Leeds venue TESTBED unveils major renovations ahead of September reopening

Leeds venue TESTBED has detailed major renovations ahead of its relaunch in September. The Butterley Street space, which opened as a warehouse events venue in 2021, is expanding from 10,000 square feet to 23,000 square feet, raising its capacity to 2,500.

Founders Laura Wellington and James Abbott-Donnelly have brought in AMAAD, the team behind London's Junction 2 Festival, LWE events, Ironworks and Brighton's Quarters nightclub, to help deliver the improvements. The renovated main room will include a custom-built stage designed for a 360-degree crowd experience and a new 5,000 square foot mezzanine level, with a second room planned to open in 2027.

The venue is installing a fully integrated Chauvet lighting rig with strobes, LED ceiling installations and a video wall, paired with a custom L-Acoustics L2 sound system that TESTBED says will make it the only venue in Leeds with that setup. Other upgrades include a new high-capacity ventilation system and four additional toilet blocks, replacing the venue's portaloos and doubling its bathroom capacity.

Alongside supporting local electronic music promoters and community radio, TESTBED is rolling out a new live music programme built around its 1,500 standing capacity, working with live music promoters Ghostwriter, who have also staged shows at Bristol's The Prospect Building and at Quarters.

TESTBED has not yet announced a specific date for its official relaunch, saying only that details would follow "in the coming weeks." Tickets for the eventual reopening are being made available through the venue's website.