The 100 Club Saved After Converse Sponsorship Deal

The future of London's legendary venue the 100 Club has been secured after it was announced that a sponsorship deal with shoe manufacturer Converse had been struck. As previously reported by Spinner, the venue had been under threat of closure after spiralling rents and business rates had almost forced the club to close at the end of last year.

The club's owner, Jeff Horton, has expressed his delight at the deal and assured fans that the 100 Club will remain independent, saying that Converse "wanted to give us a hand."

A statement from Converse today said, "We at Converse are very excited about our new partnership with the legendary 100 Club in London. Converse's commitment to being a catalyst for creativity is at the heart of the brand and we are dedicated to championing and supporting artists, fans, the music scene, venues and the experience.

"Converse and the 100 Club both share a love for music and this partnership is a great opportunity to reunite the 100 Club with a generation who experienced history inside its walls, as well as introduce it to a new generation with a vow to bring the best in music to its legendary stage."

Since it first opened its doors in 1942, the 100 Club has hosted gigs by Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Rolling Stones and, more recently, Sir Paul McCartney, who played a pre-Christmas show here the day before his sold-out gig at London's Hammersmith Apollo.

Watch Sir Paul McCartney Playing at the 100 Club