Sheffield Leadmill’s “future hangs in the balance” as judgment deferred

nme.com:

its owners the Electric Group issued an eviction notice in March 2022, which sparked an outcry across the music industry and from gig-goers.Electric Group, a joint venture between Dominic Madden and Jacob Lewis that also owns London’s Electric Brixton, Bristol’s SWX and Newcastle’s NX, bought the site’s freehold in 2017 and shortly afterwards said they had no intention of closing the venue when they ended the current occupiers’ lease.However, the site’s management soon hit back, arguing that they were being “exterminated by the landlord”.

In May, the 900-capacity venue won its first court battle against its landlord, being granted an adjournment to allow them to prepare fresh arguments and to respond to new evidence.The next stage of legal proceedings took place earlier this week at Leeds Property and Business Court, and as the Leadmill confirmed with a series of X posts on Friday (December 20), the judgment was ultimately deferred.pic.twitter.com/JZlhM5yGdV— The Leadmill (@Leadmill) December 20, 2024“The fate of The Leadmill remains uncertain as the court defers its judgment in the case that could set a critical precedent for independent venues across the UK,” they wrote.Recapping the events that led to the current case, they added: “Crucially, no evidence has been provided to suggest that The Leadmill was ever under any threat, until The Electric Group itself created one.”“Despite their public claims, it has become evident during this process that The Electric Group’s real intention is to capitalise on the goodwill, reputation and trust that The Leadmill has built over 45 years of operation.”“Can a landlord evict its tenant and profit from the reputation, community trust and goodwill that the tenant has spent decades.