The Leadmill

The opening of The Leadmill in 1980 was a response to the lack of cultural facilities in Sheffield and was set against the backdrop of a political and economic environment characterised by the beginning of Thatcherism. Dissemination of the steelworks, coupled with soaring youth unemployment gave rise to slogans such as no future no hope for the majority of youngsters. An unlikely spark of hope was struck in a derelict flour mill in a rundown area of Sheffield. Part of the building housed the legendary Esquire Club where during the sixties, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, The Small Faces and others played on a stage made from two grand pianos with their legs sawn off. A mixture of volunteers, students, artists and unemployed came together with a vision of setting up a centre of the arts and music for people like themselves who had nowhere to go. These values The Leadmill has maintained for the past 35 years and will continue to throughout its career. The Leadmill is a 900 capacity live musi...