Piehouse Co-op
Interactive map of Piehouse Co-op | |
| Location | 213–214 Edward Pl, Deptford London Borough of Lewisham, London, SE8 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 150 |
| Construction | |
| Opened |
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| Website | |
| piehousecoop | |
Piehouse Workers Co-op is a Workers co-operative and live music venue and events space in a railway arch in Deptford in the London Borough of Lewisham.
History
First opened in 2018 as Matchstick Piehouse, a bar and events space housed within railway arches in Deptford, and intended mostly for theatre and comedy.[1] It became known for the experimental jazz night Steam Down held there, with groups and musicians such as Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia, Sons of Kemet and Moses Boyd all having performed there.[2][3] It also held poetry and folk nights as well as becoming a hub for the local punk scene.[4]
In late 2023 the venue was closed by the building's landlord after it was unable to pay off over £36,000 in rent arrears accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3]
Matchstick Piehouse had been on a payment plan arranged with the landlord to pay this off. After a payment was made late, the landlord escalated by selling the total amount of the debts to bailiffs, about which the venue said they were not notified. The landlord demanded that the venue pay the full amount of arrears with three working days notice.[4]
In the wake of this enforced closure, initial attempts to fundraise the amount required and continue as before were thwarted due to the venue's overall debt being ultimately more than the initially cited figure. After seeking legal advice the directors of Matchstick Piehouse decided to file for insolvency.[5]
A group of former staff and artists formed The Piehouse Co-op with the intent of leasing the same building as a new legal entity with the same ethics and cultural aims as the prior incarnation.[1] With the help of charity Music Venue Trust (MVT) they negotiated a spring 2025 opening.[2] The group aimed to raise £15,000 through fundraiser events and crowdfunding to replace the furniture and equipment taken by debt collectors during the initial closure.[2][3] The venue reopened under its new name in March 2025.[6]
References
- ^ a b Dunworth, Liberty (4 January 2024). "Grassroots venue Matchstick Piehouse loses battle with landlord, announces plans to become a worker's co-op". NME. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ a b c d McCulloch, Rebecca (17 December 2024). "The popular Deptford venue finally reopening after a year-long fight". MyLondon. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ a b c Lawrence, India (19 December 2024). "Beloved Deptford venue Matchstick Piehouse is reopening". Time Out. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ a b Richards, Will (10 December 2024). "Deptford's Matchstick Piehouse to re-open as workers' co-op". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ Dunworth, Liberty (10 December 2024). "London venue Matchstick Piehouse saved and will re-open as workers' co-op". NME. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ McCulloch, Rebecca (5 November 2025). "'We're facing a crisis': Deptford music venue destroyed by devastating flooding just 8 months after opening". MyLondon. Retrieved 6 November 2025.