The Cockpit in Leeds closes after 20 years of music
A Leeds music venue that hosted gigs by artists such as Amy Winehouse and the Kaiser Chiefs has announced it has closed.
The Cockpit opened in 1994 and was closed for maintenance in July but has revealed it has closed for good.
The venue owners posted an announcement on their website yesterday, writing: “It is with great regret that we have to announce the permanent closure of the Cockpit. After 20 great years as an integral pillar of the Leeds music scene we have decided that it is no longer viable to deliver you the level of service you deserve with the building in it’s current condition.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of you who came to watch your favourite bands, danced, stage dived, crowd surfed, found your life partner and gave the Cockpit its reputation as one of the best live music venues in the UK.”
Scheduled gigs for the venue will now be moved to alternate venues, including The Key Club on Merrion Street, which opens on 20 September. All original tickets will also remain valid.
Simon Rix of Kaiser Chiefs took to Twitter to send thanks to the venue, tweeting: ‘got a musical education there at 17 at brighton beach. got signed after playing there in 2004. rip the cockpit. thanks for everything…’
Other acts to have played at the Cockpit include the Arctic Monkeys, Biffy Clyro, Fall Out Boy, Bullet For My Valentine, Kasabian, Korn, Paramore and Muse.
Absolutely gutted