Sheffield’s legendary Leadmill has launched a campaign to open a new music venue

Utter the word ‘Leadmill’ to a Steel City local and watch their face light up with fond memories of first gigs, sweaty nights on the dancefloor and, more often than not, a tipsy smooch or two. The Leadmill has been at the heart of the city’s music scene for almost half a century and has welcomed more than 10 million people into its hallowed halls since it opened in 1980. Locally-grown music legends Pulp, Arctic Monkeys and Richard Hawley all graced its stage in their early years.

When the venue, which is housed in an abandoned old flour mill near the city centre, closed its doors in 2025, locals and music aficionados alike were devastated. But now there’s hope for a new venue by the same team. 

Signs of trouble at the Leadmill started in early 2022 when the venue was issued with a 12-month warning that it would be evicted from its home. A years-long battle with the building’s landlords ensued; after 45 years of invaluable contributions to Sheffield’s music scene, the Leadmill lost the fight and closed its doors.

Now, the team behind the venue have announced plans for a new chapter. Having departed from its original site, the Leadmill has launched a campaign to help secure its new permanent venue. 

Named #TheNewLeadmill – Powered By The People, the public crowdfunder is seeking £30,000, which it says will be put towards securing a permanent space, building the venue, decking it out and securing its signature red neon sign.

To keep the lights on, Leadmill is currently hosting live music, comedy, club night, film events and talks in different venues across the city, but it wants to secure its long-term future with a permanent bricks-and-mortar space.

As for the building which was its former home, it’s being refurbed into… well, a new music venue. Independent live music company Electric Group, the owner of Electric Brixton, Electric Bristol and NX Newcastle, is launching live music and clubbing venue Electric Studios in the former mill.

A £2 million refurb is currently underway to upgrade the interiors and develop a subsidised creative hub on the second and third floors of the building. Electric Studios, which will join a healthy roster of music venues across the city, will open this spring with 1,050 capacity for live gigs and 1,450 for club nights.

Heading to the Steel City? Check out Time Out’s guide to the best things to do in Sheffield.

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