Beloved Brisbane music venue closes after 10 years

A live music venue has been forced to shut its doors after more than a decade - and just two months after pleading for support.

A band performs inside The Bearded Lady in West End. Picture: File photo/Jacob Morrison

Beloved West End live music venue The Bearded Lady has been forced to shut its doors after more than 10 years of hospitality in the buzzing inner city suburb.

On Thursday, the venue posted across its social media platforms announcing the news.

“We’ve done everything in our power to keep our doors open, but unfortunately, negotiations with the landlord fell through yesterday [Wednesday],” it posted.

Their closure comes just two months after the venue launched a fundraiser pleading for $200,000 from its supporters to battle rising costs of trade and mounting cost of living pressures.

Despite the GoFundMe making more than $27,000, the Beardo, as it’s nicknamed by regulars, could not be rescued.

Following the closures of staples of Brisbane’s live music and pub scene, like The Zoo and Stranded Bar, The Bearded Lady will have its final day of trade on Friday, May 23.

After 32 years providing live music to Brisbane, The Zoo reluctantly closed shop due to dwindling finances last year, which sent shockwaves throughout the industry and fans of the venue.

The Bearded Lady’s owners said their reason for closure was “not financial” and instead the end to negotiations with their landlords.

“The landlord informed us they no longer want to be involved with hospitality,” The Bearded Lady’s owner said on social media.

Visitors of The Bearded Lady took to social media to express their outrage.

“The best bar on The Boundary,” one user commented.

“Beyond thankful for everything you did for the Brisbane music scene and our lives. We witnessed your battles to keep the doors open,” another wrote.

The venue hosted a range of live events from music, live poetry, life drawing sessions, burlesque and theatre productions, marking its place in West End as an eclectic hub for culture.

“Thank you for supporting The Bearded Lady! We love you!,” The owners of The Bearded Lady wrote to their community.