Aberdeen’s jazz and live music community is grappling with the unexpected announcement of The Blue Lamp’s imminent closure. The iconic Gallowgate venue, widely regarded as a cornerstone of the city’s music scene and often described as “the beating heart” of Aberdeen jazz, will cease operations on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
The decision stems from what staff described as unsustainable financial pressures. In a statement shared on social media, the venue explained: “Sadly, the rising costs of running a business have reached a point where it is simply no longer viable for us to continue operating.” The statement further detailed that “the financial pressures – from energy to upkeep to general overheads – have grown beyond what we can sustain,” concluding that the decision was made “only after exhausting every other path available to us.”
The closure marks a significant loss for Aberdeen’s cultural offering. Established in 1949, The Blue Lamp has fostered a vibrant atmosphere for over seven decades, hosting generations of musicians across jazz, blues, folk, and other genres. Its commitment to live music was recognised in 2023 when it was named Britain’s Jazz Venue of the Year at the prestigious Parliamentary Jazz Awards in London.
The venue’s importance to the local jazz scene intensified in summer 2014 when it became the home for ‘Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon’ sessions. The late owner, Sandy Brown, championed the initiative, offering the space without charge after its previous funding at The Lemon Tree ceased. His grandson, Lewis Brown, continued this legacy after taking over the venue following Sandy’s passing in April 2020.
The closure poses a substantial challenge for the upcoming Aberdeen Jazz Festival. The Blue Lamp was slated to be a primary hub for the 2026 edition, scheduled from March 7 to March 22. Neil Gibbons, an organiser for the Aberdeen festival, conveyed the community’s sentiment, stating: “The jazz community in Aberdeen are stunned by the news and are currently evaluating how we move forward. For now, all I would say is that Aberdeen Jazz Festival and Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon will keep going. We will make sure that this great music that Aberdeen is famous for will continue.” Gibbons added that more information would be provided “once the way forward is clearer.”
Jazz Scotland is actively seeking alternative venues to host the festival. John Youngs, Chief Executive of Jazz Scotland, expressed his dismay, stating: “We’re all really saddened to hear the news that the Blue Lamp will be closing by the New Year. It’s a big blow for us, and for everyone who has put so much time and energy into building the Blue Lamp into one of the best jazz and live-music venues in the country over the generations.” While acknowledging the setback, Youngs remains optimistic for the festival’s continuation, noting, “While 2026’s festival will feel different without the Blue Lamp as our hub, we’re confident the festival will continue to be a great celebration of jazz and jazz-adjacent music across the city.” Early-bird tickets for various concerts are expected later this week, with the full programme anticipated by mid-January.
The Blue Lamp’s statement concluded by recognising the venue’s profound impact:
“We know this closure will leave a hole in the hearts of many. It’s not just a venue that’s going; it’s a chapter in Aberdeen’s musical and social story. But we hope the memories made here – the laughter, the late-night conversations, the applause after a brilliant set – will live on.”
Pub Closures – a wider trend
The British pub industry is experiencing a severe crisis driven by escalating operational costs, with venues closing at a rate of approximately one per day across the UK throughout 2025. In Aberdeen, the Blue Lamp’s fate mirrors a nationwide pattern affecting the hospitality sector, where business rates relief has been slashed from 75% to 40% from April 2025, causing average pub bills to nearly double from around £4,000 to over £9,600 annually.
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Additionally, employer National Insurance contributions increased from 13.8% to 15% in April 2025, with the threshold dropping from £9,100 to £5,000, whilst energy bills remain approximately 70% higher than pre-2021 levels.
The British Beer and Pub Association estimates that 378 pubs will close in 2025, resulting in over 5,600 direct job losses, with industry analysis suggesting that one in five UK pubs is now technically insolvent. The Blue Lamp’s closure underscores how these combined cost pressures are forcing even long-established, culturally significant venues to
