Electric Studios: A renovated Sheffield landmark reimagined as free shared workspaces
Image source: Aiden Joseph
By Simon Thake
Yorkshire
Sheffield’s historic Leadmill site is being repurposed to include free creative coworking spaces as part of its new development plan, the project team has announced.
Owned by The Electric Group, the building will be relaunched as Electric Studios, with a target opening in spring 2026. The broader plans also include expanding the music venue’s capacity, commissioning a stone sculpture to greet visitors at the entrance, and attracting a wider roster of music artists to the city.
Jack Cooper, who promotes events for Electric Studios, shared the vision: “We’re not aiming for a glossy, soulless space — we want it to have soul.”
The Leadmill, a cornerstone of Sheffield’s live music scene for 45 years, ceased operations in June after a lengthy effort to keep the venue open. Last May, Electric Group won their eviction appeal, and the group reaffirmed its commitment to remaining a central part of Sheffield’s live music landscape.
Cooper emphasized that a key shift will be a return to the building’s cultural roots, a concept first introduced when the Leadmill opened in 1980.
Image source: BBC/Oli Constable
upstairs, Electric Studios will offer coworking spaces for 40 emerging creatives from a range of backgrounds in Sheffield, for an 18-month period. Applications will open in late January.
The initiative has the support of Alan Deadman, a music promoter who was involved with the venue during the 1980s, who described the potential impact as part of a cyclical renewal: “The Leadmill was a powerful catalyst for the local creative community in 1980, and I believe Electric Studios could rekindle that morale.”
Phil Mills, the outgoing Leadmill tenant, was previously accused of “cultural vandalism” after the removal of a stone frieze above the entrance. Leadmill Ltd stated the artwork was removed to be “lovingly rehomed,” though Sheffield City Council had not secured planning permission for the removal.
Electric Group announced that local sculptor Andrew Vickers has been commissioned to recreate the entrance artwork with his own artistic interpretation.
In addition to dressing room and sound-system upgrades, Cooper confirmed the venue’s capacity is planned to rise from about 900 to 1,400 people.
“I’ve seen many acts bypass our city for various reasons,” he noted. “Increasing capacity will help bring certain performers here and create more opportunities.”
Electric Studios plans to unveil live music shows and club nights in January.
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