Funding push to make sure Gillery stays

THE OWNER of a Mossley bar has launched a crowdfunding scheme to try and make sure the building is not sold off to a developer.

Dermot Gill, who runs The Gillery on Stamford Street, is looking to secure £87,500 so he can pay for the deposit for Old Bank Chambers, which was built by the great, great, great grandfather of legendary comedian Rik Mayall, whose portrait now looks over the premises.

But this is not a situation where he is looking for other people to pay his bill. He has come up with a set of incentives.

Options include becoming a friend of The Gillery for 12 months for pledges of £250, a Gillery care pack for £125, a mini beer festival for £50 and having your name engraved on the Old Chambers founder’s wall for £10.

The building houses much more than just the bar, there is a recording studio above it.

And after building links with many community groups, including Mossley Twinning Committee, Friends of Mossley Park and Friends of Egmont Street, he believes keeping it can retain a hub.

Dermot said: “I get involved with a lot of community groups and I give them the meeting room.
“I just want community interest groups to have a safe place to meet.“If the crowdfunding doesn’t work, the building will go on the open market and more than likely, with it being a commercial property it’ll either go to a developer or an investment group.

“They’re usually from outside the area, so they don’t know or care about any of the historical significance of the building – they purely look at it as part of their portfolio and how they can increase the percentage on it.

“Usually that means knocking it down and building something more modern.

“I’ve still got a lease here but I don’t want to be in a position where in a year-and-a-half I’m trying to renegotiate with a developer who’s trying to buy me out of it.

“I’d prefer to not have that legal battle – buying it would remove a cloud above everyone’s head. It would secure the building.

“It would be a shame to lose this. A lot of people say it’s a safe place to be. Lots of people come here who won’t go into other places.”

Dermot admits he has had one or two negative comments since launching the crowdfunding scheme – but this is purely for the 30-35 per cent deposit, he will pay for the rest.

And if it works, you can expect improvements like an extended kitchen as at the moment he has to apply for everything he wants to do with the current owner – a quantity surveyor in London.

Dermot added: “He’s got a substantial estate in London but this is a but of a blip on his radar, it’s not one of his main buildings and it’s come up with a few maintenance and refurb issues.
“He’s got a bit sick of it keep coming up on his radar.”

Dermot transformed what was the Royal Bank of Scotland after finding the ceiling falling in, dry rot, floors billowing up, no functioning heating, no hot water, deficient electrics and major voids in the walls.

And he had a message for any doubters over the motivation behind the scheme.

He told The Correspondent: “A lot of people don’t realise they actually get something for their pledges and there’s been some feedback from people who just say, ‘You want us to pay for you to buy the place.’

“I’m like, ‘No, it’s save the place and it’s not just for me. It’s for the recording studio upstairs and it’s for the other artists and photographer here. It gives them a secure place, it’s not just me.’

“Some people who come from outside the area specifically for things to do with the recording studio or the photographer don’t actually realise there’s a bar underneath!