the basement is the famous live music venue, and still operates as one today. it can be hired out by various promoters and groups for music shows. the maximum legal capacity is 80 persons, down from its previous maximum of 120. the stage has recently reverted to its seventies configuration with the bar located opposite the entrance door, and the stage adjacent to the recently modernised basic toilets, next to the emergency fire escape. at some point in its long history, the venue was converted to run as both a live music venue and as a recording studio, although the latter functionality has since been lost.