Five of Leeds' Leading Music Venues
With Kaiser Chiefs, Sisters of Mercy, Soft Cell and Corinne Bailey Rae all connected to this city, Leeds has long punched above its weight in British music. From a nightclub that predates Manchester's Hacienda to a canalside space rebuilt by its own community after losing its previous home, here are five leading music venues in Leeds.
Leeds' top 5 music venues at a glance
Venue | Capacity | Area | Known for |
The Warehouse | Up to 1,050 | City centre | Leeds nightclub since 1979, hosted Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Oasis |
Canalside Community Music Space | Up to 1,000 | Armley | Non-profit home of Boom Leeds, heavy music community |
Belgrave Music Hall | Up to 350 | Northern Quarter | 1930s former nursery school, hosted Dinosaur Jr, Broken Social Scene |
The Wardrobe | Up to 400 | Cultural Quarter | Running since 1999, jazz-club atmosphere, 250+ shows a year |
Headrow House | Up to 150 | City centre | Former textile mill, beer hall and rooftop terraces |
The Warehouse
Capacity: Up to 1,050 (The Warehouse), 200 (The Loft)
Location: 19-21 Somers Street, Leeds LS1 2RG
The Warehouse has been at the heart of Leeds nightlife since 1979, opening even before Manchester's Hacienda and becoming the epicentre of music and clubbing in the north of England. The venue has hosted acts spanning Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Sasha and Aphex Twin, and its influence on electronic music culture in Leeds runs deep, inspiring LFO's seminal Leeds Warehouse Mix.
Following a major refurbishment, The Warehouse now houses three hireable spaces, including the 200-capacity Loft, run on a state-of-the-art L'Acoustics sound system, bespoke LED screen and full laser and lighting production, hosting club nights, live events and large-scale productions up to 1,050 capacity.
Canalside Community Music Space
Capacity: Up to 1,000 (including outdoor area); 200 and 400 across two indoor rooms
Location: 5 Canal Place, Armley Road, Leeds LS12 2DU
Canalside Community Music Space sits by the canal on the edge of Leeds city centre, in a transformed disused industrial site. Run as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, the space is home to Boom Leeds, a grassroots music venue, alongside rehearsal rooms and a recording studio.
Canalside was built by the team behind the original Boom Leeds after their previous home on Millwright Street was lost to redevelopment in 2024. The venue offers two flexible event spaces, a 200-capacity main room and a 400-capacity upstairs room, plus an outdoor area, hosting live music, club nights, workshops, markets and private hires. Every penny made goes back into the space, supporting emerging artists, low-cost workshops and fair artist pay.
Belgrave Music Hall
Capacity: Up to 350
Location: Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds LS2 8JP
Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen is an independent venue spread across three floors in Leeds' Northern Quarter, built in the 1930s as a children's nursery school and restored to open as Belgrave Music Hall in 2013. The venue is home to two bars, two kitchens, a 350-capacity event space and a roof terrace.
Belgrave hosts live music, comedy, film screenings and art exhibitions, alongside canteen-style street food from an in-house pizza and burger kitchen. The venue has hosted acts including Dinosaur Jr, Broken Social Scene and A Certain Ratio, and remains a key stop on Leeds' touring circuit.
The Wardrobe
Capacity: Up to 400 (main room); three further spaces from 25 to 60
Location: 6 St Peter's Square, Leeds LS9 8AH
Opened in 1999 and part of Futuresound Group, The Wardrobe is one of Leeds' longest-established independent venues, running over 250 live shows a year across two stages. Set in the city's cultural quarter, it's known for an intimate, dingy, smoky jazz-club atmosphere.
Programming spans funk, soul, R&B and jazz alongside comedy and club nights, with four separate hireable spaces including a private dining room and mezzanine, giving it more flexibility for private events than most venues on this list.
Headrow House
Capacity: Up to 150 (event space); 80 and 120 across two additional spaces
Location: 29 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PU
Headrow House is a multi-use arts, food, drink and events venue in a former textile mill, tucked into one of Leeds' historic yards in the city centre. The building was restored after years of neglect into a space spanning four floors.
The venue is home to the award-winning restaurant Ox Club, a Beer Hall with four Pilsner Urquell tanks, and three separate spaces available for exclusive hire: a 150-capacity event space with a full PA and lighting rig, the Redondo Beach roof terrace bar, and the Kennedy Meadows rooftop terrace with city skyline views.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest live music venue in Leeds?
The Warehouse holds up to 1,050 across its main room, making it the largest venue on this list, closely followed by Canalside Community Music Space at up to 1,000 including its outdoor area.
What is Leeds' oldest running nightclub?
The Warehouse has run continuously since 1979, opening even before Manchester's Hacienda, and remains central to the city's clubbing history.
Which Leeds venue is run as a non-profit?
Canalside Community Music Space operates as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, with proceeds supporting emerging artists, low-cost workshops and fair artist pay.
Where can you find live jazz and soul in Leeds?
The Wardrobe, running since 1999, is known for its jazz-club atmosphere and a programme spanning funk, soul, R&B and jazz.
Which Leeds venue has the most flexible private hire spaces?
The Wardrobe offers four separate hireable spaces, from its 400-capacity main room down to a 16-person private dining room, giving it the widest range of event sizes on this list.