Armley’s ‘Boom Leeds’ seeks new venue licence

Supporters of a much-loved Armley music venue are urging Leeds City Council to grant a permanent licence to host gigs.

Transcript

00:00Music venue Boom Leeds moved here to the Canal Side Community Music Space in May

00:06and has since been using temporary event licences to host live gigs.

00:10Now its supporters are urging Leeds City Council to grant a permanent licence to stage bands at Canal Place

00:16after moving here with the help of fundraising and volunteers.

00:20Leeds City Council received 46 letters of support for a new licence application,

00:25including from Leeds East MP Richard Bergen and the Music Venue Trust.

00:30The venue faced an uncertain future after having to vacate its previous site in Mabgate

00:35where it ran live events, rehearsal rooms and studio space for more than a decade.

00:41Mr Bergen praised a fundraising effort launched when Boom had to leave Mabgate due to redevelopment plans,

00:47calling it a very special place and not a standard run-of-the-mill music venue.

00:52In 2019, Mr Bergen tabled a parliamentary early-day motion in support of Boom, which was signed by 26 MPs.

01:01The following year, warnings were made that the venue, also known as Temple of Boom, might not survive the pandemic.

01:08The Music Venue Trust said the closure of the Mabgate venue was met with an outpouring of public sadness,

01:14adding that it is confident that granting the application will strengthen and diversify the cultural provision of the area,

01:21while boosting the local economy.

01:23The Council also received 18 objections from people living nearby,

01:27who feared noise disturbances if the venue was allowed to play music until 3am.

01:32Conditions to prevent public nuisance were being agreed with the Council and West Yorkshire Police.

01:37A licensing sub-committee will consider the application at a hearing at Leeds Civic Hall on 16th September.