The Cheese and Grain has hosted a national gathering of grassroots music venues, bringing together venue operators from across the country to share ideas, discuss challenges and explore ways to strengthen the live music scene.

The meeting, held last month, was organised by the Music Venue Trust (MVT), a charity that protects, secures and improves grassroots music venues. It offered attendees the chance to network, share updates, and access practical support and resources.

We were incredibly proud to be chosen to host the meeting here in Frome, especially as it was, to our knowledge, the first time an MVT gathering of this kind has been held outside a major city.

The Cheese and Grain was selected to showcase the vital role that non-city venues play in the UK’s live music ecosystem. As a rural, community-owned venue, we’re seen as a strong example of how a grassroots space can successfully support both local audiences and national touring acts.

Hosting the event in Frome helped shine a spotlight on the importance of regional venues in sustaining and growing the UK’s touring infrastructure, not just for big names, but for emerging artists and the wider music community the venue supports.

The Cheese and Grain is incredibly proud to be part of the Music Venue Trust because we share a common mission: to protect, secure and celebrate the vital role that grassroots music venues play in the UK’s cultural landscape.