Popular Edinburgh jazz bar that closed due to costs to reopen as non-profit

A much-loved jazz bar that suddenly closed last month is to reopen as a non-profit social enterprise.

Fans of the Jazz Bar in Edinburgh were left devastated after the venue announced it was closing its doors due to the cost of living crisis coupled with operational challenges that “proved too much” to carry on running.

However, in a social media post on Thursday morning owners announced that the popular spot now has new owners and will be operating as a non-profit.

Husband and wife duo Nick and Justyna Mushlin, who have “decades of experience and deep connections to the bar”, created the community interest company The Jazz Bar Edinburgh CIC and have purchased the Jazz Bar’s assets, name, social media and licence.

They plan to “channel all operating surplus back into the venue” with “all assets locked into and owned by the social enterprise”.

The statement read: “When it became apparent that The Jazz Bar would shut, they took it upon themselves, with help and support from the music community surrounding the bar, to purchase the assets. Their aim was to start a new venture to serve the community they had been a part of for so long, continuing the legacy that the old Jazz Bar had created and nurtured for many years.

“The challenges faced by live music venues in recent years have led to more and more closures. With huge help and support from Music Venue Trust (MVT), we have opted to launch as a CIC to benefit from some of the advantages that this type of grass-roots music venue currently enjoys, including 75% rebate on business rates and VAT exemption on ticket sales.

“Former staff, sound engineers, and musicians dug deep to collectively raise enough money to enable The Jazz Bar CIC to purchase the assets, name, and licence when the opportunity arose. A testament to the strength of the JB community!”

It added: “We would not have been able to do any of this if it weren’t for the love that runs deep for The Jazz Bar and all it stands for; for the family that was built from Bill Kyle’s dream.”

The team have begun a crowdfunder to assist with “startup costs” and to repay short-term personal loans which were taken out by the new owners.

The statement concluded: “The social enterprise is established, and for the essential assets that we need have been secured, but we still need help from the community, especially with the Jazz & Blues Festival and the Fringe just around the corner.

“We are full of enthusiasm, confidence and determination that, together, we can build an even stronger community. Thank you all for your continued support and dedication to live music in Edinburgh. We hope to be in a position to welcome you to the new Jazz Bar very soon!”

Located on Chambers Street, The Jazz Bar first opened in 2005 replacing the Bridge Jazz Bar which existed for seven months before being destroyed in a fire.