Deaf Institute and Gorilla have both been saved from closure

Both Deaf Institute and Gorilla have been saved from closure as a buyer has snapped them up.

The future of the two iconic Manchester music venues looked shaky last week after it was announced they would be closing indefinitely.

Now Tokyo Industries, which owns several venues throughout Manchester, including Impossible, The Factory and South, has purchased both places, the Manchester Evening News reports.

They have said they will remain ‘at the forefront of the live music and club scene’ in our city.

In further good news, as part of the terms agreed between the company and the two venues’ current owner, Mission Mars, staff will keep their jobs.

Tokyo Industries and Mission Mars said in a joint statement that both Deaf Institute and Gorilla will operate ‘in much the same way as they have done in the past’.

Aaron Mellor, founder of Tokyo Industries, added: “These are extremely difficult times for all grassroots music venues around the UK.

“It’s vital venues like Gorilla and The Deaf Institute are kept alive, the cultural fabric of our city centres depends on venues like these.”

He added: “Over the weekend we have put together some great ideas with SSD Concerts and Tim Burgess (The Charlatans) to help save both venues and their existing operating style in a post Covid world.

“We’re not so keen on this ‘new’ normal and want to keep the ‘old’ normal alive for when we all get through this.”