Plans for major expansion of Preston grassroots music venue given green light

Plans for a major expansion of Preston grassroots music venue The Ferret have been given the go-ahead.

Two new performance spaces, recording studios and a rehearsal area are to be created as part of a project to turn the site into what its operators are describing as a “cultural hub” for the city.

Preston City Council has approved the overhaul, which will see the legendary gig spot spread across all four floors of the Fylde Road building in which it is based.

At the centre of the revamp will be a new room that will have almost double the capacity of the venue in its current form.    The changes will also enable the facility to branch out into other aspects of the performing arts, including theatre shows.

The hunt is now on to find the funding needed to make the vision for The Ferret’s future a reality – exactly 20 years after it opened.

Jeremy Rowlands, one of the non-profit venue’s directors, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that he expected the blueprint to take between three and five years to complete.  He said that it will make “a massive difference” to what Preston has to offer.

“I’m a believer that regeneration comes through culture – [and this] will mean a much larger venue for the city.   We haven’t really got anything much bigger than a 200 capacity and, for touring bands, that’s a little bit too small.

“So we’re hoping to get a 350-space room on the first floor, which gives us a lot more scope in terms of what we book – and we can bring bigger acts to Preston.  A room at that size would really put us on the map.

“It will be a multi-use space – there will also be educational stuff in there and a raked seating area that can be used for all manner of things, from music, to theatre to conferences.

“And the space will be opened up to all. There are no plans to keep all of the bookings in house – we want to work with various different groups within Preston and also encourage new people to get involved in all sides of the music industry, such as technicians and promoters,” Jeremy explained.

He also reassured fans of The Ferret in its present ground floor guise that they will still be able to enjoy the venue they know and value – but with some added benefits.

“We’ll have got rid of some of the issues, like [people] entering in front of the stage and walking [across it] to go to the loo.”

“[It will be used for staging] emerging bands in a slightly smaller, more intimate room, which The Ferret is at the moment,” Jeremy said.

The scheme is being embarked upon almost two years after the venue – originally known as The Mad Ferret and famed for hosting a pre-fame Ed Sheeran – was saved from the threat of closure.

The premises were bought by the Music Venues Trust – a charity set up to protect grassroots gigs – after £2.5m was raised via a community share offer.  Preston City Council also stepped in with a £150,000 loan to help enable the purchase.

Jeremy expects that the revamp will come with a bill “getting on for seven figures” – and so will be looking to secure support from organisations like the National Lottery and the Arts Council.

“We needed planning permission first – but we’re going to be [seeking funding] with gusto now,” he said.

“But it could be that the work is done in stages – so we might do the ground floor and first floor and then work up to the top of the building.”

Level by level – The Ferret’s new look

Ground floor:  the existing, original performance space will be largely unchanged – retaining its 200-strong standing capacity – and will host up-and-coming acts.   However, it will be accessed from the rear of the building, while a new ‘central circulation’ area will be created, revolving around the staircase and lift leading to the other floors.  A new bar will be created and the conservatory in the beer garden removed.

First floor:  a new 350-capacity, all-standing venue with its own bar.   The space will be given over to more established artists likely to attract a larger crowd.

Second floor:  a new 120-capacity, seated venue.  It will be used for more intimate performances and also potentially as a room for theatre and cinema. The seating will be a ‘concertina’ style and can be folded away to create a more flexible-use space.  A kitchen area will be able to function as a bar, if needed, during performances.

Third/mezzanine floor:  four rooms, which could include recording and podcast studios, rehearsal space, an educational area and meeting room.

Preston City Council gave the green light to the proposed changes – to what is a Grade II-listed former spinning mill – after concluding that they would not have “any undue impacts” upon the significance of the building.

The four-storey property – which originally had a further floor – dates back to 1796 and is considered to be of special significance as a rare surviving example of an early, purpose-built, steam-powered spinning operation.  It was converted into a cold storage facility in the late-19th century.

A report by town hall planning officials stated that the proposed redesign and repurposing of the building – which also currently accommodates a thai boxing facility on the upper levels – was “ in keeping with the existing use”.

It added that the development would “maintain and create employment opportunities within the city centre”.

To comply with health and safety rules, a second staircase and lift shaft will be added to the outside of the building.