Music venue celebrates 'fantastic' 25 years
BBCA Worcester music venue which has welcomed the likes of Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding through its doors is celebrating 25 years in business.
The Marrs Bar opened in 2000 when former electrician Brian Maher, who played in several bands, decided to buy a former dance studio in Pierpoint Street and turn it into a live music venue.
Over the years it has earned a growing reputation in the industry, despite only having a capacity of 250 people.
"I've had messages from people in America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, all over the world," said Mr Maher.
"That's people who have been here, or played here, or just know us and want to pass on their best wishes at reaching 25 years - it's been fantastic."
The venue has welcomed in plenty of big names over the years, the highlight being a visit from Ed Sheeran in 2011, which has been viewed almost three million times on YouTube.
"The first time I met him, he came with the band Nizlopi, he was only a young lad with them," he said.
"He came as a support act, and then I gave him a couple of gigs on his own, and we became friends.
"When he got big, he picked five venues to go around the country and do a warm-up tour, just before his first Glastonbury headliner, and picked us.
"At the end of the night I said 'Ed, your management didn't tell us what your payment or the door split is', and he said 'that's yours'.
"So he even did the gig for free - he's a lovely lad, an absolute diamond."
Some of the other well-known names who have performed at The Marrs Bar include Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood and Paul Young.
Mr Maher said his location has helped - as well as his pricing strategy, with tickets and drinks kept deliberately cheap.
He said: "Being in the West Midlands, a lot of people are passing through here from the north, south, east and west.
"It's so good for musicians to just drop in - a lot of them do call it a little oasis on a tour.
"We put on a lot of tribute bands - they pay the bills - but my passion is original music.
"It feels incredible to have been here for 25 years - especially in the music business."
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