‘Much loved’ Preston music venue 53 Degrees to reopen after decade

A “much loved” city music venue is set to reopen after being closed for almost a decade.

53 Degrees in Preston’s University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) campus hosted acts such as Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, Kasabian and Calvin Harris but has been mostly dormant since 2015.

It is now preparing to welcome music fans back for a full season of live music events.

Live music promoters GS Promotions said it was “delighted” to bring the venue back to life in August in partnership with UCLan Students’ Union (SU) and has already lined up acts such as singer songwriter Lucy Spraggan, Peat & Diesel, and the Lancashire Hotpots.

53 Degrees originally opened its doors in 2005 and was run by UCLan SU.

It said it closed its doors in 2015 as students’ preferences changed and the music industry was evolving making it tough to keep the venue going as a full-time gig space, although it still used it for key student events like Freshers’ Week.

Jon Russ, from UCLan SU, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing this iconic venue back to life in partnership with GS Promotions, adding to the vibrant live music scene in the heart of the city.

“Our goal is to make 53 Degrees a go-to destination for students, locals and touring acts alike.”

GS Promotions director Gav Scott said it was “dead exciting” to bring the “much loved” venue back to life.

He said it had always held a “special place in the hearts of music lovers in Preston” and it was “working hard to secure an incredible roster of artists and shows for the venue”.

The relaunch will start with opening the venue’s 400-capacity room with hopes to eventually expand into the venue’s larger room, which has a capacity for 1,500 people.

Sarah Threlfall, deputy chief executive and director of community and wellbeing at Preston City Council, said 53 Degrees was a “landmark venue for many” and its reopening as a hub for live music was “fantastic news” for the city and would further enhance its cultural offer.