The future of Melbourne's Geddes Lane Ballroom is in doubt, with claims that the venue has shut its doors.
The 400+ capacity venue, which opened in November last year, was a collaboration between Australian chef Shannon Bennett and Grollo Group CEO Lorenz Grollo.
It was reported by The Age yesterday that the venue's manager shared to Facebook that the Vue Group, the business' owners, would "cease operating" on 1 September.
Additionally, there have been claims by local acts that they are yet to be paid by the venue for performances dating as far back as July.
Bennett has responded to the closure claims, saying that "Geddes Lane is not closed" and that it is "rumours and innuendo rubbish", as well as insisting that all artists had been paid.
Well-known venue booker Ben Thompson resigned from his role with the venue earlier this year, telling The Age that the Vue Group has "no clue how to run a live music venue and wouldn’t listen to anyone that does".
The venue itself is 170 years old and previously played home to Showgirls Bar 20, as well as live music.
"Geddes Lane Ballroom is an initiative under our King Street Revival (KSR) project," said Grollo ahead of the venue's launch last year.
"We’re passionate about cleaning up King Street, ‘one pole at a time’, and delivering a fun and safe food and entertainment precinct for all Melburnians to enjoy. For too long King Street has been known for all the wrong reasons. We’re now going to put it back on the map for reasons we can be proud of.
"Geddes Lane Ballroom, alongside our King Street Residency & Bar (artist residency for and curated by prominent street art and fine art muralist Cam Scale), are the first big steps on our KSR journey.”
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