Sheffield's live music venue, The Leadmill, has launched a campaign to save it from closure that has resulted in more than 5,000 supporters emailing Tom Hunt, the new leader of Sheffield City Council.
Hunt, who has been in post less than three months, has yet to publicly express an opinion about the 'hostile' takeover of The Leadmill,
The Leadmill's campaign - dubbed ‘Battle for the Soul of Sheffield’ - is calling on Hunt to back its bid to save the historic venue and has asked supporters to lobby him via email or postcard or by using the #TellTom hashtag on Twitter/X.
“This isn’t just about The Leadmill,” a spokesperson from the venue said. “Everything that’s made our city what it is today is at stake.
“It may start with us, but it goes much further than that. If we don’t stop this hostile takeover, the very soul and character of our great city is at risk.”
The spokesperson said that the venue’s 80 staff members were “all so tired of the ongoing situation”, adding that “time and energy is being spent on trying to retain our jobs and The Leadmill”.
Hunt “of all people, should know that this hostile takeover risks fundamentally and forever changing the course of our city, heritage, and culture”, the person said.