Bristol independent radio station to raise £70K
Noods Radio is Crowdfunding to purchase its HQ, after being given the ultimatum “Buy the pub or get out!”
Independent radio station Noods Radio has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £70,000 in order to purchase its home, Mickey Zoggs in St Pauls, after being given an ultimatum from its current landlord: “buy the pub or get out!” Nearing the end of its lease, the landlord has given the station the opportunity to buy the building before its lease is up, ensuring the space remains to serve the city.
Since 2021, Noods Radio has been broadcasting from Mickey Zoggs, a venue that has evolved into a vital hub for Bristol’s creative community. It serves as one of the city’s vibrant third spaces, where local creatives can get together to meet like-minded individuals, share, and discover new music. However, the future of this beloved space is now at risk; if Noods Radio is forced to leave Mickey Zoggs, the building will be developed, the radio station will not be viable and its community focus projects will be put on hold.
The station has the ambitious goal of raising £70,000 in the next 30 days, with all funds going directly towards securing a deposit on the venue, ensuring that Noods Radio can continue its operations and support the local creative community. Since its inception in 2015, Noods Radio has been a prevalent outlet in Bristol’s cultural landscape, offering a platform for diverse voices and underground artists.
Beyond the broadcast, the team behind Noods Radio runs various programmes and initiatives aimed at paving the way for new and inclusive talent within the creative industries. From workshops helping women and non-binary individuals to enter the world of broadcasting, to educational initiatives designed to help young people gain the skills and experience necessary for a lifelong career in the creative sectors, the radio station aims to give back to the community that keeps it alive.
Leon Pattrick, Noods Radio Co-founder and Director, said: “Bringing the station back to where it all began was something of fate, a message from above! Seeing how the space has brought together the community and become a regular stop for music lovers and touring artists has been amazing to see. Although the idea of it all coming to an end in six months is heartbreaking, I believe we’ve been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide a permanent space for the radio and ensure the space can remain for generations to come.”
Izzy Cross, Director of Noods Levels, said: This means more than just the purchase of a space; it’s preserving a community created over the last three years of Mickey Zoggs being open; it’s key projects like our Radio Broadcasting course for non-binary and women who want to become broadcasters running; it’s keeping Noods Radio alive. We hope that by purchasing the building, we can keep it in the hands of the community and continue to build on what we have already achieved.”
Bristol-based artist signed to Timedance, Bruce, said: “Needless to say, to be experiencing yet another crisis of a crucial pillar of Bristol’s spirited music scene, under threat from development is overwhelming. The irony, knowing that it’s the work of our community which has a valid hand in increasing the value of the area, is nothing short of painful, when it is ignored by those with the money and power to push us out. Mickey Zoggs is the home of a radio station, two football teams, multiple gaming clubs and a community of compassionate, like-minded individuals that all greatly benefit from the space. The radio station not only nurtures local grassroots talent, further fortifying the rich and diverse local community, giving a friendly start to young people, but also being able to host some of the best artists and DJs from all over the world”
Bristol Beacon’s Creative Producer for Talent Development, Owen Parry, said: “Grassroots music spaces, whether venues, studios, or community hubs and radio stations such as Noods, are vital to the creative ecology and the talent pipeline. Almost every stadium-scale performing artist cut their teeth in these places, gaining experience through the necessary failures and successes required to learn and grow.
Entering into, or attempting to maintain, a career within music is unfortunately extremely precarious and seemingly increasingly so. The system isn’t working for most and therefore it’s more essential than ever that creative and professional development is valued and subsidised in order to continue. A healthy and diverse music ecology makes for a better city for us all.”
To find out more and contribute to the campaign, head to their crowdfunding page here.
*Noods Radio is an independent radio station based in Bristol, UK, dedicated to providing a platform for diverse and underrepresented voices in music and broadcasting. Established in 2015, Noods Radio has become a central figure in the local creative community, known for its inclusive programming and community-driven initiatives.
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