Boost for city’s live music scene as revamped venue set to re-open

Leeds music venue, The Warehouse, has undergone a major refurbishment and is set to relaunch as a brand-new live events space for the city later this month.

Having played host to legendary club nights for over 40 years, the space on Somers Street, will now cater for live events as well as club nights.

Talent from across the UK and beyond will be welcomed to the venue to relaunch it as the home of eclectic music and performances in the heart of the city.

It will have a new live events element until 10pm, switching to host various club nights after that time.

With restrictions being lifted for hospitality from 19 July, and plenty of acts and DJs booked to appear, management is confident people will be flocking to the venue when it opens.

With a capacity of 600 for live music events, The Warehouse team is keen to attract a mixture of both established and new acts.

Confirmed live acts and DJs so far include Annie Mac, Alan Fizpartick and Richy Ahmed, Black Grape, Goldie Lookin Chain and Versatile. Opening week has already sold out, with events planned every single day.

Co-owner at The Warehouse, Will Habergham, said: “Post-COVID nightlife and venues have had to adapt. We have had to take a new direction.

“Traditional night clubs have had to diversify to survive, essentially offering a flexible space that can accommodate all sorts of events.

“In the conventional sense, nightclubs are no longer what they used to be, and unfortunately, many venues have been forced to close due to the pandemic.

“There has definitely been a move towards bar culture and nightlife, as we know it, has changed.

“Whilst there is still a place for nightclubs, we think nightlife will be more event and experience-led, and due to the pandemic, for some students, it will be the first time they have ever even experienced a nightclub!”

The venue’s loft has been completely refurbished and now has a brand-new look.

An Arts Council grant ensured the survival of The Warehouse post-lockdown and enabled the team to introduce necessary changes that would allow for better social distancing within the venue.

A new booking agreement with promoters TEG MJR will see them overseeing the property’s live diary.

Co-owner and live events organiser at The Warehouse, Dan Ickowitz-Seidler, added: “We were keen to restore the legacy of The Warehouse as a fantastic live music venue as well as one of Leeds’ most legendary nightclubs.

“We can’t wait for people to see what we’ve done. We think there will be so much pent-up demand for live music and events after over a year without any.

“While events have attempted to go online during the pandemic, I think it’s really made us all realise you just can’t beat the experience and feeling of being in the room and witnessing an event in person.”