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The Old Market in Hove is celebrating its 200th anniversary. The venue, which has a capacity of 500, was built in 1825 and is owned by the registered charity The Old Market Charitable Trust. It is a hub for the arts, hosting more than 200 events each year, including live music, comedy, theatre, film, dance, installations, and literary events.
To mark the milestone, the venue has launched a campaign to raise £100,000 by December 2025 to fund essential upgrades and ensure the venue's long-term financial stability. The campaign is backed by artists such as Fatboy Slim and STOMP. Nic Connaughton, executive director of The Old Market, said: "Independent grassroots venues like ours are facing unprecedented challenges.
"As we celebrate our twin milestone – two hundred years of the building, and one year as a registered charity, we are asking our community to consider giving us a birthday present we won’t forget. "Your support is crucial in securing The Old Market’s future for generations to come." The venue has also been home to several notable seasons and programmes, including Reigning Women, which has programmed 77 female and female-identifying artists since its launch in 2018.
The #TOMtech programme, launched in 2016, has supported more than 350 artists working in virtual reality, augmented reality, motion capture, 360 film, and more. (Image: #TOMtech) The venue has also welcomed artists such as Fatboy Slim, Phil Hartnoll from Orbital, Halina Rice, and grime artist Elijah to perform in their "Box," a four-way projection screen that fully immerses the audience in live visuals. The venue has hosted artists like Fatboy Slim, Orbital’s Phil Hartnoll, Halina Rice, and grime artist Elijah in its immersive four-screen projection space, the Box (Image: Hybrid Eyes Photography) Helen Jewell, the creative director of The Old Market, said: "The Old Market is a champion of intrepid experimentation at the intersection of contemporary art forms.
"We have become a hub for experimentation and innovation, and have supported emerging artists to hone their craft alongside welcoming industry giants to entertain and try new ways of working. "Our small to mid-scale size makes us the perfect greenhouse for new ideas, and our supportive team feel passionately about the space we offer our community. "We aren't just a venue that ‘puts on shows’, we open our doors so that there is space to dream, to play, to be heard, to create, to explore and to connect with each other.
" Since its refurbishment in 2011, The Old Market has hosted more than 3,100 performances, programmed 1,244 local and emerging artists, gifted 372 days for artist development, and employed more than 135 people. The venue welcomes contributions of any size to help secure its future. To donate or learn more about the campaign, visit The Old Market’s official website.
Upcoming theatre and dance shows include I AM - OommoO (Apr 5–6), Toxic (May 6–7), and M-Othering (May 30–31) (Image: I AM - OommoO) Upcoming theatre and dance highlights at the venue include I AM - OommoO on April 5 and 6, Toxic on May 6 and 7, and M-Othering on May 30 and 31. Music highlights include Submotion Orchestra on May 1 and James Lavelle presenting UNKLE Sounds on May 2. The venue will also host a production of Stick Man from September 25 to 28.
The Old Market was reopened in 2011 by the creators of STOMP to create an independent hub for the arts in their home city and channel some of their success back into the local arts ecosystem. The venue became a charity in 2024, marking a new chapter in its history..
