12,000 fans back calls to save Trillians – with hopes AC/DC singer will show support

Thousands of music fans are backing efforts to save Trillians Rock Bar in Newcastle – and calling on stars like AC/DC legend Brian Johnson for help.

The iconic venue, behind the City Library on Princess Square, was shut without warning on Friday, a day after after its owner the Bramwell Pub Company entered administration.

As many rock fans mourned the demise of the popular club, a Facebook page was set up calling for action to see the pub reopened – a group which by Monday morning had attracted more than 12,100 “likes.”

The page’s administrators said they now hope to speak with administrators from restructuring specialists Zolfo Cooper in the coming days to see what can be done to reopen the venue – and in the meantime they have received support from a few famous faces.

“We’re dedicated to trying to get this iconic pub and music venue to reopen whether by running it as a music collective  – with any monies made over and above running/staffing costs going into a trust whose main remit will be to provide bursaries/scholarships to young and old musicians alike to record, go to college and alike – or to help other interested persons who may want to run it as it was running and keep it similar to what it was,” a spokesman said.

“But we’ll see what we can do when we find out more information from the pub’s administrators in the week.”

The campaigners have contacted a number of famous faces, some of whom have privately offered their support, while they still hope to hear back from other stars with links to the city, including singer Brian Johnson.

Elsewhere the Pow Burn in  North Shields has also been closed following the company’s collapse. The pub, which was already on the market through Christie + Co with a leasehold rent of £65,000 per year also closed it’s doors on  Friday.

But the firm’s other ten pubs in the North East – the Bridle Path in Whickham, the Blagdon Arms in Cramlington, the Grey Horse in East Boldon, Whitehills and the Red Lion in Chester-le-Street, Chesters, Chaplins, Varsity and the Blue Bell in Sunderland, and Varsity in Durham – are all believed to still be trading.

You can find out more about the campaign to save Trillians by visiting the Facebook page.

UPDATE: An earlier version of this story, based on information put out by the campaign, stated that AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson had already shown his support. We have now been notified that this is not correct, and while attempts have been made to contact the star, he has not yet responded. We are happy to set the record straight.