Hong Kong live music venue Grappa’s Cellar takes final bow with farewell gig

Landlord has not renewed the Italian restaurant’s lease, amid plans for the Central venue to be turned into a food court

That’s despite 5,000 people signing a petition to keep the venue open. Grappa’s is hosting a farewell gig on July 19

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The Red Stripes at Grappa's Cellar in Central, Hong Kong. The popular mid-size live-music venue closes this week after 20 years in the basement of Hongkong Land’s Jardine House. Photo: Gary Jones

Published: 1:00pm, 16 Jul 2019Updated: 8:31pm, 16 Jul 2019

The impassioned pleas of musicians and music lovers, backed up by a well-supported online campaign, have failed to save Hong Kong’s famed Grappa’s Cellar live music venue. The popular Italian restaurant and live music house in the basement of Jardine House in Central will close after 20 years on July 21.

Despite more than 5,000 people supporting a Change.org campaign, landlord Hongkong Land has refused to budge on its decision to transform the venue into a food court. The unique size and central location of Grappa’s Cellar had made it one of the city’s most popular places to watch bands play.

It’s one of the city’s few mid-sized music venues – accommodating up to 350 people – and has high ceilings and a balcony overlooking the stage. It has played a key role in shaping Hong Kong’s music scene and has hosted scores of top local and international acts, from Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries to comedians such as Doug Stanhope and Tom Green.

“We’ve had top international musicians play here, creating good opportunities for local artists to learn and grow,” says J.R. Robertson, managing director of the El Grande group, which took over the space in 1999.

J.R. Robertson, managing director of the El Grande group. Photo: Liau Chung Ren

“[Previous tenant] The Galley had been there for years and in 1998, after the financial crisis, it pulled out and the place sat empty for one and a half years,” Robertson says.