Will Sheffield 'move on' from Leadmill's reinvention?

It was the music venue that was synonymous with Sheffield's cultural scene for decades - and now the building that was once the Leadmill is beginning a new chapter.

Today, Electric Studios opens its doors for the first time since the closure of the Leadmill, which had entertained the city since 1980.

In June its occupancy reverted to the site's owners, Electric Group, after the eviction of their tenants, the Leadmill's operators, who eventually lost a legal appeal.

Electric Studios' management has promised a venue "dedicated to live music and grassroots creativity" - but what do the old Leadmill crowd think of its new era?

In its new incarnation, the space will focus on drum and bass acts and "electronic culture". The Leadmill hosted a wide range of genres during its existence.

Jack Cooper from Electric Studios said: "Sheffield's such a musically cultured place and the venue itself is looking insanely good."

It has been extensively renovated and refitted since the departure of the Leadmill's operators.

The dispute between Electric Group, who bought the building's freehold in 2017, and the Leadmill was finally decided by the Court of Appeal ruling in 2025. However, a major grassroots campaign backed the Leadmill.

Supporter Richard Hawley, one of Sheffield's best-known musicians, said he would "never set foot" in Electric Studios, having played several times at the Leadmill.

John Reilly, who performed there with his band Boy on a Dolphin, was more positive about the venue's future.

"The important thing is we still have the live music venue. That name will disappear but there is still somewhere for people to play.

You have to be positive, it will be new and refurbed and hopefully with state-of-the art kit."

When the BBC asked young music fans in Sheffield whether they would support the new opening, some pointed out that future generations of students would have little knowledge of the Leadmill's cultural impact.

Mayflower George met her partner seven years ago at the Leadmill and said she was "part of the movement" to try and save it.

"I think the city will move on. I think that sentiment of cultural heritage, yeah it's important, but ultimately the new students that come in every single year won't know the story."

Casey Swift, a student at Sheffield Hallam University, attended the final Leadmill gig but admitted it "doesn't matter who owns it".

"As long as it's a good place to go and people are having a good time and they're bringing in money at the same time, that's the main thing," she said.

Andrew Fitzpatrick also enjoyed gigs at the Leadmill and said going to Electric Studio wouldn't be "an easy decision".

"Me personally, yeah, I'd go see my favourite band there but you'll get comments from people questioning me saying, why are you going to this?"

The Electric Group, which runs existing venues in London, Bristol and Newcastle, has booked a number of live acts in the coming months including indie electronic pioneers St Etienne, cult US rock band The Lemonheads and legendary British folk rock group The Levellers.

The venue will also host a special one-night performance of Stop Making Sense Live celebrating the iconic Talking Heads concert film.

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