Former Sheffield venue The Leadmill launches crowdfunder to secure new space

Sheffield venue The Leadmill has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help secure a new location.

The campaign, titled #TheNewLeadmill – Powered By The People, asks supporters to donate £5, £10, £20 or more toward the costs of securing, fitting out and opening a new permanent venue. 

A spokesperson for The Leadmill said: “This campaign is about safeguarding independent culture. If The Leadmill has ever been part of someone’s story – a first gig, a favourite night out – this is a chance to help ensure it exists for the next generation.”

“Following the departure from our original home, we’re working towards securing a new permanent venue, a space where The Leadmill can continue to grow and bring people together,” they added.

“We’re still presenting live music, comedy, club nights, cinema and talks, in various other venues but what we’re wanting to build now is our long-term future… This isn’t about starting over from scratch. It’s about continuing something that matters to people.”

The Leadmill closed its doors in June 2025 after 45 years of operation, ending its run as one of the UK’s longest-running independent venues and Sheffield’s longest-standing live music space.

The closure came after a ruling by the Court of Appeal ended a dispute between The Leadmill Ltd. and Electric Group, which bought the building in 2017.

At the time, Electric Group CEO Dominic Madden said that buying the freehold for The Leadmill had saved the venue from being redeveloped into flats.

However, in a statement quoted by the BBC, The Leadmill management described the sale as a “hostile takeover” and an “extermination” of the club’s reputation, adding that the sale felt “like a betrayal of the cultural fabric of our city” and would mean the loss of over 70 jobs.

You can read the full statement from the venue below, and donate to the crowdfunder here.