Venue boss 'humbled' by level of support as developers and MP have say on demolition plans

Management of a Lancaster music venue, developers and the city's MP have spoken out after hundreds of people objected to its demolition.

More than 750 objections to knocking down the Kanteena building on Brewery Lane have been sent to Lancaster City Council as we went to press.

The closure of Kanteena was announced earlier this year, and there are plans to demolish the premises as part of £100m regeneration plans for the area as part of the long-awaited Canal Quarter development. 

Pablo Aguilar, who runs the music and arts venue, said he was "humbled with the level of response" but "always knew the venue was temporary".

A joint statement issued by Kanteena, and developers Marco Living and Axis-RE, on Tuesday, also addressed numerous claims posted online that the venue will be replaced with a car park.

"Following recent commentary about the future of Kanteena at the Brewery Lane site, Marco Living, Axis-RE and Kanteena wish to clarify the position and address community concerns," said the statement.

"The original vision in 2019 was to create activity and community benefit while regeneration plans were developed and Kanteena fitted that bill. Since then, Kanteena have done a great job with the financial and operational support of the Brewery Lane developer from the start.

"To clarify speculation, Kanteena is not part of the forthcoming temporary car parking application. The venue has always operated as a temporary use prior to wider regeneration plans for this important city centre site.

"Since acquiring (site owners) Lanmara Developments Limited in May 2025, Marco Living and Axis-RE have continued to work closely with Kanteena, extending their lease through to the end of 2025 to provide financial security and allow the venue to continue operating in its current site.

"The development team is currently working toward a mixed-use scheme that will benefit Lancaster. We cannot disclose specific details at this time as plans are still evolving in consultation with key stakeholders in the area. We hope to share our plans before the end of the year.

"The development partnership, operating as Lanmara Developments Limited, continues to listen to feedback and will ensure that any future development delivers genuine benefit for Lancaster while creating opportunities for local businesses, employment and cultural activities."

Pablo Aguilar, from Kanteena, said: “When we started Kanteena at Brewery Lane we always knew the venue was temporary.

"We are humbled with the level of response.

"Our landlords have been open and honest throughout, giving us plenty of time to plan ahead. We've had an amazing six years and we're grateful for the support we've received. This is not the end of the road for Kanteena but a new chapter. Watch this space!”

The venue's management announced earlier this year, that New Year's Eve would be their last night open as a music and arts venue.

Axis-RE is a North West property development company. Co-founder Russ Worthington was born and raised in Lancaster and continues to live locally.

One of the 755 objections to be posted on the city council website, comes from Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster & Wyre (below).

It says: "The demolition of a successful and beloved music venue is a backwards step in Lancaster's regeneration.

"The city council should think again on this, and save Kanteena.

"As a modern cultural asset, the city's only mid-size music venue has attracted international and national talent, supported grassroots local artists, and is a vital part of the local economy supporting our art and music scene.

"Lancaster Music Co-Op are not only investing in our city, they're also having to fight against closures to music venues, and are absolutely right when they say: 'If we lose Kanteena, the whole city loses out. To close down such an important asset to Lancaster, with no real plan of what will replace it, seems like madness.'"

Ms Smith later posted on her Facebook page: "I'm backing their objections. I'm challenging the city council on the plan and have submitted my own personal objection on the planning application."

As we went to press, there were also four comments on the council website in support of the demolition plans.

A planning application has gone in, from the site owners, for "relevant demolition of existing buildings and associated vegetation clearance" at the Canal Quarter Central Site on land to the east of Brewery Lane.

As well as Kanteena, the application asks for permission to demolish an old depot building formerly used by the former Mitchell's Brewery.

A further planning application went in to the council last month, to demolish buildings to the west of Brewery Lane.

A heritage statement submitted with the plans says: "Lancaster City Council served a Section 77 notice under the Building Act 1984 on 18 June 2025 which confirmed that a number of the existing buildings situated on the site bounded by St Leonards Gate, Lodge Street, Brewery Lane and Moor Lane, Lancaster, as part of the Canal Quarter, have been assessed by officers at the council to be in such a state and carrying such loads as to be dangerous.

"The group of buildings are behind the buildings facing out onto St Leonards Gate and Moor Lane and form parts of Swan Court and St Annes Place. Urgent action is thus required to be taken to remove the danger they currently pose to the public.

"All but two of the buildings proposed for demolition have been served with a s.77 notice confirming their dangerous condition."

These buildings include the former Thompson & Jackson premises, a row of stone cottages at Swan Court, and the former DC Wilson's Garages workshop.

Lancaster City Council, as local planning authority, has responsibility for deciding if demolition should go ahead.

The council will make a decision on whether to grant permission, in due course.

The Kanteena demolition plans and public comments can be viewed at the lancaster.gov.uk planning section, reference number 25/00913/FUL.

There is much more on this story and the background here.

Music fans rally against plans to demolish popular Lancaster venue - Beyond Radio