'We're facing a crisis': Deptford music venue destroyed by devastating flooding just 8 months after opening
The Piehouse Co-Op, a hub for queer and disabled artists, has launched an emergency fundraiser to help with repairs
A beloved music venue in Deptford has been forced to shut indefinitely after torrential downpours caused severe flooding. Water poured into the Piehouse Co-Op's lighting fixtures during a Halloween gig, frying the electrics and sound equipment.
Staff at the Edward Place institution say they are heartbroken by the sudden closure but have no other option due to the danger involved. Liv Wynter, the venue's co-ordinator, told MyLondon: "It's had a huge knock-on effect, costing us thousands and as a grassroots organisation everything comes from the bar or the community so we're really facing a crisis.
"It's just an unfathomable amount of stuff that's broken and obviously every day that we're closed, we're losing money. We're all here on unpaid time right now hoping for the best."
Among the devastation is the potential loss of Loud and Dangerous, or LADS, a protest sound system amplifying LGBTQ+ voices. Having only been installed in late-October, around half of its speakers and amps have been ruined.
The bathrooms are also swamped, and a hole in the ceiling need repaired to prevent future disasters. Liv, along with co-managers Grace O'Malley and Sonia Woodruff, are working to welcome audiences in again as soon as possible.
However, an exact reopening date is not in the pipeline just yet, Liv confirmed. They continued: "We'll be shut for the rest of the week at least. Our electrician is walking around basically shaking his head at the place.
"It's just horrible to deal with. We were such a success story of seizing back a venue that was shuttered by its landlords and now to be dealt something that's entirely out of our hands is so sad.
"We've been spotlighting people of colour, queer people, disabled people. So many marginalised people have found a home here, they trust us, and we just don't know when we'll be able to come back."
South East London lost the original venue in 2023 after its owners were unable to pay off over £36k of rent arrears accumulated during the Covid pandemic. Unwilling to see another culture hub go, ex-staff and resident artists formed a non-profit workers co-operative and negotiated a new lease.
Relaunched in March of this year, a packed calendar of events spanning music, comedy, art, karaoke and poetry has proven a sell-out success so far. The team says about 60% of things planned are fundraisers, collecting money for causes such as Palestine support and gender-affirming care.
"We're also one of London's only low-capacity wheelchair-friendly venues," Liv added, "It's horrid having to cancel on artists that have put so much effort into their shows who feel they can't perform elsewhere."
The Piehouse Co-Op was already crowdfunding £15,000 to help upgrade the aging kitchen and bathrooms and invest in new sound equipment but are now turning to Londoners for help with the repairs. They've already received donations from local favourites TOAD Bakery and The Broca, as well as dozens of residents and giggoers.
"We're so grateful for everyone who is stepping up to support us," Liv said, "We can't wait to get back to celebrating marginalised artists and giving them a space to do what other people don't want them to."
You can donate to the Piehouse Co-Op's emergency fundraiser on Crowdfunder.
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