Hearing begins to determine the future of The Leadmill, as huge rally of support gathers in Sheffield

nme.com:

the iconic Sheffield venue announced that it was facing threat of closure due to its landlord issuing a notice of eviction. It subsequently sparked outcry across the music industry and from gig-goers.The building’s owners, Electric Group, who bought the site’s freehold in 2017, previously told music fans that they had no intention of closing the venue at the end of the current occupiers’ lease in 2023.“The management may change but the song stays the same,” Dominic Madden, CEO and co-founder of Electric Group, wrote on Twitter.However, management claimed they were being “exterminated by the landlord” before launching a fresh appeal to fans.Today, councillors were considering an application for a shadow premises licence – a second licence landlords can obtain for a premises that already operates under one – according to the BBC.According to the application, the two licenses “will not operate at the same time” but would allow the landlord “to have his own licence to protect his position should the tenant do anything to put the premises licence in jeopardy”.Crowds of people gathered in support of The Leadmill with signs and banners ahead of the meeting, which was due to last two days but wrapped up after just one.Here at #Sheffield town hall for #wecantloseleadmill @Leadmill.