Max SteventonElectric Group is to reopen The Leadmill venue in Sheffield, as Electric Studios, following a £2 million transformation.
The 250-capacity The Leadmill, which opened in 1980, was believed to be the city’s longest running live music venue before it closed in June this year due to financial difficulties, despite repeated fundraising efforts to save the venue. Its closure finally came after the venue’s operators lost an appeal against the eviction.
Independent UK live music venue company Electric Group bought the building and became landlords in 2017, and claim the venue would have closed much sooner without its involvement. However, the original venue’s managers, who had been at the helm for four decades, disagreed calling Electric Group’s involvement a “hostile takeover” in 2022.
The building’s reopening in spring follows a £2m refurbishment that will result in Electric Studios operating with an increased capacity of 1,050 for live shows and 1,450 for club events.
New features will include a d&b audiotechnik PA system, paired with advanced lighting and production installations. The refurbishment is also involving updated staircases, toilets, a new cloakroom and enhancements to improve accessibility.
Electric Group said a new ‘creative hub’ will offer subsidised rehearsal and workspace for early-career musicians, DJs and artists. Electric Studios’ programming will be led by Electric Group head of music Mike Weller.
Electric Group co-founder Dominic Madden said, “Having discussed the ethos of the original Leadmill cooperative with the founders of the Leadmill Arts Cooperative, the one thing that resonated with me was their demonstrable success in providing opportunity to young people at the time. We can now step up and provide support to young creative Sheffielders at the start of their journey.”
Electric Group’s portfolio also includes the 1,500-capacity Electric Brixton, 1,150-capacity Electric Bristol, and 1,750-capacity NX Newcastle.