The rate of grassroots venue closures in the UK has slowed for the first time in years. Here’s what the latest report reveals about the post-pandemic landscape. The UK’s grassroots music venue sector recorded its lowest annual decline since 2018 in 2025, pointing to early signs of stabilisation after several years of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and rising operating costs. While the overall number of venues has continued to fall slightly, the rate of closure has slowed markedly compared with previous years. According to the Music Venue Trust’s (MVT) 2025 annual report, the sector experienced a net loss…