Spotlight: The Globe
The UK's first cooperative-owned bar and music venue — bought by over 230 community shareholders in 2014, now hosting jazz, folk, blues, rock, and club nights on Railway Street.
There are music venues, and then there are music venues that belong to their audience. The Globe on Railway Street is the first bar and venue in the UK to be owned and run by a music cooperative — and that distinction shapes everything about the place.
How it works
In 2014, Pink Lane Jazz Co-op Ltd (trading as Jazz.Coop) purchased The Globe through a community share issue. Over 230 people bought shares and became members of the cooperative. The venue is run for the benefit of musicians and music lovers, not for private profit — a model that gives it a fundamentally different character to most commercial venues.
The music
The programme spans jazz, folk, blues, rock, indie, roots, acoustic, DJ nights, and club nights. Jazz.Coop also runs courses, workshops, and jam sessions, making The Globe a place where musicians can learn, develop, and share their skills as well as perform.
The atmosphere
At just 11 Railway Street in the west end of the city, The Globe is intimate and unpretentious. The sound is good, the beer is cold, and the audience is there because they genuinely love music. It is the kind of venue where you might discover your next favourite artist on a Wednesday evening.
For Gosforth residents
A short drive or taxi ride from Gosforth, The Globe is worth knowing about if you value live music in an authentic, community-driven setting. Check the website for upcoming listings.