New home found for Edinburgh’s Bongo Club

ARTS organisation Out of the Blue has secured a new home for its flagship live music and clubbing venue less than three months before it was due to be made homeless.

The Bongo Club will be moving into part of the space beneath the Central Library which is occupied by the Underbelly venue during the Fringe under the council’s blueprint for cultural venues.

The promoters will still be running shows there each festival. Out of the Blue has been given a temporary licence to operate from January of next year to June 2014.

The Scotsman revealed earlier this year how the Bongo Club was being turfed out of its long-time home on Holyrood Road by its Edinburgh University owner. A stay of execution until the end of the year was secured while negotiations with the council were ongoing.

Rob Hoon, coordinator of Out of the Blue, said: “The Bongo Club is a much loved Edinburgh institution attracting thousands of people to an all year round programme of live music, clubs and other arts for both performance and practice.

“Thousands of people have supported the quest to find a home for the Bongo Club and we are delighted with the council’s support to help make it happen.”

Richard Lewis, the council’s culture leader, added: “Over the last few months the Council has worked closely with Out of the Blue to find a solution.

“Now we’re hoping that by working in partnership we can provide more creative opportunities for young people and attract a new audience to the Central Library.”