As previously reported, Motion, which first started hosting parties in 2006 before becoming a full-time nightclub in 2015, has confirmed its lease will not be renewed, and attempts to buy the site have also been ignored. And so, sadly, the 11th best club in the world, according to DJ Mag, will close for good this July.
“We’ve done everything we could to change the outcome. We submitted a detailed bid to buy the site, backed by full funding and a long-term vision for its future. But despite doing everything right, it’s become increasingly clear: we will not be open past July,” Motion said in a statement released yesterday (April 28).
“This isn’t just the end of a lease. It’s the end of an era, not just for us but for the entire community who have collectively built something special here. From the staff who’ve poured their hearts into every night, to the artists who’ve lit up our stages, to the city of Bristol that’s danced alongside us every step of the way.”
But just because it’s the end of an era doesn’t mean it’s the end! As in the statement, the team also unveiled plans for a Motion 2.0. This “ambitious plan to relocate and reimagine what Motion can be” will see the iconic venue move to a new location with the same ethos and commitment to supporting Bristol’s underground music scene.
“We want to build something even more sustainable, accessible, and community-driven. A space that isn’t at the mercy of short leases or developer pressure. A venue with roots. One that gives back as much as it takes in. And to make that happen, we’re launching a campaign.”
With a lofty £250,000 target, there’s a long way to go to #KEEPMOTIONMOVING, which is why the club is calling on everyone who has “danced here, fallen in love here, found music here, made friends here, felt free here” to back the campaign here. It’s also announced that after five years, Just Jack will celebrate and commiserate the closing of Motion with ‘The Last Dance’ on July 19.