TESTBED, a revamped electronic music venue in Leeds, is set to reopen next month after a major overhaul, NME reported on August 9. Founders Laura Wellington and James Abbott-Donnelly have expanded the space from 10,000 square feet to 23,000 square feet, taking overall crowd capacity to 2,500.
The rebuilt venue adds a 5,000 square foot mezzanine level, an upstairs bar and a balcony overlooking the main dance floor, along with a custom-built stage set up for an immersive 360-degree crowd around the DJ booth, with a Room 2 reveal already planned for 2027. NME reported it will be the only venue in Leeds equipped with a custom-built L-Acoustics L2 sound system, along with an 8 by 4 meter LED video wall and a custom LED ceiling display.
Behind the scenes, the overhaul also replaced temporary portaloos with four custom-designed toilet blocks that double the venue's previous capacity, and added a high-capacity ventilation and air circulation system throughout the industrial warehouse space.
TESTBED has operated since 2021 and built a reputation as a forward-thinking, multi-purpose space, according to a press release cited by NME. AMAAD, the promoter behind Junction 2 Festival, LWE events and Ironworks, has partnered with the venue alongside live music programmer Ghostwriter, who has previously booked Little Simz, Yungblud and Geese into The Prospect Building in Bristol, and Everything Everything, The Sherlocks and The Callous Daoboys into Quarters in Brighton.
Full lineups and an opening date for TESTBED are due to be announced in the coming weeks, NME reported. The relaunch lands the same month Leeds hosts Reading & Leeds's biggest-ever staging and arena overhaul at Bramham Park from August 27 to 30, headlined by Florence + The Machine, Charli XCX, Fontaines D.C., Dave, Raye and Chase & Status, with Kasabian opening the festival's first-ever Thursday night in Leeds.
Other acts converging on the city that same week include Declan McKenna, who has announced small UK warm-up shows ahead of his own Reading & Leeds slot.
The facts
- TESTBED grows from 10,000 to 23,000 square feet
- Its new capacity is 2,500 people
- The venue gets a custom-built L-Acoustics L2 sound system
- AMAAD, promoter of Junction 2 Festival, is partnering with the venue
- TESTBED has operated in Leeds since 2021
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