A NORTH East pub has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

The Cluny, in Ouseburn, has been chosen by music magazine NME, in its search to find Britain’s best small music venue.

The magazine’s campaign aims to highlight the importance of venues with a capacity of up to 500 people, to bands and the music scene.

It comes after a series of small venues across the UK – including Newport TJ’s, The Point in Cardiff and Leicester’s The Charlotte – all closed down in recent months.

NME editor Krissi Murison said: “We’re not sounding the death-knell for small venues.

“We’re showing them some love and we’re encouraging people – whether they are local fans or local councillors – to support these places as much as possible.

“We can’t continue to see them being closed down.”

The popular pub and venue, owned by The Head Of Steam Limited, faces some stiff competition from pubs in Leeds and Sheffield, in the North East category.

The Cluny’s assistant venue manger, Thomas Bagnall, said: “We are extremely honoured to be included on NME’s shortlist, especially as there are some really great venues on it alongside The Cluny.

“We’d also like to thank everyone who has voted for us to get this far – it’s really nice to see so many people appreciating what we do here.” The second round of voting is now open. People can vote for their favourite venue until June 10, online at www.NME.COM/smallvenues.

The overall winner will be decided by a panel of artists and music industry experts, and announced on June 14.

For more information, contact Thomas Bagnall at The Cluny, on 0191 2304474 or email cluny@theheadofsteam.co.uk