If you like this place so much, could you stop smashing it up?

OWNER OF MUSIC VENUE HAS A £7,700 BILL FOR VANDALISM - BY HER OWN CUSTOMERS

THE owner of one of Leicester’s most popular live music venues has called on customers to stop smashing the place up.

Elisabeth Carley-Leonard said The Shed, in Leicester city centre, is suffering instances of vandalism week after week.

She took over the venue, which has hosted early career appearances by artists including Kasabian, the Arctic Monkeys and Ellie Goulding, in 2017 when it faced the bleak prospect of demolition.

Since then the Yeoman Street venue’s fortunes have revived.

But the spate of vandalism began in earnest toward the end of last year and the repair bill currently stands at more than £7,000.

Elisabeth said: “We began to notice these things happening in the last three or four months of last year.

“People were smashing sinks, mirrors and the toilets and even stealing taps, which was just bizarre.

“It was happening every single week and it’s still happening now.

“People are coming here and wrecking things.

“It’s felt almost like a personal attack at times, though I’m sure it’s not.

“But this is not just a job for me, it’s everything to me.

“I’d say it’s cost £600 to £700 this month alone and then maybe up to £7,000 last year.

“Fortunately, we don’t get fights in here but I would really appreciate it if people stopped tak

It’s felt almost like a personal attack at times, though I’m sure it’s not

Owner Elisabeth Carley-Leonard

ing out their aggression on the building.

“I can say it’s the men, because the women’s toilets are always spotless at the end of the night. “We do nights for young kids, from 14 years and older, but they’re not the ones who are doing this.

“I’d say it’s men, aged 20 to 35, who either can’t control their drink or are struggling with their mental health. If that’s the case they can always talk to us because we are trained mental health first aiders. “We have security people on the door, but we can’t afford to have someone in the toilets all night making sure nobody is kicking or punching our sinks and toilets to bits.

“The Shed has been here since 1994 and I took it over in 2017 to spare it being knocked down and flats being built here instead. “The irony is that the people who are doing this probably say they love what we’re doing here and the community we’ve managed to build.”

Regulars posted a series of supportive messages on the venue’s Facebook page.

Hayley Louise Chamberlain said: “It’s so disgusting people think they have the right to mess with a place people love and a place where people gather to feel comfortable and have a good time.

“I really hope that whoever did this gets the punishment they deserve.

“You’re awesome and don’t let this hurt the amazing place that you have created.”

Lee Waters said: “Some people who can’t handle their drink and getting a bit rowdy. Absolutely disgusting.

“The venue is a place we come to gig, to hang with friends and party. Not a place to take out your anger. If you can’t control your anger and your drink I suggest staying at home.

Wayne Dunnicliffe added: “This is a great Venue, sorry to hear this is happening. If you truly love music, small venues like this are so important.”