A MUCH-LOVED music venue in Northwich has secured £80,000 from the Government to keep running events safely during the pandemic.

The Salty Dog, in High Street, is one of the arts and culture businesses and organisations to receive a share of the Culture Recovery Fund.

It is part of a wider £1.57 billion fund for the sector, which has been hit hard by the impact of coronavirus.

"We are obviously grateful to get the money," owner Chris Mundie told the Guardian.

"It is going to help us continue to put on a programme of entertainment, music and comedy, over the next few months.

Northwich Guardian:

"This is so that we can continue to invest in grassroots music and culture."

The cash boost has been welcomed by the Music Venue Trust (MVT), which has been running the nationwide Save Our Venues grassroots music campaign during the pandemic, which the Salty Dog has been a part of.

Mark Davyd, chief executive at MVT, said: "MVT, through the hard work, passion and dedication of our regional coordinators, has worked closely with our grassroots music venue community to ensure a clear and coordinated approach to this crisis.

"We are proud of the resilience, strength and solidarity shown by everyone involved.

"This intervention today helps enormously, giving MVT, our sector and our communities an achievable opportunity to complete the English section of the jigsaw.

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"Our continued mission remains to reopen every venue safely, an aim that with this support from the government we are confident is now achievable."

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added: "This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation.

"It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery."