Iconic guitarist Richard Hawley has “appealed to the lawmakers of this country to stop this happening again” following the closure of a legendary Sheffield music venue.
The Leadmill – which has played host to huge acts including Oasis and Pulp since it’s opening in 1980 – was given twelve weeks to vacate it’s premises earlier this month following an ongoing legal battle with new landlords.
Electric Group initially served an eviction notice to the tenants in March 2022 as they allegedly look to rebrand the venue to Electric Sheffield. Following a long process, the appeal to overturn the eviction was eventually rejected in May 2025 and the Steel City will now officially be losing a cultural staple.
The news has led to an outcry of despair and disappointment from the Sheffield and music world. Richard Hawley, former Pulp and Longpigs guitarist, is known as the musician to have played the venue more than anyone else.
The 58-year old singer-songwriter has now come out to share his anger at the decision, telling NME: “I’m trying not to get angry, but it’s very difficult because they say I’m the musician that’s played there the most by a long, long way.
“It’s probably true. I don’t want that to stop, and not just for me but other people. It’s a rite of passage. The people running it now are best placed to do so.”
Hawley has voiced his support for an urgent change of legislation to stop this from happening again. Over the last few years, there has been an increased call for music venues to own their own buildings. The idea of a “National Trust for music venues” has been floated about in an attempt to prevent landlords from closing down iconic buildings.
Begging the government to enact change, Hawley said in the same interview: “There desperately needs to be a change in legislation. If someone comes along and buys the land under your business and building and throws you out and turns it into flats – which happens all the time – or if they kick you out but steal your business, we’re talking about a serious moral issue.”
Highlighting the importance of these venues, and especially The Leadmill, he continued: “The Leadmill is out Cavern Club, it’s our Marquee, it’s our Hacienda, it’s our 100 Club. People from this city know best how to run that venue. I can’t see how a corporate-structured company can possibly understand the difference between clubbers, audiences and artists that come from here.
“Cities are living, breathing things, and it’s individuals that make up the vibe. Living in Sheffield is completely fucking different to living in Manchester or Newcastle. Unfortunately, I predict that they’re going to fuck it up and turn it into flats like they did with The Hacienda.”
This impassioned rant from Hawley just underpins they cultural value and importance of venues such as The Leadmill.
As the government continues to hold committees and hearings, venues up-and-down the country continue to close at an alarming rate. As Hawley and many others argue, until true legislation is brought in, this will not change.
In other news relating to Hawley, he will release an anniversary edition of his revered third solo album ‘Coles Corner‘ on July 4. You can pre-order it here, and also head here to find tickets to his upcoming tour where he will play the album in full.
