Broad Street venue closes its doors after 20 years

After nearly 20 years of trading, a Birmingham-Irish family-owned Broad Street venue is closing its doors this weekend.

Velvet Music Rooms opened its doors in 2004, but is now ceasing trading on October 29. The venue has hosted live music three nights a week in recent years, and was the flagship venue for the Birmingham Jazz Festival this summer.

Velvet general manager Steve Emmison said the team is “immensely proud of our achievements, and our contribution to the nighttime economy on Westside”.

Accolades for the venue include Best Independent Bar, Best Front of House and Best Management Team several times at the Best of Broad Street Awards, and at the Wonders of Westside awards that followed, and being recognised as the Best Venue for Live Music and Sport.

It’s replacement in 200 Broad Street is set to be revealed in the next few days.

Velvet’s co-owners and sisters Dani Hadley and Eilis Collins said that their family had “grown and evolved” since the early 2000s.

Hadley said: “After a phenomenal 19 years of trading, a number of new commitments, ambitions and opportunities have come our way, and that means it’s closing time at Velvet Music Rooms.

“We’re calling ‘last orders’ on Sunday 29 October, Velvet’s final day of trading, and we want everyone to come and join us over the weekend for a fond farewell, a pint or two, and one last knees-up!”

Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Dani and Eilis over the last two decades, and with their parents Johnny and Geraldine. The whole family plus Steve the manager and so many of their staff have all become firm friends.”

The closure means that Henry’s Blueshouse, the live music brand that has been based at Velvet in recent years, has now moved to a new home at the O Bar, on the corner of Broad Street and Gas Street.

Henry’s Blueshouse opens at its new venue from 7pm on October 31.