News / St Michael's Hill
Historic Bristol church set to reopen as dance and events venue
A vision to transform a once-derelict Bristol church into a dance and events venue is to become a reality.
Dance performances alone will not pay the bills, so St Michael’s on the Mount Without will also host wedding receptions, art installations, parties and networking events when it opens in May.
Norman Routledge, the businessman behind the plans, has assured residents the new venue will not become a nightclub and “definitely, definitely” will not host raves after some concerns were raised.
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Speaking at Bristol City Council’s licensing subcommittee meeting on March 5, Routledge explained why the renovated church will host a variety of events.
“Dance will never make us any money,” he said.
“Venue director Michelle Jetzer will bring in commercial activities. If there’s any money left over, the preservation trust will have some money. The new model will make it easier for the dancers to survive without having to apply for funding all the time.”
The fire-ravaged church will reopen as a dance and events space
The 200-year-old church has been virtually derelict since it was severely damaged by an arson attack in 2016. More than 50 crew members took hours to extinguish the fire, pouring water in from the collapsed roof.
Routledge said the roof had finally been replaced and the windows are being triple-glazed to reduce the noise.
Much of the funding has come from Kings Weston House, a once-abandoned historic Bristol building that he has restored into a successful events space.
St Michael’s Hill resident Fiona Taylor, who objected to the licensing application for the church, said: “Thanks for the investment to save the building. It doesn’t go unappreciated.
“It’s not just the noise from the building, it’s when everyone comes out into the street. It’s also dangerous – it’s a chaotic place, and parking is an absolute nightmare.
“Late night music and alcohol will be a nuisance to residents.”
She argued dance studios don’t need to put events on until 1am and said asking for extended licensing hours “is taking it in a different direction”.
Routledge applied to open the venue from 8am until 11pm Sunday to Thursday, and until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. The licence says only six pre-arranged events a year will be allowed to run after midnight, but he said in practice the number will probably only be two or three.
Responding to concerns the church could become a nightclub or rave venue, he said: “We definitely, definitely don’t want a rave.”
As well as dance performances, the church is set to host gala dinners, art installations and networking events. Jetzer said she had been approached by couples whose grandparents got married in the church who want to hold events there.
St Michael’s on the Mount Without dates back to the 15th century
The subcommittee agreed to award the licence. It says the premises will be used as a dance and events space and not as a nightclub.
The licence allows it to serve alcohol, and stage films, plays, live music and dance performances until 11pm Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Only six events will be allowed to run until after midnight each year.
The venue is set to open on May 1.
Stephen Sumner is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
Main photo by Martin Booth
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