Landmark Leeds venue TESTBED to relaunch in September following major site expansion and upgrades

One of Leeds’ most ambitious independent spaces is preparing to enter a dramatic new era this autumn.

TESTBED, located on Hunslet Lane at the dynamic intersection of electronic music, live culture, and community arts, will officially relaunch this September to reveal permanent structural improvements and major technical upgrades.

Founders Laura Wellington and James Abbott-Donnelly remain front and centre at the helm, now backed by significant investment and venue partnership from AMAAD - the prominent promoters behind London Warehouse Events (LWE), Junction 2 Festival, and Bristol’s The Prospect Building.

The partnership brings national booking expertise to the city while bolstering the founders' vision for an accessible platform where local Leeds talent can grow.

As part of the major overhaul, TESTBED has more than doubled in footprint, expanding from 10,000 sq ft to a vast 23,000 sq ft venue with an overall capacity of 2,500. Guests entering through the new lobby will find a brand-new 5,000 sq ft mezzanine level with customizable seating, an upstairs bar dedicated to supporting local Yorkshire brands, and a balcony view overlooking the main dance floor.

Downstairs, a custom-built stage allows for an immersive 360-degree crowd setup around the DJ booth, with plans already underway for a Room 2 reveal in 2027.

In a major technical coup for the West Yorkshire music scene, TESTBED will become the only venue in Leeds fitted with a customised L-Acoustics L2 sound system - a festival-grade, high-spec design built for crystal-clear acoustic coverage with cardioid arrays that direct sound inward to protect surrounding neighbourhoods.

The visual setup has also been transformed with a fully integrated Chauvet lighting rig, featuring an 8m x 4m high-resolution LED video wall, moving strobes, and a bespoke ceiling display of LED strips and curves.

Customer experience and comfort have also seen significant investment, with high-capacity ventilation and air circulation systems fitted throughout the industrial warehouse space.

Crucially, temporary portaloos have been permanently removed, replaced by four brand-new, custom-designed toilet blocks that double previous capacity.

On the live music front, AMAAD is expanding its programming partnership with renowned bookers Ghostwriter to bring major national and international touring acts to the venue's 1,500-capacity standing live space.

TESTBED will also continue to champion local creative roots by providing a permanent studio home for community station, alto radio, which broadcasts directly from inside the building.

TESTBED will officially reopen its doors in September 2026. Full opening event lineups, season schedules, and headline artist announcements will be released in the coming weeks.