The Leadmill: Court Case to Decide Fate of Iconic Sheffield Nightclub. UPDATE: New Hearing Ongoing

[horribleblob]

7 hours ago, peak4 said:

The whole situation seems to have been a bit odd for years.

Here's a few links to be going on with, though I've not been following it closely; The Tribune one is interesting

https://www.iq-mag.net/2018/04/rupert-dell-leadmill-harassment-e370k-judgment/

https://www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/p/the-leadmill-says-its-fighting-for

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-66735507

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-69040548

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-69043341

 

 

For someone who started going to the Leadmill prior to 1994 when it was more of a community hub, Victoria Munro's Tribune article is an excellent, informative work of journalism.

[MJ01]

Maybe the Leadmill should just move to China or Saudi Arabia with the snooker

[Resident]

5 hours ago, geared said:

 

or just come to a financial agreement?

 

If it's going to be multiple millions to redo the club, then come to an agreement to sell everything to the landlord and/or a licence deal for the Leadmill name (which is trademarked)

 

Trouser a big chunk of money and enjoy retirement somewhere with a better climate.

I believe financial offers have already been made and rejected by Mills, I believe also there was an offer to fold The Leadmill Ltd into Electric Group which would have lead to only minor operating changes. Again rejected by Mills, although I've only been told this by a third party and not been able to verify.

The main part of the problem is that Mills seems to think he's entitled to stay in the building and that the new owner's wishes are irrelevant. 

Mills had the opportunity to buy the building but preferred cash in his pocket, my personal opinion is that at the time he didn't see a future for the Leadmill so didn't want to pay for the building. Now that it's transpired he was wrong he wants to keep possession of the building despite the new owners wanting it back. 

Part of the argument on Mills' side is that now EG have revoked the offer of keeping the existing staff when initially they said their jobs would be safe. But I get why now EG wouldn't want to keep the existing staff. Would you, as a business owner, want staff that have openly attacked you in the media? I certainly would not. 

Ultimately the law will side with EG, they are the legal owners & Mills will most likely be on the hook for not only his own legal bill but that of EG too. 

So instead of walking away with a good chunk of cash & possibly stocks/shares in EG, he'll be left destitute, all because of his ego

[SheffieldForum]

9 hours ago, horribleblob said:

 

For someone who started going to the Leadmill prior to 1994 when it was more of a community hub, Victoria Munro's Tribune article is an excellent, informative work of journalism.

Yes — @vickyafm has done the best piece on the whole saga if you ask me. 👏👏👏

[Jeffrey Shaw]

The main thing is to appreciate that the landlord (L) of property let on a business lease/tenancy may have the right to oppose the right to its tenant (T) to a renewal on various grounds. I'd summarise s.30(1) of the Landlord and Tenant 1954 (which lists the grounds of opposition) as follows:

a. T broke repair obligations in existing lease.

b. T persistently paid rent late.

c. T committed other breaches of obligations.

d. L offers reasonably equivalent alternative premises for T.

e. L let to T's part on a subtenancy but L could let the entire property for more than the total of each sublet's part's rent.

f.  L wishes to demolish/reconstruct and needs vacant possession from T in order to do this.

g. (and this may be the one applicable here) L wishes to use premises for L's own business: the exact wording reads"on the termination of the current tenancy the landlord intends to occupy the holding for the purposes, or partly for the purposes, of a business to be carried on by him therein, or as his residence."

 

[see full text of s.30(1) at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/2-3/56/section/30]

[gaz678]

Is it Baxendale group 🤔 

[SheffieldForum]

4 minutes ago, gaz678 said:

Is it Baxendale group 🤔 

What makes you say that?

 

[SheffieldForum]

Hearing to Decide the Future of Sheffield's Leadmill Set for December

A court hearing to determine the fate of Sheffield's iconic music venue, The Leadmill, is scheduled to take place from 16 to 20 December at the Leeds Business and Property Court. The longstanding dispute between The Leadmill's tenants and the building's owner, Electric Group, has been ongoing since the tenants were served with an eviction notice in March 2022.

 

The Leadmill's legal team was granted an adjournment earlier this year, allowing them more time to respond to evidence submitted by Electric Group. Wayne Clark, representing Electric Group, told the BBC he expects a decision to be made in the new year, given the complexity of the case.

A Long-Running Battle

Electric Group, led by Dominic Madden, purchased the building in 2016 and is seeking to take over management of the venue under a new name. However, The Leadmill Ltd claims Madden's plans could breach the law and that the group may not be able to afford necessary repair works.

 

The Leadmill has been a fixture of Sheffield's cultural landscape since it opened in 1980, hosting legendary performances by artists such as Coldplay, Oasis, and Arctic Monkeys. Despite the legal uncertainty, bookings at the venue are listed until November 2025, with business continuing as usual until the court reaches a final decision.

Previous Developments and Legal Battle

The dispute escalated into a high-profile legal battle earlier this year, with The Leadmill's management, led by Phil Mills, launching a campaign to retain control of the venue. The campaign garnered support from high-profile figures like Jarvis Cocker and Eddie Izzard, who emphasised the venue's historical and cultural significance.

 

Madden's Electric Group has expressed intentions to continue operating The Leadmill as a music venue, but with a new management team. This has caused concern among supporters who fear that changes could negatively impact Sheffield's vibrant cultural scene.

 

The future of the much-loved venue will be decided in the upcoming hearing, and both parties are preparing for what could be a landmark decision for Sheffield’s nightlife and music heritage.

[woodmally1979]

I have to say I havent been following it too closely but this entire court case seems a pointless exercise if you ask me. The current tenant I understand was given the option to buy the property but chose not to. Now the lease has run out and the landlord wants them out.  Why all this legal wrangling just accept the tenancy has run out thats what happens sometimes between landlords and tenants. 

[SheffieldForum]

Judge Rejects Claims of Misconduct at Leadmill Owner's Other Venues

A district judge has dismissed allegations of serious misconduct, including rape, drug use, and violence, at venues run by MVL Properties, the company that owns the Leadmill building in Sheffield. The claims, made by Phil Mills, long-time operator of the Leadmill music venue, were deemed "hearsay" and unsupported by direct evidence, according to District Judge Tim Spruce.

Allegations Against MVL Properties

Phil Mills, who has run the Leadmill for years, launched the allegations in an attempt to prevent MVL Properties from obtaining a premises licence for the building. MVL Properties, part of the Electric Group, purchased the building in 2016 and was granted a "shadow" premises licence by Sheffield City Council in 2022, which would allow them to take over the venue should the current operators vacate.

 

In a three-day hearing at Sheffield Magistrates' Court, Mr Mills argued that granting the licence to MVL Properties would result in the venue becoming a hotspot for crime and anti-social behaviour, based on negative reviews and incidents at other Electric Group venues in London, Bristol, and Newcastle. These claims, however, were not backed by first-hand accounts.

Judge's Ruling

District Judge Spruce ruled against Mills' appeal, stating that the allegations were unsubstantiated and lacked credible evidence. He remarked that the claims relied heavily on hearsay, including hundreds of pages of negative reviews, which could not be verified:

 

"It does not mean that those incidents did not happen, but the inability to challenge the probity of what is reported means that a tribunal logically must ascribe less weight to that evidence."

 

Judge Spruce also rejected Mills’ suggestion that the authorities in other cities where Electric Group operates had ignored serious issues. He noted that the venues in question continued to operate without any formal reviews of their licences by local authorities.

Sympathy for the Leadmill

Despite dismissing the appeal, Judge Spruce expressed sympathy for Mills, acknowledging his long-standing contribution to the Sheffield music scene:

"He has been at the forefront of events which have contributed enormously to the lives and enjoyment of the citizens of Sheffield. I speculate that his passionate resistance to this application is driven by his fear of losing the ability to continue that work."

 

Mills has been fighting to remain in the Leadmill building since his lease expired and an eviction notice was served in March 2023. The venue launched the "Save The Leadmill" campaign, gaining over 46,000 signatures and support from prominent bands such as Arctic Monkeys, Def Leppard, and Pulp.

Next Steps in the Battle for the Leadmill

While this appeal has been rejected, the ongoing dispute is set to continue, with a decisive court case scheduled for December. This case will determine whether Mills can remain in the building or if MVL Properties will take control. Should the eviction go ahead, the future of the Leadmill name remains uncertain, as Mills is unlikely to sell the trademark to the new operators.

 

The Leadmill, which opened as a community centre and music venue in 1980, is Sheffield’s longest-running live music venue. Its potential closure has drawn significant attention and sparked widespread debate about the future of independent venues in the city.

 

 

More detail available in a recent article from The Tribune.