​Noods Radio launches crowdfunder to save itself from closure

Bristol-based radio station Noods Radio has launched a crowdfund campaign to save itself from closure amidst threats of eviction.

The station currently faces an ultimatum, it claims, which is to move out of its home of Mickey Zoggs – a pub and live music venue in St Paul’s – or buy the venue outright. If it were to do the latter, it would set Noods back £70,000 for the deposit alone.

A fundraiser has been launched to collect the funds needed for the deposit, which will go toward “locking down our mortgage offer and securing Zoggs’s place in Bristol.”

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“We’ve been told that if we don’t buy the building our lease will come to an end,” they explained. “However, our landlord has given us the opportunity to buy the building first, ensuring that the space remains to serve the city.”

Noods Radio was launched in 2015. The station moved into Mickey Zoggs in 2021, serving as a hub for the “local creative community, a place for people to hang out, meet like-minded people, and discover music.”

“Without Zoggs, the station may cease to exist,” reads the fundraiser. “Through owning the building, we’ll ensure that Zoggs remains for the community and that Noods Radio has a secure home to keep broadcasting.”

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Over the years, Noods has worked on community-driven projects including a programme to help women and non-binary people get into broadcasting, and initiatives to help young people gain skills in creative industries.

The station hosts 230 artists each month from Mickey Zoggs, formerly The Surrey Vaults, a venue with a long history of musical talent previously hosting the likes of Tangerine Dream, Stephen Mallinder, and RP Boo.

“The last few years have shown us that third spaces such as Zoggs are essential places for Bristol’s cultural landscape,” they explain. “They are a place for people to feel connected, make friends and unwind.”

Help to save Noods Radio and support their fundraiser here, and check out more info below.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter