Sutton High Street music venue back in business after public donated more than £40,000
Back in business: the Sound Lounge re-opens tonight, seven days after the vandal attack
Tonight, just seven days after a “terrifying” and “devastating” vandalism attack against the Sound Lounge on Sutton High Street, the venue is primed to re-open, following massive public donations and significant help from local traders and businesses, and the venue’s landlords, Sutton Council.
The managers of the Sound Lounge last weekend launched a crowdfunder to pay for the massive repairs bill that they faced – which could have put them out of business. But instead they had to ask the crowdfunding platform to shut down their appeal after they received an overwhelming £40,000 in public donations in barely 24 hours – four times what the estimated cost of replacing five large plate glass windows.
The Sound Lounge had all the windows of its glass frontage smashed in after closing time late last Friday night. The act of wanton vandalism has been linked to a dozy bit of reporting last week about local flag-shaggers broadcast by BBC London.
Yesterday, on social media, the Sound Lounge was able to announce its reopening.
“With so much gratitude to Wallington Glass who have just been amazing, we will be re-opening our doors tomorrow night for incredible Ghanaian afro singer-songwriter Wiyaala, who is traveling with her band from Belgium to perform on our stage!” they said.
“It’s been an anxious week and everyone, including our community of staff and volunteers, local businesses, police and Sutton Council have been amazing and so supportive.”
Flag-shaggers: Union flags had been placed on lampposts on Sutton High Street last month
Last week’s BBC report quoted Hannah White, from The Sound Lounge, who had received a hostile reaction when she spoke to a group of men with ladders who were wearing masks and were attaching a flag to a lamppost on Sutton High Street.
Today, the BBC London website continues to promote its original report, and a “guide” to why St George’s flags and some Union flags have been appearing stuck to lampposts around our towns and cities. The reports contain barely a mention that many of the flags have been bought and distributed by racist party Britain First or by known associates of fascist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
Conspicuous by its absence from BBC London’s home page are any obvious links to their (belated) report on the hammer blows delivered by the vandals’ attack on the Sound Lounge’s windows.
Amplifying ‘Raise the Colours’: BBC London’s reporting of the attack on the Sound Lounge is not so easy to locate
The Met Police, while busy arresting OAPs for holding up placards opposing genocide, have made no arrests over the malicious vandalism on Sutton High Street.
Understandably, the management of the Sound Lounge are keen to move on – the venue was already in a dispute with its council landlords over their lease and rents, and the loss of a week’s worth of business will not have helped their financial position.
“Without a doubt it is the crowdfunder which has made the re-opening possible as we have been able to act so quickly, and for that we will be forever grateful and in awe of how it happened,” they said yesterday, while apologising for having to cancel some gigs this week.
“It’s going to be extremely emotional to be up and running again,” they said, as they plan to stage Diesel Park West supported by Dave Burn on Saturday night.
Among the special measures being taken following the attacks is the use of security staff on the doors, while the money raised from the crowdfunder is enabling the Sound Lounge to invest in shutters across the front of the glass and install extra CCTV around the venue.
In an earlier social media post this week, the Sound Lounge explained how they had to stop accepting donations, after they have received so much cash in an outpouring of public support.
“You all know how shaken and devastated we were by last week’s attack on our venue, but the response has been absolutely overwhelming and has totally blown us away.”
Ready to re-open: the new glass windows went in at the Sound Lounge yesterday
They had achieved the £10,000 crowdfunder target within the first hour. “The crowdfunder was set for three weeks – the shortest possible on the platform… we wrote to them and asked if they could close it because it just feels wrong to keep allowing you to donate to us. It feels like the right thing to do…
“We also have a team of very shaken staff who we need to work with to ensure they feel safe enough to come to work. This is a process… not an easy one.
“Thank you again for all your support & kindness. We could very easily have lost all faith here, but you made sure we didn’t and we are so grateful!”
The post concluded with a hashtag message: #FightingBack.
Read more: Tory councillor welcomes New Addington flags as ‘great’
Read more: Council refuses to remove England flags from Coulsdon Road
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Congratulations to the Sound Lounge on their quick recovery from the vandalism due to their immense popularity in Sutton. Shame on BBC London for their poor reporting.
Was it “poor reporting”, Jim? Or an act of deliberate provocation that put lives and property at risk?