Crowdfunder: Help to Save Margate's Where Else? From Closure
Posted on Friday 9th January 2026 at 15:00
Written by
Sarah Moore
Where Else? is Margate’s home for creativity and community, supporting rising artists from across the country and beyond.
This staple of the UK grassroots music scene has become a vital home for new voices finding their first opportunities, as well as for boundary-pushing artists looking to experiment.
Over the last 12 months, we’ve had the privilege of providing ticketing operations for this incredible intimate space, working with their team to put on amazing shows from the likes of Sports Team, Panic Shack, Gurriers and loads more.
Now, Where Else? needs you! Read on to find out how you can help save this vital venue.
Why is Where Else? important as a music venue?
Image Credit: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Like all small and intimate grassroots venues, Where Else? is a crucial part of the UK's music ecosystem, providing a platform for rising and up-and-coming artists. Without these spaces, future festival headliners and international superstars don't find their step up to hone their skills and find their audiences.
Aside from this, Where Else? is a welcoming space for the community, no matter your background, identity, or experience level. It's a creative hub and a cultural anchor - an institution within Margate’s evolving arts landscape.
See what upcoming shows they have programmed at Where Else? here.
Why does Where Else? need fundraising?
In 2025, grassroots venues across the UK's live music landscape find themselves struggling to survive, due to the rising costs associated with running a venue of this size.
In the autumn, Where Else? secured a new brewery deal that they hoped would stabilise cash flow. Then, through an administrative error, their licence was dissolved and while events kept running at the venue, alcoholic drinks could not be served and the venue had to close by 11pm.
Walk-in trade was lost, which became a financial blow to the venue - with costs so high and margins tight already, an issue like this can, and did, destabilise the entire business.
To keep the doors open, Where Else? has relied on personal credit cards, delayed payments, and juggled debts while trying to protect staff, artists, and programming. But now, they need support from the local and live music communities to continue on.
You can find out more about how to support the venue here.
How can I donate to save Where Else? from closure?
The best way you can help to save Where Else? is by donating to their crowdfunder. They are currently taking donations to help them:
- Clear legacy debt (£15,000)
- Pay overdue invoices with their drinks supplier
- Settle their VAT bill
- Recover from lost programming income
- Repay personal credit used to keep the venue afloat
- Regain stability after loss of bar income through challenging months
These donations are being matched by the Music Venue Trust, so any donation made by you will be doubled!
Is there anything else I can do to help Where Else? remain open?
Absolutely! The venue has suggested some other ways that you could help the venue to survive into the future.
- Buy a ticket to an upcoming show! Find all future listings here.
- Become a Where Else? member! Find out more here.
- Visit the venue and grab a drink!
- Buy merch from the venue directly.