The Leadmill has released an official Gov UK E-petition in a new effort to keep the historic music venue open.
A beloved staple of the indie clubbing scene since 1980 and host of performers such as The Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and The Stone Roses, the Leadmill sadly announced its anticipated closure next year after a forced eviction by its London landlord.
The news was met with public outcry amongst students and Sheffield residents alike, sparking the hashtag #WeCantLoseLeadmill across social media platforms.
‘Much much more than a number on a balance sheet,’ tweeted Derbyshire councillor Anne-Francis Stavely (@anne_stavely). ‘It’s a place where music, marriages and memories are made.’
In a similar vein, Barnsley MP and Mayor of South Yorkshire Dan Jarvis (@DanJarvisMP) tweeted:
‘The loss of the Leadmill would be devastating to the cultural and landscape of Sheffield and South Yorkshire… I’ll do whatever I can to help ensure its survival'.
Performers such as Enter Shikari and David O'Doherty have also pledged their support through the #wecantloseleadmill on Twitter.
In a press statement released on the 12th of April, a spokesperson from the Leadmill condemned the landlord’s actions stating: ‘This is an appalling attempt to shut down and evict The Leadmill by an unscrupulous Landlord,’ they said, ‘and is likely to continue happening to others unless we can get this changed in law.’
‘It is inconceivable that the Landlord should be able to evict and inherit the investment that the Tenant has made,’ the press release states, fiercely defending the venue’s valued status in the cultural community of Sheffield and longstanding presence in the indie and alternative music scene.
The petition aims to prevent landlords from ‘unfairly and unjustly evicting long-standing tenants for their own financial gain' and currently has nearly 14,000 signatures. This stance not only wishes to protect the Leadmill but also similar institutions in this position. If passed, it will help protect vulnerable businesses that currently lease their operating buildings. In a shocking statistic, 93% of Grassroots Music Venues do not own the spaces they currently occupy.
You can sign the e-petition here.
Edited by Jemma Snowdon