Sugarmill aim to be NME's Best Small Venue

Stoke of Genius:

NME are looking to crown the Best Small Venue in Britain and Stoke-on-Trent's The Sugarmill is in the running.

In association with JD Roots, NME opened voting for the third annual competition on April 2.

Following The Sugarmill's two consecutive triumphs for the Best Small Venue in the Midlands, the Hanley nightclub is looking to improve on the accolade and pick up the national title.

Sugarmill promoter Danni Brownsill said: “We won all the heats that were voted for (last year), so that meant the world to us to know that people supported us so much.

“Our customers are amazingly dedicated and are as passionate about The Sugarmill as their local venue as we are.

“We aren't some faceless corporation, we are a small independent business, and we treat out customers like family, and they respond to that."

As well as having hosted upcoming Latitude headliners Foals and UK chart toppers The View in November, this spring will see the likes of Kate Nash, The Pigeon Detectives and Dog Is Dead perform at the prestigious venue.

The Sugarmill must win the regional title again to be apart of the 2013 national shortlist.

“We are what we are and do what we do because of them as much as we work hard, we are nothing without them," added Danni.

“I think we're incredibly lucky to have such a passionate music scene in Stoke, especially as we are a small city. The fact that bands with a big profile want to come and play here is a testament to our great crowd."

The Stoke music scene has seen a great rise with the likes of local talents such as All The Young, Camp Stag and Six Towns.

“I personally believe that it is the smaller venues which are the heart and soul of the UK live music scene.

“Every band has to cut their teeth on this circuit, every city has a venue like this, where people see their first shows, where people who share a passion for music get together and enjoy it collectively.”

Tunbridge Wells Forum in Kent won the accolade last year and Glasgow's King Tut's Wah Wah Hut took the 2011 title.

Fans can vote for any performance space or gig room with a capacity of 500 and under.

To vote for your favourite venue visit the NME website. The overall winner will be announced in June.