Sister Midnight, the co-operative that is aiming to open a radio station and community-owned music venue in Catford, has taken another important step towards opening its doors, writes Cameron Fyall
Five years after first announcing plans to create a community-owned cultural venue, Sister Midnight updated local residents and some of its 1,100 members on the progress of the project which secured the keys to the former Brookdale Working Men’s Club in 2024.
At a well attended public meeting in The Catford House, co-founder of the co-op Lenny Watson said Sister Midnight had so far raised £400,000 through community shares and fundraising.
In January 2026, the organisation launched its third share offer, aiming to find a final £150,000 to complete extensive renovations of the old working men’s club and prepare the building for opening. In just one week, £30,000 has been raised through new share purchases and donations. Sister midnight hopes to open to the venue to the public later in 2026.
The meeting also provided space for residents to raise their concerns about the project, particularly around how the venue would benefit the existing community. Some attendees referenced other crowdfunded projects that had struggled to deliver on their promised local impact.
Organisers welcomed the feedback, reiterating that community connection, accessibility and support for the local economy sit at the heart of Sister Midnight’s mission.
Questions were also voiced around how ticket pricing would be kept accessible.
Organisers acknowledged this would be as an ongoing challenge, particularly in light of recent industry pressures. In 2025, over 50 per cent of UK grassroots music venues made no profit, while those that did reported an average profit margin of just 2.5 per cent.
However, through open discussion and by actively inviting ideas from both the public and their membership, Sister Midnight representatives expressed optimism about working collectively to make the venue as inclusive as possible.
Those involved emphasised that the long-term success of Sister Midnight would be measured not only by its ability to remain open, but also by how well it serves Catford’s residents.
With strong community backing and significant funds already secured, the project is now edging closer to transforming a disused local landmark into a shared cultural asset for the area.