Pub will close for three weeks refurb on 25th September but music venue stays open!

In May 2009 we reported that the historic music venue The Half Moon was threatened with closure - local & national feelings were strong and the pub/venue continued to open it's doors. Young & Co.'s Brewery, have announced plans to secure the long term future of its iconic music venue the Half Moon pub in Putney.

Following a review with longstanding tenants James Harris and Carrie Davies, agreement has been reached for Young’s to invest in a substantial refurbishment of the music venue and conversion of the pub to its highly regarded Geronimo Inns format.

Carrie Davies will continue running the Half Moon music venue alongside the existing Half Moon crew as part of the Geronimo Inns team while James Harris will leave the pub to concentrate on growing his other successful businesses.

Commenting on the deal, Carrie Davies said:
“I'm so pleased that The Half Moon is becoming a Geronimo Inns pub and am excited about taking the venue to the next level. Our team has worked extremely hard to preserve this treasured venue and I'm really looking forward to focusing all of my energy and attention on the music side of the operation. Here's to exciting times ahead and ensuring that The Half Moon remains one of the best small live music venues in the UK!”

Carrie told PutneySW15.com:
"They are very supportive of the live music and we are planning a refurb that is sympathetic to the music and history that is here. The main thing is - the Half Moon's future is now safe!".

David Turner Property & Tenancy Director at Young & Co.'s Brewery, P.L.C added:
“We recognise that the pub commands a special place not just in the local community but in the wider music community as well, due in no small part to all the hard work that James has put in to the pub over the years.

“We think that the new Geronimo Inns format will provide the perfect complement to the pub’s music venue offering and believe that Carrie and the team will be able to take the business forward as a result. More importantly, we are delighted to have been able to secure the long term future of the Half Moon and look forward to the next exciting chapter in the pub’s history.”

James Harris said:
”I'd like to thank everybody for their friendship and support over the last 12 years and will be extremely sorry to go. However, the time is right and I have every confidence that, through the change of the pub to the Geronimo Inns format, alongside Carrie’s stewardship, this most historic of venues will continue to prosper long in to the future.”

The refurbishment of The Half Moon will begin on 25th September 2011 when the pub element of the venue will be closed for three weeks to allow for a major refurbishment in order to bring it into line with the Geronimo Inns pub format.

The Music Venue will continue to trade as usual during this period and all upgrades and enhancements to the music venue will be undertaken simultaneously during day time non trading hours to avoid any loss of the facility to the entertainers and music fans that the Half Moon caters for.