UPDATE: Music lovers vow to fight closure

One of Oxford's top music venues The Cellar nightclub looks set to close next year.

The basement venue off Cornmarket Street - which has played host to gigs by the likes of Foals - could close in early 2018 when the retailer Lush vacates its city centre shop.

The leaseholders Lush sub-lets the basement as a nightclub venue, which will close when it leaves the street.

But St Michael's and All Saints Charities, which owns the building, wants to change The Cellar to a retail space.

It added that an incoming tenant had not yet been confirmed but a full refurbishment would take place once the venue closes.

An online petition had more than 800 signatures in the hours after the Oxford Mail broke the story.

The club's owner Tim Hopkins said it was 'devastating' but its solicitors were exploring how the venue could fight the decision and stay open.

James Cunning, from the band We Aeronauts, signed and said: "This venue is so important for promoters, bands old and young alike, and the many culturally and musically diverse club nights it hosts.

"It's also one of the only places in Oxford you could go to on any night of the week and see or hear something genuinely interesting."

A whole host of big names have thrown their weight behind the club in recent times and called for it to keep itss place as Oxford top venue for music.

Gaz Coombes, formerly of Supergrass said: "Oxford has some great venues, like The Cellar, where I’ve seen a few shows. I love these places where you can feel the sweat dripping from the ceiling and the breath of the front row on your face."