After being closed for nearly three years, this historic British music venue is finally set to reopen

Sheffield’s music scene is nothing short of legendary. The south Yorkshire city has borne a seriously star studded cast of bands and musicians, from Def Leppard to Pulp, the Arctic Monkeys and The Human League. 

Iconic performers come hand in hand with great venues, too. But the city has been without some of its hottest live music spots in recent years. The Sheffield O2 Academy closed in September 2023 due to problems with the roof. Then, in 2025, the nationally acclaimed Leadmill shut its doors after a years-long tussle with its landlords. 

But locals need not despair – the Steel City music scene will be returned to its former glory in no time. The Leadmill announced in February that it’s now on the hunt for a new venue, and is hosting live music, comedy, club nights, film events and talks in different venues across the city in the meantime. 

Plus, repairs to the O2’s roof are now well underway. According to Sheffield Star, much of the work inside the venue is done, with construction now focused on the exterior roof.

The venue was shuttered in 2023 when unstable reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), aka crumbly concrete, was found in the ceiling. Sheffield City Council granted permission for the unsafe roof deck to be replaced in February 2025, and works have been ongoing ever since. 

The O2 Academy has a storied past. Having been built in the 1960s as the ‘Top Rank Suite’, it later changed its name to the Roxy Nightclub and has welcomed big name stars including The Jam, David Bowie and AC/DC. 

While we don’t yet have an official date of completion, it’s likely to be within the next few months. A huge crane was spotted on Arundel Gate next to the venue over the Bank Holiday weekend, and labourers have been seen making progress on top of the building. Here’s hoping that Sheffielders won’t have to wait too long to shake a leg once more. 

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