Leeds warehouse to become major events venue with live music and weddings

An events venue with space for hundreds of people is set to open after a licence was granted by the council.

Vault, on Royds Farm Road in Holbeck, will host weddings, sports fixtures and live music.

Forbidden Festival Europe Master Ltd applied to Leeds City Council for alcohol sales and entertainment inside the building until 1am.

Music and drinks sales will also be allowed until 1am at up to eight outdoor events per year.

A licensing sub-committee was told concerns had been raised over noise, road safety and possible anti-social behaviour.

Nick Landells, representing the applicant, said noise management and crowd dispersal policies would be in place.

He said the premises supervisor Lewis Meehan was already running venues in Manchester and Derby.

Mr Landells said: “The applicant is an experienced events space operator.

“It’s a place where we can have live music and DJs on occasion. But that’s going to be the exception rather than the norm.”

Objector John Scriven, representing neighbouring business Esterform Packaging, said he was concerned about crowds of people spilling into the road.

He said: “There’s areas where people could accidental step out in front of a vehicle.”

Councillors were told conditions to prevent nuisance behaviour and traffic problems had been agreed with West Yorkshire Police.

A licensing report said around £750,000 would be invested to convert the warehouse building into a multi-purpose events space.

It said: “It will operate in a similar way as their existing locations, the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester and Ultra Warehouse in Derby.

“Both of these venues operate with similar premises licences as is being sought for Vault in Leeds.”

The company would employ up to ten full-time workers and hire more than 60 staff to run events at the site, part of Beeston Royds Industrial Estate.

The report said: “It is expected that all of these employees will be local and many will be students.

“The annual wage bill is budgeted to be between £450,000 and £500,000.”

Councillors granted the premises licence following Tuesday’s hearing at Leeds Civic Hall.