Edinburgh venue Studio 24 to close

The venue, much-loved for its eclectic club and live music policy, is set to close its doors after more than two decades in its current guise. In a statement on Facebook, Studio 24 said: "After 22 years of showing Edinburgh how to party hard without listening to mainstream drivel, run independently by our studio 24 family, it's unfortunately time for Studio 24 to call it a day.

"For years we've fought the good fight, giving a place for lovers of underground music somewhere where they feel safe in a friendly environment surrounded by staff who genuinely care about the music playing, the atmosphere and making sure the customers feel the same love."

In their announcement, the venue claim that repeated run-ins with neighbours and the City of Edinburgh Council have forced their hand, writing: "We feel that it's better to jump than be pushed, and perhaps us leaving the entertainment circuit in Edinburgh might make the powers that be realise that a shake-up of how a capital city's music scene should be supported. Calton Road once pulsed with music – from The Venue, to The Bongo on New Street to Studio 24. This part of the Old Town is almost silenced now. It’s the heart of the city, but the beat has been silenced."

In response, a City of Edinburgh Council spokesperson said: "Council staff have been speaking to Edinburgh’s venue owners and performers for more than a year to establish a plan for live music in the city. During this time, significant changes have been made to make Edinburgh’s noise policy clearer and fairer with the removal of what became known as the ‘inaudibility clause’. Since the new conditions came into effect for Studio24 in November, the Council hasn’t received any noise complaints relating to the venue.”

Paul Lawrence, Director of Place for the City of Edinburgh Council, added: “We haven’t been made aware of the venue’s reasons for closure but I would welcome a meeting with the owners to discuss their situation. We are committed to working with the industry to support live music, and I will be presenting a report detailing the work of the Music Is Audible taskforce to members of the new Council administration this summer. Meanwhile, I continue to urge existing and potential venue owners to come to us to discuss issues and plans.”

The venue had been set to close back in 2006 following noise complaints, but a public campaign saw owners reconsider. In its former guise as Calton Studios, the venue hosted early shows by a host of grunge and shoegaze icons in the early '90s, with Nirvana, Ride, Slowdive, Smashing Pumpkins and Mudhoney all playing shows at the venue.

The news of Studio 24's demise follows the closure of Electric Circus in nearby Market Street in March. A closing date for Studio 24 has not yet been announced.

The Music Is Audible group, dedicated to improving live music provision in the city, have made a statement on the closure - read their statement on Facebook here.