The Grade II listed venue, which claims to be the world's oldest surviving music hall, faced shutting its doors for the last time when its application for a £2.25 million lottery grant was declined. That left it a long way from the £3.8m target required for urgent repairs to the east London building.

However, supporters have stepped forward to meet some of the shortfall. "When we had the rejection from the Heritage Lottery Fund it was a real blow, but ...