Friends in high places

With Oxford's fantastic subterranean gig venue the Cellar under threat of closure, it's good to know that there's a familiar face vowing to fight its corner, and in a position of some authority, influence and clout too. Alex Hollingsworth is a former colleague of mine, back when he used to commission books on architecture. The Cellar won't win any prizes for architectural aesthetics or feature on Grand Designs any time soon, but it's a haven for music enthusiasts that needs to be preserved.

Thanks to Ronan of Nightshift for pointing me in the direction of this blog post by Richard Brabin. It's a perfect summary of the Cellar's cultural and historical significance for Oxford - and a riposte to those who would prioritise retail facilities over everything else and turn the city into a homogenised place devoid of any character.