Electric Group discovered Sheffield's iconic Leadmill music venue stripped bare to its brickwork after taking possession on Wednesday evening. The property owners found the stage ripped out, the sprung dancefloor torn up, bars and lighting removed, and even the front doors missing.
Dominic Madden, Electric Group co-founder, said: "Stepping into this building and seeing the wanton destruction that has taken place is the sum of all my fears." He described the damage as devastating, saying: "What has happened these last few weeks behind closed doors is devastating, how anybody can do so much damage is beyond belief."
Legal battle aftermath
The discovery came after Electric Group won a long-running eviction battle against The Leadmill operators. The venue closed at the end of June with a final performance by Miles Kane after losing its appeal in May.
The Leadmill described its May appeal defeat as a "heartbreaking moment not just for our team but for the entire Sheffield community" which "feels like a betrayal of the cultural fabric of our city". Electric Group purchased the building in 2017 and also operates Electric Brixton in London plus venues in Bristol and Newcastle.
Operators defend systematic removal
Ian Lawlor, general manager of The Leadmill Ltd, defended the fixture removal as legally permitted under lease terms. He said: "Our lease listed very clearly in detail what belonged to The Leadmill in the building and we've not hidden the fact that we would be taking them with us."
Lawlor dismissed Madden's shock as disingenuous, saying: "We mentioned this on day one, three-and-a-half years ago, and we've talked about it regularly since and again in court in great detail." He accused Electric Group of theatrics, stating: "Madden trying to act shocked now is just a way for him to try and make us out to be the bad guys."
Cultural heritage concerns
Sheffield City Council halted attempts to remove a well-known Mike Disley frieze sculpture from the building's frontage. Electric Group criticised the systematic stripping, saying reusable materials were "dumped rather than being recycled, reused, or donated to community projects".
The Leadmill operated for 45 years as one of Sheffield's most important music venues, hosting legendary acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Arcade Fire, Muse, and Oasis. A commemorative plaque marks Pulp's first performance at the venue in August 1980.
Future plans and employment impact
Madden said the destruction made him "even more determined to do whatever it takes" to reopen the building as Electric Sheffield in February 2026. Only The Star reports that 60 people lost their jobs when the venue closed, highlighting the significant employment impact beyond the cultural loss.
Lawlor provided historical context, noting: "The building was an empty derelict building before we took it over in 1980 and made it into the much-loved venue it became." He emphasised their legal position, saying: "We have every legal right to take our belongings with us when leaving the building and that is all we did."
Sources used: "PA Media", "The Star" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
