The iconic music venue, The Star & Garter has been saved from closure, following a ten-year lease signing by its owners with the pub landlord. The venue was referenced in ‘Modern Love’, by the Courteeners.

The venue has secured its longevity in the city as part of plans to regenerate the area behind Manchester’s Piccadilly Station. It was purchased by The Mayfield Partnership, a collaborative venture between Manchester Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and U+I.

Furthermore, the partnership will see continued investment for refurbishment and maintaining the Star & Garter’s live music venue roots.

Andy Martin said: “The venue described as the ‘Municipal Fortress of Vengeance’, or ‘The Temple of Doom’ and name checked in two Courteeners songs, is in safe hands and not destined to suffer the same fate as at least three other music venues in Manchester.”

The pub was first opened in 1803, some 216 years ago. It has hosted Status Quo, The Courteeners, Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, and Bring Me The Horizon.

In January 2018, Pink Floyd’s drummer Nick Mason and Billy Bragg spoke with NME on their decision to back a campaign to prevent the closure of indie live music venues around the UK.

Nadine Shah and a member of Everything Everything, Labour MP Tom Watson and others traveled to Westminister, gathering outside the Houses of Parliament in support of the Music initiative, Agent of Change.

A new planning Bill from Senior Labour MP John Spellar in the House of Commons would the Agent of Change proposal into British Law. If successful, it would ensure developers take account of the impact of any new scheme on pre-existing business sites, including live music venues.

In March 2019, a successful campaign raised £95,000 and saved the London venue The Social from closure. They reached their crowdfunding target in less than a week.