Leeds venue Old Red Bus Station announces closure

Leeds-based venue Old Red Bus Station has announced that it will close this Sunday (January 19).

The team behind the converted bus station announced the closure via a statement on Saturday (January 13), writing: "This is a truly sad thing for us to announce, but as of January 19 2025, we will be shutting the doors at The Old Red Bus Station for one final time."

"This is a truly sad thing for us to announce, but as of January 19 2025, we will be shutting the doors at The Old Red Bus Station for one final time," the statement reads.

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First launched as an electronic music venue and vegan restaurant in 2015, the venue said that it had been left with "no choice but to permanently close" due to pressures it has faced as a result of the cost of living crisis, including "rising utilities and uncompromising landlords."

"We can't help but feel devastated about the closure of yet another small venue where these artists can cut their teeth and learn the industry," the statement continues.

"These spaces are becoming increasingly few and far between, and without serious intervention will soon be lost entirely, so we implore every council across the country to realise the vital importance of such venues, and the need to work alongside them, not against them."

Back in 2022, Mixmag spoke to director and co-founder of Old Red Bus Station, Rik-Ines Andrin about the pressures the venue had faced as a result of the cost of living crisis.

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“It’s far scarier now than it was during the pandemic” Andrin had told us. “It's disheartening. We're trying to crack on with it and not give up, but we're all painfully aware that if things don't change we're going to run out of money by April 2023.”

Old Red Bus Station has also shared details of its closing weekend, with flagship party License to Jungle headlined by local selectors Bakey and FELIXCW on Friday (January 17).

While Saturday (January 18) will see a "mammoth" 12-hour closing party with promotor 23 Degrees. The party will be headlined by Main Phase, who made his UK debut at the Old Red Bus Station, alongside " "a slew of artists who have called the venue home over the years, alongside names from some of our longest standing residencies taking over the full venue."

For more info and tickets, head to Old Red Bus Station's website.

You can read the full statement from Old Red Bus Station below.

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter