Can the Web save the Flapper?

By Jon Bounds on Jul 24, 08 01:42 PM in Culture

News in the Mail that yet another canal-side development is planned for Brum shouldn't be a shock, but the proposed 'Baskerville Wharf' has upset me. For this "exciting mixed-use development" will mean the closure of one of Birmingham's most important music venues.

The Flapper and Firkin (formerly the Longboat) has seen thousands of tiny, sweaty, gigs over the years. It's one of the few places in Birmingham that a new band might be able to get on the bill, supporting a band that are on a national tour. Much needed practise, exposure, and ultimately culture for the city. After the loss of the similar venue The Jug of Ale earlier this year, it might be one blow too many for the local music scene to cope with.

I'm not anti-regeneration, I accept that on the whole the new buildings and facilities in Birmingham over the last ten years have been a good thing. But. If we remove the good stuff along with sweeping away the bad, we will become a souless city.

Miranda Sawyer, in her book Park and Ride, talks of the creeping suburbanisation of the nation's city centres. Removing the grit and replacing it with an antiseptic melamine replica of what was once there. This is what we're in danger of doing to Birmingham. No doubt the proposed 'Wharf' will have drinking and entertainment venues - but will any of them be on the toilet circuit for up-and-coming bands? Will they allow young promoters to gather their mates together and put the show on right there? Somehow I doubt it.

So, I'm willing to try see if this social web stuff can do anything, see if you can protest online and have it mean anything. There have already been a few outraged blog posts; Danny Smith, Antonio Roberts, Pete Ashton.

Let's see if we can spread the word around, see if enough people care about the pub and what it represents. First step, a Facebook group. Join, we'll see what we can do.

Maybe the owners of the Flapper don't want it saved, but if they do at least they'll know that other people are willing to "stand up and be counted", if only virttually. Ideas, comments, welcome - here, on Facebook, on your own blog, anywhere.

Comments (5)

Older/Newer

« Why Max Mosley and sadomasochism makes me a pouty journalist | Greetings from Yn Llyfrgell Aberteifi »

5 Comments

Donato said:

I think the social web stuff and lots of people like Danny, Antonio and Pete blogging about it certainly helps raise awarenes.

However, to save the Flapper does it not depend on two things?

1. Will everyone who has been frequenting the Flapper, continue to do so?

2. Do the owners of Flapper want it to be saved?

Lets see what unfolds over the coming days/weeks/months.....

July 31, 2008 11:18 AM

Jon Bounds said:

Unfortunately Donato, neither of your point make much difference - this isn't a case of owners losing interest, or even falling numbers of punters.

It could be the most frequented pub in the world, laying golden eggs for all, but it wouldn't make a hapeth of difference to those that would replace the entire area with a "brindleyplace-style development".

The only way to save the pub, and by extension a little bit of Brummie culture is to organise and make sure that those in charge of planning get to know how "the people" feel.

With nearly 1000 people in the Facebook group, there's definitely a will to create a bit of a stink about these plans.

July 31, 2008 6:05 PM

Jon Bounds said:

Unfortunately Donato, neither of your point make much difference - this isn't a case of owners losing interest, or even falling numbers of punters.

The only way to save the pub, and by extension a little bit of Brummie culture is to organise and make sure that those in charge of planning get to know how "the people" feel.

With nearly 1000 people in the Facebook group, there's definitely a will to create a bit of a stink about these plans.

July 31, 2008 6:07 PM

Donato said:

Well if my two points make no difference to the planners, i'd like to meet them!

If there is something thriving in the local community, surely the planners have to take note of that in their plans.

Sadly however, if they have an agenda, no amount of golden eggs or petitions will stop the inevitable.

August 4, 2008 1:56 PM

Samantha Whyte said:

I am the manager of The Flapper, and it is not being demolished...the Mail went to a press conference held by Target Follow, and well, sensationalised the whole thing, even Target Follow are very upset about this; they have no plans to demolish The Flapper.
Its staying put, but still needs continued support to survive, as any pub/music venue/club needs in todays economic climate. Pubs are dropping left, right and centre, Breweries are selling off pubs left, right and centre. Pubs get alot of stick off the government, the public get a 2.5% vat decrease, we also get an 8% rise in duty tax. I say this for my pub/venue and every other pub/venue/club in Birmingham, and the UK, people need to keep getting out there and supporting the pubs they love.

January 9, 2009 11:29 PM