Inside Leeds’ Revamped Music Venue TESTBED

Leeds’ major new revamped music venue TESTBED is set to reopen next month after a major overhaul. Founders Laura Wellington and James Abbott-Donnelly have overseen the project, which sees the venue expanding from 10,000 square feet to 23,000 square feet with an overall crowd capacity of 2,500.

Guests entering through the new lobby will find a brand-new 5,000 square feet mezzanine level, an upstairs bar, and a balcony view overlooking the main dance floor. Downstairs, a custom-built stage allows for an immersive 360-degree crowd setup around the DJ booth, with plans already underway for a Room 2 reveal in 2027.

It will also be the only venue in Leeds equipped with a custom-built L-Acoustics L2 system for festival-grade audio clarity, along with a huge 8m x 4m high-res LED video wall and a custom LED ceiling display.

Temporary portaloos have been permanently removed, replaced by four brand-new, custom-designed toilet blocks that double previous capacity. Additionally, a high-capacity ventilation and air circulation system has been fitted throughout the industrial warehouse space.

Since opening in 2021, TESTBED has carved out a reputation as a unique, forward-thinking, multi-purpose space. AMAAD—the promoters behind Junction 2 Festival, LWE events, and Ironworks—has partnered with the venue, alongside live music programmer Ghostwriter, who has previously worked with artists such as Little Simz, Yungblud, and Geese.

Full lineups and opening details for the venue will be announced in the coming weeks.