Liam Gallagher brands decision to deny Sheffield’s Leadmill eviction appeal ‘scandalous’
Another iconic music venue which has hosted the likes of Oasis and Arctic Monkeys has had to close its doors after being evicted by their landlord.
The Leadmill in Sheffield announced last night they lost their eviction appeal despite being ‘one of the most beloved and historic music venues’.
They have been ordered to leave within the next three months, with both the public and famous artists revealing their heartbreak.
Liam Gallagher said the closure was ‘scandalous’, and others have flocked to share their memories.
‘Common People’ group Pulp played their first-ever gig at the venue in August 1980, with frontman Jarvis Cocker pledging to back the club after hearing about the eviction notice.
Jonathan Oxley wrote: ‘You wouldn’t believe how said this is. If you’ve grown up with The Leadmill as a staple in your life, you must support their next steps and keep its legacy alive.’
The Leadmill said: ‘Despite overwhelming public support, high-profile backing from artists and a hard fought campaign to save The Leadmill, the legal challenge was sadly unsuccesful.
DICE's 25 grassroots artists to see in 2025
Ticketing app DICE has put together a list of their 25 grassroots artists you need to see in London over the next six months.
With tickets ranging from free to £27.50, these shows will ensure a great night to suit all tastes and budgets.
Click HERE to catch the full list.
‘The decision allows our landlord to proceed with plans to take over the empty building and will result in the loss of over 70 jobs.’
A lengthy legal battle was sparked in 2022 when the Electric Group, which also owns Electric Brixton in London and other venues in Bristol and Newcastle, issued an eviction notice.
They claimed they hoped to keep the site as a music venue, and said it will invest ‘substantially’ when it takes over the club.
It comes as as live music has dwindled across London and the rest of the UK – with many beloved places unable to compete with developers snapping up properties.
Many venues have faced extensive challenges in recent years, following the Covid pandemic and the of cost-of-living crisis.
In 2024, around a quarter of the 810 grassroots venues supported by the Music Venue Trust across the UK had to ask for help from the organisation’s Emergency Response Service to avoid permanent closure.
Now, just 179 grassroots venues remain in London.
Metro has joined forces with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and top music industry figures to put the capital’s grassroots music scene centre stage.
A new interpretation of London’s Tube map show stations replaces with the names of artists and locations that form part of the capital’s music heritage.
That includes new stars like Loyle Carner, Arlo Parks and SAULT filling in the stops on the Piccadilly line, and legends like Billy Bragg, Adele and Madness on the Northern line.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.