More Details Released on £4.5m Leeds Academy

31 July 2008

New Details on £4.5m Leeds Academy

UPFRONT, news, night online, COMMENTS

Academy Music Group (AMG) has today announced further details of its thirteenth live music venue, opening autumn 2008, Leeds Academy. Situated on the site of the former Town and Country Club on Cookridge Street, AMG is currently restoring and developing the Grade I listed building to its former glory as one of the City’s most historic and premier live music venues.

Leeds Academy will have a maximum main room capacity of 2,300 (1,800 stalls, 500 balcony) for live music and club events and already has a busy diary with shows from MGMT, Hot Chip and The Courteeners, plus many more.

“A landmark building, Leeds Academy is set to be the largest independent venue in the City. Adding to the existing vibrant music scene, the Academy is the perfect size to attract major touring acts. It’s always exciting to develop a venue with such history and keep as many original features and grandeur of its former years by converting back to the theatre format, but adding up to the minute production values and new technology, with outstanding artist and customer facilities.” says John Northcote, CEO.

Formerly the Coliseum building, the venue was opened in 1885 by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Designed by William Blackwell, in Gothic style, it still features the original ornate stone frontage and a hall described as ‘one of the finest in the North of England’ (Kelly’s Directory – 1914).

In its early years, it was used for circus and variety shows of the day, through to political meets and religious gatherings. Changing hands between various theatre and property developers, the Coliseum converted to a cinema in 1938 and was renamed the Gaumont. It closed in March 1961 and re-opened as a Bingo Hall and Social Club, through to use as a television studio in the 1980s until 1991.

Leeds Academy will be designed to the highest technical specification, emulating the success of recent developments in Sheffield and Oxford, investing some £4,500,000 into the project.

Academy Music Group is also developing venues in Brighton and Birmingham for 2009 with further site acquisitions in negotiation.

From: Night Online

Subscribe to NIGHT magazine