Sheffield’s longest-running venue The Leadmill asked to vacate premises following court appeal
Sheffield’s longest-running music venue The Leadmill has been asked to vacate the premises after a lengthy, near three-year-long legal battle.
Owners of the property, Electric Group, served current tenants The Leadmill Ltd with an eviction notice in March 2022. The venue has been operated by the same tenants since 1980.
The building was purchased as a freehold in 2017 by Electric Group, who then registered the name Electric Sheffield and proposed a plan to run the business themselves.
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According to the BBC, The Leadmill has now been asked to vacate the property with just 21 days notice as of Wednesday, February 19. The decision followed a court appeal, which saw judge Sir Alastair Norris rule in favour of Electric Group.
In a statement posted on Instagram following the ruling, the venue explained: “While this is a challenging and upsetting moment for our venue, we want to reassure our supporters, artists, and the wider community that there is no immediate timeline for what happens next.”
“This is more than just a legal battle for the team here – it’s personal. The Leadmill isn’t just bricks and mortar; it’s a home. Many of our team have grown up here, worked here for over 15 years and dedicated our lives to creating incredible events and experiences.”
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The Leadmill said that it is now “actively consulting with legal advisors” to figure out its next steps, and remains “committed to exhausting every possible legal avenue to secure our future, retain our staff and protect our venue”.
If The Leadmill is to close at its current site, the property is likely to be renamed under owners Electric Group, the BBC reports, with plans to rename the venue to SK 35.
Last May, The Leadmill announced that it had won a court battle with the building’s owners, where they spoke on the “unlawful” approach taken by landlords, and the various submissions put forward by the property owners.
“We urge our supporters to stay engaged, continue to stand with us, and follow our official channels for further updates as we navigate the next phase of this battle,” The Leadmill said.
Keep up to date with The Leadmill here, and read their full statement below.
[Via BBC]
Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter
