London's legendary 100 Club venue has lost out in its bid to become a listed building.
The venue, which has frequently been threatened with closure over the past few years, secured a sponsorship deal that ultimately allowed it to stay in business, but its management had also bid to achieve the status of a listed building to help secure its long-term future.
A spokesperson for the Minister said: "There's no denying the club's place in British pop music history but in the end it's only the stage and the signage that mark it out as being any different from any other basement club. I can't help but feel that giving the cradle of punk rock listed building status would not be quite in tune with that movement's driving spirit."
Yeah very likely! More to the point, the whole of that part of Oxford St is under redevelopment and the site of the 100 club is right in the way of the wrecking ball. Aside from the building (there's only a door visible from the street) the stage is the very thing that has the heritage.
The Marquee Club once in nearby Wardour St tried to shift its venue and keep the name/logo and that failed.
Here's Wilko Johnson at the "100" in 2007 looking suitably miffed at the whole sorry business.
