Leadmill Sheffield’s Uncertain Future
Leadmill Sheffield has lost her court battle against her lessor, resulting in an uncertain future for the iconic venue. In response, the venue has issued a statement vowing to continue its fight.
Eviction Notice and Community Support
Electric Group, owners of the building housing the 900-capacity venue, filed for eviction of their tenants, The Leadmill Ltd, in March 2022, igniting protests from the music industry and patrons alike. Leadmill Ltd holds the trademark for the venue’s name, meaning that they could potentially maintain the branding in a new location.
Since opening its doors in 1980, Leadmill has hosted early performances by Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon, and The Killers, and remains a beloved destination for live music and club events.
On February 19, Leadmill shared a post on social media regarding the court’s ruling, assuring supporters, artists, and the wider community that there are no immediate plans in place for what will happen next. They noted, “Although this is a difficult and frustrating moment for our venue, we want to reassure our supporters, artists, and a wider community that there are no immediate temporary measures of what will happen next.”
Currently navigating uncertain waters, Leadmill expresses its commitment to “actively consult” with legal advisors and exhaust all possible legal avenues to ensure its future, protect its staff, and safeguard the venue.
The ongoing struggle is deeply personal to the staff, who state: “Leadmill is not just bricks and mortar; it is home. Many in our team have grown up here and dedicated their lives to creating amazing events and experiences. We are real people, deeply passionate about what we do, and never imagined we would face anything like this. But we are in this together, doing our best to fight for what means so much to us and countless others.”
Acknowledging the venue’s cultural significance and the overwhelming support received since eviction news broke, Leadmill emphasized that it is “more than just a venue”: “This is a cultural institution with a 45-year history of supporting mass music and providing a crucial space for creativity in Sheffield and beyond.”
The venue also reassured patrons that all planned events will continue as scheduled unless stated otherwise.
In closing, Leadmill urged its supporters to “continue to stand with us” as they determine the next steps in this ongoing battle.
Future Plans and Community Discontent
While nothing has been officially confirmed, Phil Mills from Leadmill mentioned the possibility of relocating to a new venue in December. However, he acknowledged that this would not be their primary option, despite owning the trademark for the name and branding. “If we find suitable premises in Sheffield, we will effectively compete with ourselves, because the name and heritage of Leadmill in the minds of our clients are indivisible,” he stated.
Recent developments came shortly after Leadmill’s planning application to demolish certain parts of the venue was rejected. The current tenants expressed their desire to salvage essential fixtures and fittings if forced to vacate the building.
The planning officer who denied the demolition request described it as “meaningless” and lacking public benefit, stating that in the event of eviction, the building should be returned to the condition it was in when the lease was agreed upon.
Following the news of eviction in 2022, former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn visited Leadmill and urged others to support the venue, echoing sentiments from numerous local Sheffield residents who regard it as “the heart of the city.” Artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Jarvis Cocker, and Bring Me the Horizon have all highlighted the importance of Leadmill as a musical hub.
Richard Hawley, a long-time supporter of Leadmill, performed several concerts in 2022 to raise funds and awareness for the venue. During some of these shows, he was joined on stage by local artists Jarvis Cocker and Rebecca Taylor (known as Self Esteem).
Electric Group, a joint venture of Dominic Madden and Jacob Lewis (who also own Electric Brixton in London, SWX in Bristol, and NX Newcastle), acquired the freehold of the site in 2017 and initially claimed they would not evict the current tenants. However, the venue management soon expressed feeling “devastated by the landlord.”
In response to the news that the landlords intended to pursue eviction in 2023, Leadmill management reached out to fans for support. Dominic Madden, in reaction, reiterated their commitment to continue operating the site as a music venue, hosting a variety of concerts, club nights, and comedy shows.
Madden’s witness statement suggested that if eviction is successful, the venue will no longer retain the name “Leadmill,” and all current staff would be replaced. He also noted that existing lease contracts for seminar users would be terminated, effectively closing down the operations that function under Leadmill.
In an interview with NME in February 2023, Hawley voiced his concerns, stating that the staff who built the venue over the years should be allowed to run it under the same name.
“It would be understandable if this were a failing business, but what’s shocking is how greedy developers are acquiring the land from under them. If they throw out the staff and turn it into apartments, it would be an absolute tragedy. However, it’s a bit easier to accept that,” he said.
“What’s truly immoral is that they bought this place, served eviction notices, and plan to steal their business. If I were in charge, I would think: ‘Hold on, if this happens, what’s going to prevent it from happening again?’ It’s just wrong.”
https://www.nme.com/news/music/sheffields-leadmill-loses-eviction-court-battle-with-landlord-but-vow-to-fight-on-3839619?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sheffields-leadmill-loses-eviction-court-battle-with-landlord-but-vow-to-fight-on
