Iron Maiden founder to play fundraiser for Kent venue

A music venue in Dover is raising money to secure the ownership of its building with the help of Iron Maiden founder Steve Harris.

The owner of Old Harbour Station, which houses The Booking Hall Dover music venue, put the site on the market due to the financial impact of Covid lockdowns.

With the venue being granted first refusal to purchase the building, Mr Harris agreed to perform a fundraising show on 21 May to help secure the site.

Booking Hall is £15,000 away from its target of £25,000 to secure the building.

When the singer and bassist learnt of the Booking Hall's situation he offered to bring his latest band, British Lion, together to hold a benefit show.

Venue director Stuart Cameron said the gig is "going to be an absolutely massive help for getting us over the line".

He said the band waived their costs so the profit from the show "will go straight into securing the building".

John Shirley, the landlord of the building, said the sale of the section where Booking Hall is housed was a decision that was "forced upon" him.

He added: "It is hard to describe how bad 2023 was.

"Probably the worst ever, not knowing what to do, struggling to pay suppliers even though we were paid immediately by most of the clients, we were in a desperate situation."

Mr Cameron said it "became quite clear" that they "couldn't take this building on without some external financial help".

But Music Venue Properties, a charitable society set up by Music Venue Trust, got involved and "completely turned it around".

The charity ran a successful campaign, called Our Own Venues, to purchase freeholds of venues that were at risk, including the Booking Hall.

Mr Cameron said his team were feeling "very positive" and the British Lion show "is gonna put a healthy chunk" into securing the building.

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