Deptford’s Piehouse Co-op is set to reopen its doors next week after a year-long campaign to save the beloved community arts space.
Rent arrears meant that it had to close at the end of 2023, but on Thursday it’s back with a line-up of music, drag, karaoke and arm-wrestling – a testament to its drive for inclusive fun.
The venue, which was formerly known as Matchstick Piehouse, closed its doors in November 2023 when, after falling behind on rent, the landlord demanded £35,000.
This was due to covid-related losses, as well as the struggle against a political landscape under which grassroots music venues were shutting at a rate of two per week (Music Venue Trust 2024).
Musician Nastazia Bazil, who was a Piehouse regular and is performing at one of the first events, said she was upset to find out that the Piehouse had closed.
She said: “When you don’t have that space for people to perform, I think the city loses a lot of value.”
Having moved to London from Lebanon, she said: “Community spaces are really important because it gives the opportunity for people to meet other people who are interested in the same things that you are interested in.
“It just gives the platform for people to express themselves.”
Piehouse is now run by a co-op of five former staff, technicians and collaborators.
After a year of crowdfunding, fundraising events and negotiating, the co-op announced in November 2024 that they had reached an agreement with the landlord to reopen.
They also secured a £15,000 grant from Lewisham Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Sonya Woodruff, artist and former employee-turned-co-op member, said that seeing the generous response of the community was emotional.
Woodruff said: “Money is tight for people but so many people donated so generously.”
In their fundraising events, they had musicians offering to play for free, as well as local figures such as Soft Wax, giving talks on the area’s cultural history.
Matchstick Piehouse was originally set up in 2018 in a Deptford railway arch.
It began as a theatre but developed into an important arts space for groups who were not usually platformed in mainstream institutions.
Woodruff said: “It was definitely a home.
“It provided a huge opportunity for a lot of young queer people to host their first night in an environment they felt safe which was super important.”
Whilst the Piehouse was well known for the Steam Down jazz night and its folk nights, it is also one of South London’s only wheelchair accessible DIY venues.
It welcomed charities and groups that put on gigs and club nights for people with different disability needs, such as local charity Heart n Soul.
Woodruff said: “It was just really beautiful to see that side of the community because the disabled community is very present in Southeast London, but there aren’t many cultural spaces that are welcoming because of access issues.”
This week Piehouse Co-op announced that they are officially registered as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company.
Woodruff said: “I think it’s important to have a space that’s run as an explicit political project which is against racism, ableism and gentrification.”
The co-op is keen to work closely with local community groups, make the space more intergenerational, and Woodruff even hopes to set up a library.
In their new design, Piehouse will also have a lowered counter bar, which will improve accessibility for wheelchair users.
Although Piehouse has raised enough money to reopen next week, its future still relies on support from the community.
They currently have a team of volunteers helping to redecorate and renovate the space which was left empty after bailiffs removed equipment at the end of November 2023.
Further funds are also needed for furnishing and equipment costs, as well as staff wages and business support.
The Piehouse Co-op, through strength of community, hard work and vision, has managed to rise from the ashes in a world where the odds are against grassroots cultural spaces.
Musician Kitty Fitz, who performed some of her first ever shows at Piehouse and is set to perform at the opening gig, said: “It has been a missing piece of the local scene.”
Woodruff added: “It takes a minute to process what we’ve done.”
But if you want pies (and now patties) into the far future, continued support is needed. You can donate here.
Its opening karaoke party is on the 14th.
View the full March line up here.
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