Doghouse Closure - It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings

[Admin]

"It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings. And she isn't even on stage yet!"
--Sarah

Due to circumstances we still hope to resolve, The Doghouse is closed until further notice.

We appreciate all the support we have received today from patrons and local bands and, rest assured,. we haven't given up and hope to re-open as soon as possible.

We'll let you know the status of pre-arranged events as soon as we can.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make The Doghouse the success we believe it is and, if we can help it, this is not the end.

The Doghouse.

[Admin]

There's more in today's Courier at http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009 ... 6854t0.asp

Edit: And in tonight's Tele http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/outpu ... 481t0.shtm

Just a couple of things to add. The amounts outstanding are, and always were, able to be handled (in fact the total installment overdue was much less than the total figure you see quoted) - especially with all the support from local bands for which we are thankful and greatly appreciate. However Dundee Council and Administrators Begbies Traynor incorrectly (and with no discussion) decided this was not the case and any way forwards is in others hands right now.

Also despite what some think, very little money was stolen in the break-in at the weekend as the substantial night's takings were already off-premises, subsequently banked and are now in the hands of the Administrators - so we hope that squashes any conspiracy theories before they start. The first Doghouse staff or management knew of the closure was when the Administrators arrived Tuesday lunchtime and shut us down.

That Doghouse was/is a viable "going concern" but the current financial climate seems to be "shoot first, ask questions later." We are extremely disappointed and upset that it was Dundee City Council, of all people, who shut us down. So much for supporting small businesses in bad times.

[The Trade]

That is a disgrace.

So much for the Goverment promises to help out small businesses throughout these tough financial times!!

If you need any help with fundraising gigs or anything else, just ask and we will be there!!

Hopefully the Council will come to their senses and things can still be resolved.

Surely even they can see that losing The Doghouse will be a devastating blow for Dundee music?

[JOHN A B]

Sad, angry, devastated, gutted.

Anything we can do to get the Dog back where it belongs let us know.

The Doghouse really put Dundee and its musicians on the map.

Keep the faith.

[Admin]

From today's Courier

View’s anger over Doghouse closure

By Alan Wilson, Rocktalk writer

Dundee band The View reacted furiously to the news their favourite venue The Doghouse has been closed after the licensee was sequestrated at the request of Dundee City Council.

Pete Reilly, guitarist with the band, said last night they were “gutted” by its closure and the decision-makers at the council should “hang their head in shame.”

“We all think it’s ridiculous; it wasn’t a massive amount of money and Sarah (Hill, licensee) does a brilliant job of keeping that place going.

“It’s a fantastic place for bands to play and it’s where we really started out. Sarah gave us the use of the upstairs room and we practically lived there for months.

“The Doghouse was brilliant for us, there’s nowhere else like it and all the young bands get treated really well by Sarah and the staff.

“We all still hang out there, it’s the first place we go when we get back from touring and it shouldn’t be shut for that amount of money.

“Where will all the young bands hang out now? They’ve got nowhere.”

Full story at http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009 ... 2160t0.asp

Latest update is that following on from meetings with Punch Taverns and legal advisers we remain very hopeful that a way can be found to re-open The Doghouse. Meanwhile if any of you happen to know your local councillor, MP or MSP it will do no harm to contact them and ask for their help in our struggle to re-open.

A continued heartfelt thanks for all the support we continue to receive and we'll keep you updated as much as we can.

[Dexters]

We know only too well how difficult it is just now, we are also stuggling as is many pubs and clubs all over the city.
The council and the government should be trying to help small businesses not close them down!
We hope you get back on the music scene really soon...all the best Paul, Nicki and all the staff at Dexters.

[Admin]

We hope you get back on the music scene really soon...all the best Paul, Nicki and all the staff at Dexters.

Thanks! We just can't thank everyone enough for the tremendous response we've had to news of the closure.

We continue to be hopeful a solution suitable to all parties can be found but a number of things have to happen and they will take time. If it were just a question of handing over the money owed then we would do it and re-open tomorrow. But we were explicitly informed on Tuesday that even if all outstanding debt was paid to the administrators there and then that we were still going to be closed down - the council's legal action means that option is no longer available. We are however working with Punch Taverns on a plan which we believe will be successful. Watch this space and keep fingers crossed!

Some more in tonight's Tele

Story http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/outpu ... 639t0.shtm
Readers letters http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/outpu ... tters.shtm

Bebo Group (not run by us) http://www.bebo.com/bringbackthedoghouse

And today's Rocktalk in The Courier

At the risk of sounding flippant, it was literally a case of “Shock, Horror” for fans of The Doghouse, including The View themselves, when the insolvency administrators moved in to close down the venue on Tuesday, writes Alan Wilson, Rocktalk reporter.

Staff were given their notice, PA and other equipment was stripped out and locks were changed as the very soul was ripped from the Brown Street venue, and the heart torn from Dundee’s live music scene.

Full story at http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009 ... 0657t0.asp

[Thegoodnights]

We are doing all we can over on bebo guys..

http://www.bebo.com/bringbackthedoghouse

Just to show how much we appreciate you all at the doghouse.
Just our way of giving something back and saying thank you.

Much love xx

Jamie

The Goodnights

[Admin]

More in the press today

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009 ... etters.asp

Petty action against city musical landmark


Sir,—The council are, quite simply, brainless to take such a petty action against such a well-loved venue as The Doghouse. It is a musical landmark, no . . . THE musical landmark in Dundee.

Every time I have been it was fantastic and not just the music; the staff and the people who went there were also fantastic.

This has to be rectified. Petitions must be started against this action and I am sure there would be more than enough people willing to contribute to wiping out this petty council debt through fund-raisers.

Come on The View, Luva Anna, The Law, Sergeant, and all the rest of those great bands, get together and organise a fund-raising gig together in Baxter Park or somewhere similar and raise the money to get the council off the back of the best live music venue in Dundee.

It’s ridiculous.
Chris Boyle.
57 Huntly Road,
Dundee.

And From The Daily Record
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainm ... -21193851/

The View's anger as Dundee City Council close down Doghouse

Mar 13 2009 Bev Lyons and Laura Sutherland

THE View have lashed out at Dundee City Council after they closed down one of their favourite music venues.

The legendary Doghouse had to close its doors after the council sent in an accountant in bankruptcy on Tuesday.

The venue, a spiritual home for the Dundonian chart-toppers, was closed down over unpaid bills to the council.

A spokesman from the council said: "Dundee City Council applied for a sequestration order. We went to the Sheriff Court and asked them to sequester the person who is running the Dogshouse because they owed us money.

"The sum is in the region of £10,000 unpaid non-domestic rates."

The View's bassist Kieren Webster criticised the move, saying: "It's really sad and it feels like it's ripped the heart and soul out of the music scene in Dundee. Dundee Council should be doing more to help the music scene, instead they've ripped the heart out of it."

Singer Kyle Falconer said: "The Doghouse was where the manager saw us do our first ever gig."

Kieren added: "We're gutted, it's the end of an era, it'll be sorely missed."

There is a ray of light however.

Punch Taverns, who own the premises, said they hope to re-open the Doghouse in the not too distant future.

A spokesman said: "Our priority is to re-open the Doghouse as soon as feasibly possible.

"It is currently in the hands of the liquidators, so we are not in a position to give a timescale.

"It is a great music venue and we recognise its importance to the local community."

[The Edinburgh Crew]

Put it this way, if you didn't pay your tax you would be fucked too. Doghouse should of kept up with payments and not leave it until the last minute. The post you have made in response to the closure sounds so uneducated and unprofessional. How will the council (who can keep you closed) feel about it if they wandered into this forum? Don't be daft eh! Thought the Doghouse had good relations with The View... where are they boys when your in need? Doghouse was a good venue but don't agree with people taking the piss by not paying their way.

Maybe new management is in order now? Hopefully be open again soon under better circumstances.