THE Jailhouse is Hereford’s major venue for an eclectic range of live music, from drum and bass to swing, Motown and funk, the sort of club you’ll find dozens of examples of in larger cities.

But it’s the only one in Hereford and Murf and Lee, who run the club, readily concede that if they’d tried to establish the venue in Cardiff, Bristol or Birmingham they’d probably have sunk without trace.

However, with no competition in sight, the club enjoys a huge reputation with its target audience, but it also suffers from a lingering reputation they’re working energetically to dispel.

They have inherited more than premises from the previous resident club, DV8. “It had,” says Murf, “a terrible reputation’.

They’re tackling not just drugs but under-age drinking and have a Challenge 25 scheme in place.

“We’re the only place in Hereford to pass every test purchase by someone under age. We blanket ID everyone who comes in to The Jailhouse.”

Similarly, they also search everyone for drugs. “It’s always a struggle to get rid of the stigma we have, but our customers say ‘we come to The Jailhouse because there are no fights and no trouble’.

We have a very low level of disorder here.”

Murf (Anthony Murphy) and Lee (Lee Symonds) started as promoters about 14 years ago, when they were doing separate nights but got together and went on to the Crystal Rooms for three years, during which time they booked Roni Size, British record producer and Mercury Prize winner with Reprazent.

It was when they moved to the Lock-up in 2004 that “we started running the whole thing”, and where another big name, Pendulum, put in an appearance.

“Artists who can now sell out 100,000 capacity venues were playing to 100 people in a tiny space,” says Murf of the duo’s ability to spot potential.

“We had DJ Fresh just before he went to No 1, and Nero, who was the BBC’s Sound of 2011. And Chase & Status, a band people can’t quite believe ever played Hereford.

“They’ve actually been six times. The first time, they played for petrol money.

“Outside Hereford, people know about us and we have really strong support,” he adds, explaining The Jailhouse’s ability to secure big names.

Last year saw a major coup when GZA, a member of the Wu Tang Clan, played The Jailhouse. “I’ve listened to them since I was 14. Getting an artist travelling from New York to Hereford was extraordinary– it was a really surreal night.

“When we started a lot of people were constantly moaning that there was nothing to do and we said, ‘why not go out and do it ourselves, make it happen’. That’s why we went out to get the acts we wanted to see.”

“It’s risky and expensive and makes no money,” says Lee.

“More often than not we will simply cover our costs.”

“If we didn’t love it we would have given up years ago,” adds Murf. “It’s very hard work, but rewarding and when you have a good night, it does make it worthwhile.”

Currently they’re looking to expand the number of alternative nights, introducing everything from reggae and soul to funk and Motown and, recently, Craig Charles. Burlesque nights are hugely popular. “We started them 18 months or so ago and they attract a really wide and diverse audience, 60 per cent of it female.”

But Lee and Murf aren’t just about The Jailhouse. They’re also passionate about engaging with the community and about promoting music throughout the county. “We run a lot of workshops in conjunction with the Music Pool’s Livewire scheme.

The next Livewire development week runs from April 1 to 5 at the Castle Green Pavilion, leading to a (no alcohol) gig at The Jailhouse on April 7 and offering the possibility of winning the chance to play at Nozstock festival and record a threetrack EP.

Add days spent as extras on the filming of Captain America – “We heard they were shooting in Chepstow and thought we’d go and have a look, found they were recruiting extras and signed up” – working on Clash of the Titans 2 (“We were Spartan warriors”) and running beat boxing workshops for two to four-year-olds – really – and it’s little wonder that Murf sums it up in succinctly by saying: “It’s a bizarre life.”

The next Funk and Soul Night at The Jailhouse on Saturday, March 9, will feature the Hereford Soul Choir.

For more information, go to The Jailhouse’s Facebook page.