We are once again in that strange paradox where it feels hard to believe that January is over already, yet 2022 now feels a lifetime ago!
January saw an inevitable dip in general trade as people battened down the hatches post-festivities to avoid the dreaded cold and gloom, however, we've had some surprisingly busy nights, some sell out events, and some absolutely blinding gigs! We have whizzed past a couple of major landmark moments this year already: despite my tedious waffling and perpetual losing battle with deadlines, we now have over 600 subscribers for our email newsletters and our Facebook page hit 4000 followers (which is amazing)! AND on the 18th January, we unceremoniously had our 3rd birthday! It's not that we didn't want to celebrate our 3 years of The Crooked Crow Bar, it's just after the journey we've had to get to this point, we just didn't want to jinx it!!! But bet your nelly, we will be bringing the party to you in the coming months, as we have absolutely loads of fantastic events planned for 2023.
We are now bang smack in the middle of the dead trading period and whilst we still have a way to go, touch wood, we are holding our own! Payday finally arrived, Dry January has ended, Spring is closer than before and brighter days are on the horizon...
With an awesome, sold out gig from The Machine Rages On (UK RATM tribute) + Audionasties, followed by a great CCB debut for The 403 the weekend before last, then a sell out relaunch of our Before World Domination (B4WD) event, our 1st ever Crow Clothes Swish, a great CCB debut for The Beaulocks & the return of some classic Ska From The Bar (with DJ Double Deckers) last weekend, we are heading into February on a bit of a high!
We are still a little cautious as we are still (like most independent businesses), a little fragile, but we are hoping that this is the year we can finally get our original plans into action!!
The plan is to introduce more and more events to the schedule each month, so that, fingers crossed, by the time we hit the Spring, we will be a full-throttle, Events Venue, offering some of the best nights out in Leighton Buzzardshire!
We have already returned to our live music weekends and have now relaunched our Wednesday night events:
1st Wednesday of each month: Blockbuster Film Club
2nd Wednesday of each month: Quiz
3rd Wednesday: Eco Social
Last Wednesday: Castle Comedy Night
Mondays we will remain closed and Tuesdays will be bar nights with league pool. We will be turning our attentions to Thursday nights and Sunday Vibes afternoons in the next couple of weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for details.
If 2023 is the year when we finally shake off the last of the damage from the apocalypse and really start to grow, we are going to need your help to do it! We know that you all know the drill, but here are some of the things that you can do to help us:
- Come down and support as many events as you can.
- Pop in and see us in our non-event times. Dogs welcome. Over 16s only.
- Share our social media posts.
- Leave us a Google review (preferably a good one)!!!
- Buy some merch (new lines coming soon).
- Tell everyone you know about us (unless they are horrible... if they are horrible, tell them about one of the chains instead)!!!
Help us Crow-Be-Ones, you're our only hope!!!!
COMING UP:
Thursday we are open as a bar (12-11pm)
Great beer,
Great tunes,
Great atmosphere!
Crow Cocktails,
Pool table,
Board games available to play.
Dogs welcome.
Over 16s only.
Free Entry
FRIDAY 3rd FEB: EL BRONSON
Lock up your donkeys as those super sexy moshing Mexicans are back for a night of awesome (and perverse!) hard rock, metal & dance belters.
DOORS: 8pm
Free Entry
Over 18s only
We recommend you arrive early to ensure entry (entry on 1st come basis)
WARNING: There will be foul language, dubious accents, horrific spandex and EPIC tunes!
SATURDAY 4th FEB:
12-6pm: BYO VINYL
Over 16s only. Dogs welcome (though they might struggle to work the decks)! Free entry
8.30pm: POPSCENE
Join us for a night of live, 90s Britpop Bangers! Dance friendly, sing along anthems from The Stone Roses, Pulp, Blur, The Sea Horses, Ash, James and many more.
Over 18s only.
Free Entry
We recommend you arrive early to ensure entry (entry on a 1st come basis)
SUNDAYS WE ARE OPEN 12-4pm. Dogs welcome. Free entry
WEDNESDAY 8th FEB: QUIZ
Our Big Fat Quiz of The Crow is now back in it's usual home, the 2nd Wednesday of each month!
Fun atmosphere
Silly rounds
Lots of beer
Rubbish prizes
Teams of up to 6ppl
£1pp
Over 18s only
No pre-booking needed (just turn up)!
8pm
THURSDAY WE WILL BE OPEN AS A BAR 12-11pm. Free Entry
FRIDAY 10th FEB: PEARL HANDLED REVOLVER
PHR's four EPs, two Live albums and four studio albums chart a journey from the limits of primal blues, via unlikely liaisons between cult film scores and bare bones Stoner Rock, to blackened psychedelic soul music. Indoor/Standing. Doors:8pm. Over 18s. Tickets just £5 #newmusic
SATURDAY 11th FEB:
12-6pm: BYO VINYL
8.30pm: LIVE MUSIC FROM THE 38s
Dust off those dancing shoes as legendary local party band, The 38s, will be playing a fantastic soundtrack of Mod, Ska, Soul, Punk & Rock n Roll classics!
Free entry
A few pictures of how much has changed in the last 3 years:
AND FINALLY...
As a member of The Music Venues Trust (an organisation that represents 1000+ Grassroots Music Venues in the UK), we have received a copy of their 1st ever Annual Report covering the impact, influence, economics and outcomes of GMVs in 2022.
The report reveals some startling facts about our sector that everyone needs to know:
£500 million contribution to the economy
0.2% Profit Margin
£79 million GMV subsidy of live music
30,000 employees
This is hard hitting data that lifts the curtain on how difficult our work is, how hard it is to keep going, and how important it is that we do. It demonstrates clearly that we are going to need Governments and Industry to come together and act to support us.
Music Venue Trust is laying out some clear actions of what governments need to do in response to this report;
Support for energy costs
Action to reduce taxes (VAT/Business Rates)
Strengthen the legal protection in planning for venues
They are also launching a key goal for the music industry; by 1 January 2025 every ticket sold for every major arena, stadium and festival show should be making a small financial contribution back into the grassroots circuit that nurtures and develops the talent on which those events rely.
We have read the report and will be joining the MVT campaign to push for this action. We have arranged a meeting with our local MP to explain our difficulties, discuss the report and to request their support.
This campaign is far bigger than the CCB, it is about acknowledging the role of grassroots venues across the country, supporting live music and saving our venues, so if you have time, we urge you to read the report and get behind this campaign.
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