The end of Korova

Korova is one of my favourite Liverpool music venues. They attract the smaller touring bands I want to see, like Holy Fuck and Free Blood, and the decor is crazy-sexy-cool. OK, sometimes the indier-than-thou atmosphere is a bit irritating. It also took me months to figure out where the handriers are in the toilets. (Under the mirrors.)
Unfortunately, the Korova Group have gone into administration. Even The Daily Mirror's 3am Girls have something to say. However, when they describe Korova as the Arctic Monkeys' favourite Liverpool bar, they actually mean the band went there once to take photos for the debut album sleeve. Apart from Korova, a joint investment with the Ladytron boys, there are eight bars and restaurants affected. Three are on the Albert Dock: Babycream (a bar/restaurant for clubbers who've slipped into the next demographic), Circo (a circus-themed bar for suits) and the New Raven (an Irish-American pretend pub). Over-ambitious brand expansive, or the credit crunch?
If an investor takes over Korova, would they really want to run it as the tripartite business it currently is? Managing a bar, canteen and gig venue on one premises is a lot. Especially as it's in that area of Liverpool city centre which heaves with chain bars advertising drink-til-you-puke offers. There's more money to be made from stag and hen parties downing two-for-one shooters than arty student-types sipping San Miguel.
I fear that whatever becomes of Korova, it won't involve so many free/cheap gigs. And then where will young bands get a start in this city? Korova's downstairs venue is free to hire and has a decent PA. Taking that away would be a massive blow to the DIY music scene. It's a sad day for Liverpool and for "culture". Also, the mini Lambananas have been taken away! Sniff.