About the project

What does this community space/venue do?
2Funky Music Café is a dynamic, multi-space entertainment venue that caters to a wide range of live music, nightlife, and private events. At its core is the main two-floor live music venue, hosting gigs and artist performances, complemented by several versatile spaces including The Lobby for student nights and private parties, a vibrant Garden area for DJ sets and social events, and a Roof Terrace with an adjoining function room available for hire. The venue also features a dedicated 300-capacity club space for larger music events, alongside additional outdoor terrace areas overlooking the nearby university. Together, these spaces create a flexible and lively destination that supports everything from grassroots music and club nights to private functions and community events.

What is VIY doing?
VIY will deliver a comprehensive renovation of the venue’s backstage areas, including the green room, toilet facilities and main corridor. Works will involve the installation of new panelling and skirting, along with a full redecoration to significantly improve the overall look and feel of the space.
The main backstage entrance, used by artists, will also be fully upgraded. This will include the construction of a timber shelter over the steps, the addition of new planters, and wider improvements to create a more welcoming and professional arrival point.
In addition, an unused downstairs storage area will be transformed into a new social space/green room for artists, ensuring the backstage provision is both functional and fit for purpose. Overall, this represents a complete transformation of the backstage environment.

What will be the impact of our project?
This project will significantly improve the venue’s ability to attract and retain artists, supporting increased bookings and long-term income generation. By upgrading the backstage areas, the venue will offer a more professional, comfortable and welcoming environment, helping to meet artist expectations and encourage repeat use.
A key improvement is the creation of an additional downstairs green room/social space. The existing upstairs backstage area can only accommodate 2–3 people at most, limiting the venue’s capacity. The new space will allow more artists to be supported at once, making the venue more suitable for larger acts and busy event schedules.
Overall, these improvements will enhance the artist experience, strengthen the venue’s reputation, and directly support its ability to generate more income.

Project contact: charlie@teamviy.com.