No encore as legendery venue looks to close

Legendary music venue The Leadmill in Sheffield, which has played host Pulp, Oasis, Muse, The Stone Roses and The Killers has been served an eviction notice by landlords.

The notice which requires the venue to leave the building next year could bring almost 40 years of music history to an end and has been met with an outcry from fans, artists and a local MP.

A spokesperson for the venue said noting that since opening in 1980 The Leadmill has spend “millions of pounds on what was a derelict warehouse, transforming it into one of the UK’s most respected venues.”

Leeds-based band the Kaiser Chiefs were one of a string of performers to leap to the venues defence noting they played there in their early days and have not only fond memories but credited then with helping them adding “it would be a huge loss not just for Sheffield and Yorkshire, but the whole UK music scene.”

The Cribs added that Leadmill was the sort of place “that cities can’t afford to lose”. Other musicians to show their support include Billy Bragg, and bands Hard-Fi, Reverend & the Makers and Shed Seven

Outside of the music industry Richard Stubbs of the Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network and member of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s private sector board said: “This would be devastating for a city with such an iconic music history.” He added in his tweet it was the location where he and his wife became a couple as a result of Jarvis Coker coming up to them and suggesting they did “possibly the most Sheffield thing ever”.

Comedian Joe Lycett referred to the to the news as a potential “terrible loss to culture in the UK”