City centre venue saved.

The future of one of Birmingham’s top live music venues looks brighter thanks to a rescue deal that will have saved 240 jobs around the country.

The Jam House in the Jewellery Quarter, opened in 1999 by musician and TV presenter Jools Holland, holds 600 people and has hosted many top acts, such as Alexander O’Neal and Ben E. King, while local stars Ocean Colour Scene recorded a live album there. It was acquired by the Milton Keynes-based No Saints Group in 2010 and last year expanded its premises at St Paul’s Square to include a new bar and restaurant area. However, losses at the group’s other clubs led to cashflow problems and they entered administration on 7th July after having already closed five venues.

A deal has now been agreed which will take the group forward and also safeguards Faces, sited in Bilston Street, Wolverhampton, which was reopened in September 2013 following a £750,000 refurbishment after its previous owners went bust.

A spokesman for administrators FRP Advisory said, “The sale of the remaining parts of the group to a new company offered the best long-term solution in the interests of all creditors to ensure the ongoing viability of the business while safeguarding as many jobs as possible.” It is believed that the owners of the new business are former directors of No Saints Group including Stephen Thomas, who founded the company in 2010.