early morning as well as an increase in noise nuisance and litter associated with the attendees at the venue.

“The cumulative impact of this has been that, despite several opportunities afforded to the management to addresss these issues, the management have lost the support and goodwill of local residents.”

On Monday 26 February the venue released this statement on their Facebook page:

VENUE STATEMENTAntwerp Mansion will be forced to close next month on the orders of Manchester City Council Planning…

Posted by Antwerp Mansion on Monday, February 26, 2018

 

Viva writer Abi White said: “Anyone else wanna join me when I chain myself to Antwerp mansion in protest.”

Parklife and Warehouse Project boss Sacha Lord-Marchionne tweeted: “Very sad to hear about the impending closure of Antwerp Mansion. Yet another loss for Manchester’s nighttime economy

Forthcoming events at Antwerp Mansion include Colour Splash on Tuesday 27 February, Better in the 90s on Wednesday 28 February and Tim Westwood on Tuesday 6 March:

Album 1

JJ Rosa at Antwerp Mansion. Photo by Shay Rowan.Antwerp Mansion

 

Here’s some of Viva’s previous articles on Antwerp Mansion:

Friction At Antwerp Mansion. The Drum And Bass DJ Whose “Eclectic Mixing Was Seamless And Unrelenting.”

http://vivamanchester.co.uk/zed-bias-rocks-rusholmes-antwerp-mansion/