The Leadmill launches official petition opposing eviction

nme.com:

their proposed eviction.It comes after the iconic Sheffield venue and club told music fans of the “devastating news that in one year’s time, our Landlord is trying to evict us, forcing us to close” – leading to an outpouring of upset and support from the music world.The current bosses of The Leadmill then responded to the owners, denying their intentions to close the venue.

Leaders of Electric Group, the company who bought the freehold for the site in March 2017, argued that they’d be removing the current management but keeping the building as a music venue after renovations.Arctic Monkeys, Richard Hawley, Jarvis Cocker and Bring Me The Horizon’s Oli Sykes are among the Sheffield artists to have spoken out in support of the venue.Announcing the new online petition today (April 12), which you can gain access to here, the current operators said in a press release: “The Leadmill have organised an official E-Petition and are now reaching out to the citizens of Sheffield and beyond, as well as friends and colleagues in the music industry, to show their support in any way they can.“This E-Petition is fighting to prevent landlords unfairly and unjustly evicting long standing tenants for their own financial gain.

In circumstances where a tenant has invested a huge amount of money, time and effort in establishing themselves, has paid rent on time (even throughout COVID lockdowns) and has improved the fabric of the premises beyond recognition, it is inconceivable that the landlord should be able to evict and inherit the investment that the tenant has made.

The Leadmill is a valuable asset to the community and an integral part of the local culture which cannot be destroyed in this way.“The petition will also help to protect many.