The decision follows a public consultation over a two-year period.
Thousands of people walk over a giant hidden space in Bristol city centre every day without realising it’s there.But now one of the city’s creative organisations is turning the delivery warehouse beneath The Galleries into a new destination for dance music fans.
“We’re pretty sure it’s the largest subterranean venue in the UK,” said Tom Hodgson, Director of The Underground.He hopes the idea will catch on and help “diversify” struggling high streets across the country.Mr Hodgson said he approached The Galleries around seven years ago, with an idea to transform the loading bay in Broadmead into an underground venue.
“It took two years and many meetings to convince them it was a great idea,” he said.Five years on and the venue has booked 10 events between now and New Year.
The venue is playing host to popular DJs like Ben Hemsley and electronic duo Gorgon City.
“As the name suggests the space is completely below the ground so the sound is totally contained down there," Mr Hodgson continued.''People want things to get better, and people want to know that there is hope on the horizon," he said.
''They want to be convinced that their government will fight to make things better.''He said Reform were riding high but do not "really have any policies on which to be challenged or to be scrutinised".
The former minister said the challenge for Labour was "showing that change is on the horizon, change can be made and things will improve"."That is the confidence barrier politics needs to get through by the next Senedd elections," he said.