Bristol music venue SWX announces reopening date after arson attack

Leading South West music venue SWX has announced that it will make its highly-anticipated return this September and that it will reopen with a jam-packed season of live shows and club nights, as well as a completely new interior.

Bristol issue major update on plans to reopen city centre venue">The venue was closed down in July last year due to an arson attack, and after a huge amount of fire damage, it has taken a lot of hard work and renovation to get it ready to reopen to the public.

The former Top Rank Suite concert venue was launched in 1964 with the Beach Boys and The Faces, and has hosted many notable acts since then.

For a long time before the fire, the venue had been well-established as Bristol’s leading nightclub since the 1970s, and the building, centrally located on Nelson Street, was acquired by Electric Group in 2017 with a vision of repositioning the venue as a leading touring standard concert venue.

Sadly, the criminal arson attack put a halt to that, so it’s exciting to see the doors planning to be open again in the near future.

The major fire meant that the owners could focus on completely reimagining the famous club, and when it reopens on Friday 9 September, it will be fully refurbished and ready to become the best 21st-century venue that it can be.

With a completely new set of facilities, including beautifully renovated toilets and bars, the comprehensive refurbishment has upgraded the premises for both guests and artists and, at the same time, still celebrates its existing unique features such as the iconic sprung dance floor.

To kick off the brand new Autumn season, SWX will play host to the highly-anticipated new Sugababes tour which will see the reformed band heading out on their first UK headline tour in over 20 years in October.

Other performers confirmed for this Autumn already include Banks, Animal Collective, Poppy, Joey Bada$$, Black Midi, Julia Jacklin, Half Moon Run, and The Horrors as well as a massive international DJ line-up that will soon be announced.

In a statement on the reopening, CEO and co-founder of Electric Group Dominic Madden said: “I’m delighted to announce the reopening of our beloved SWX music venue. 

“SWX has been an integral part of the musical fabric of Bristol since the 1960s and we are very excited to share our exciting vision and reimagination of SWX.

“We have used this opportunity to reimagine and upgrade the venue (for example, making sure that the venue is more DDA compliant such as installing a disability compliant lift and generally making the main room far more accessible), whilst retaining many of the things that are so loved. 

“Our vision is to create a 21^st Century club and gig venue which music fans and artists will embrace for the next 50 years.

“I would like to thank all of those in Bristol who have provided so much support to our vision of reopening SWX in the face of many obstacles.”

For more information on the reopening, check out their brand new website.