Mama group gains turf and surf in ambitious expansion plan.

Partnership deal for 6,500-capacity festival and aquisition of Birmingham venue sees group add to impressive portfolio

The Mama Group is continuing its expansion and refurbishment plan apace with the acquisition of Birmingham's Sanctuary club and a partnership with Cornwall-based music and surfing festival Surfstock.

As revealed in a statement last Friday, the move to refurbish and reopen the Sanctuary site, which was opened as an institutional church 100 years ago and will revert to being know as The Institute under Mama's ownership, will take the company's property portfolio to 21 venues.

The music and media group, which also operates an artist management cooperative representing more than 100 artists, aims to open The Institute with a 1,500-1,700-capacity main auditorium, with the building also housing a further three smaller live performance rooms.

As part of Mama's multi-million-pound refurbishment plans, the Birmingham Barfly, which Mama already owns and has been operating as part of the Sanctuary since 2004, will see its capacity increase from 400 to 600.

The refurbishment is being co-funded by a private/public partnership that includes Birmingham City Council and Advantage West Midlands.

Having acquired six venues and the rights to the Mean Fiddler brand name from Live Nation in August 2007, the move to purchase the Sanctuary comes as Mama Group looks to expand its network of UK venues, refurbish its existing properties and invest in festival opportunities.