Small music venues have seen a “catastrophic” drop in attendance since the government’s Plan B COVID-19 announcement, with some at risk of “permanent closure”, a music charity has said.

The Music Venue Trust said attendance at gigs had dropped by 23% in a week, with more than 140,000 no-shows from ticket-holders – resulting in a 27% decline in gross income.

According to a survey of grassroots venues by the organisation, the sector faces losses of nearly £2 million – and it is now calling on culture secretary Nadine Dorries to create a “ring-fenced stabilisation fund” to help.

What proof do you need for a COVID pass – and where will you need one?

It comes after the government announced the Plan B move on 8 December in response to rising cases of coronavirus and the spread of the new Omicron variant, with COVID passes now in force in England.

Beverley Whitrick, strategic director of the MVT, said: “This is the busiest time of the year for grassroots music venues, representing more than 20% of their annual income being raised during the party season.

“Rapid declines in attendance at this time of year represent an exponential threat to the whole sector, and losses of this magnitude cannot be sustained without throwing hundreds of music venues into crisis mode and at risk of permanent closure.

Germany: Police launch raids after ‘threats to kill officials over COVID measures’

COVID-19: Grant Shapps says he believes ‘with some confidence’ people can enjoy Christmas – with no new restrictions ‘right now’

COVID-19: US coronavirus deaths top 800,000, with more than 25% coming after vaccines became available

“A ‘no show’ isn’t just lost ticket income, it’s lost bar take and excess staff costs.”

Advance ticket sales have also dropped by 27%, the charity found, while some 61% of venues also reported having to cancel at least one event in the week of 6-13 December – the biggest cause being a performer or member of the touring party testing positive for COVID (35.6%).

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

The results were compiled from a survey of the Music Venues Alliance – a network of 918 UK grassroots music venues, of which 284 responded.

MVT chief executive Mark Davyd said: “It feels like we are back exactly where we were in March 2020, when confusing government messaging created a ‘stealth lockdown’ – venues apparently able to open but in reality haemorrhaging money at a rate that will inevitably result in permanent closures unless the government acts quickly to prevent it.”

Sky News has contacted the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for comment.

Related posts:

Lloyd Webber urges theatreland to ‘stop wringing hands’ and fund diversity drive ‘Scent kits’ created to bring The Gruffalo book to life for visually impaired children Michael Barrymore pool death: Man arrested over murder at star’s home in 2001 Kim Kardashian says she was almost a ‘runaway bride’ – and reveals her one regret Kanye West premieres new album in Atlanta – including Jay-Z surprise feature Tilly Ramsay hits back at radio host who called her ‘chubby little thing’ Who is Alec Baldwin? The controversial life of the Hollywood actor and father-of-seven ‘I’m so sorry I can no longer be there’: Ex-Little Mix star Jesy Nelson to miss show after testing positive for COVID You won’t be able to shuffle songs from Adele’s new album on Spotify – here’s why Khashoggi’s fiancee in plea to Bieber: ‘Do not sing for the murderers of my beloved Jamal’ Brit Awards scrap male and female categories – as music event ‘aims to be as inclusive as possible’ Former House Of Cards star Kevin Spacey ordered to pay $31m to studio