Ghostwriter Consultancy & Events, is proud to announce its latest collaboration with venue operators AMAAD (A Man About A Dog) for the redevelopment and relaunch of TESTBED Leeds.
This project marks a significant expansion of the proven partnership between Ghostwriter and AMAAD, where TESTBED will be joining the ranks of The Prospect Building (Bristol) and Quarters (Brighton), both AMAAD venues where Ghostwriter has played an instrumental role in development and success. Working in tandem with AMAAD and TESTBED owners James Abbott-Donnelly and Laura Wellington, Ghostwriter will spearhead the live music programming and operations of the venue/ Together, the teams aim to establish the venue as a premier destination for touring artists in the North of England.
The launch of TESTBED marks the latest milestone in Ghostwriter’s expanding live music partnership model. The venue joins an impressive national roster that includes Glasgow’s Braehead Arena (5,200), Bristol’s The Prospect Building (Main – 3,000 & Crane – 1350), Liverpool Olympia (1,917), Tramshed Cardiff (1,000), XOYO (Birmingham – 800 & London – 700) Quarters Brighton (450), Leeds Warehouse (475), Cardiff’s The Globe (350) and Camden Assembly (200). Along with all other Ghostwriter partner venues, TESTBED will be a no-merchandise-fee venue, ensuring artists retain 100% of their merchandise revenue while on tour. With a network stretching across the UK, Ghostwriter continues to solidify its reputation as a premier national partner for venue operations and live programming.
Building on the success of their existing collaborations at The Prospect Building in Bristol and Quarters in Brighton, Ghostwriter and AMAAD are set to transform the 10,000-square-foot industrial space on Leeds South Bank. The venue is scheduled for a comprehensive overhaul to deliver permanent infrastructure improvements, including the installation of a custom L-Acoustics sound system, high-quality lighting and upgraded customer facilities, before reopening in September 2026.
As a 1,500-capacity standing live space, TESTBED 2.0 fills a vital gap in the Leeds live music market. Ghostwriter’s involvement ensures the venue is perfectly positioned on the national touring circuit, offering top-tier facilities for international A-list talent while remaining deeply rooted in the local community.
“We are delighted to be expanding our partnership with AMAAD into Leeds,” said Ghostwriter’s Commercial Director Carl Bathgate. “Our work together in Bristol and Brighton has proven how vital high-quality, independent spaces are to the UK’s cultural landscape. By bringing our programming & operational expertise to TESTBED, we aim to honour Leeds’ rich musical heritage while providing a state-of-the-art and competitively positioned platform for the next generation of live performers.”
Working with both national and local promoters, Ghostwriter has delivered a wide variety of high-profile shows to The Prospect Building in Bristol including artists such as Little Simz, Biffy Clyro, Mac DeMarco, Kneecap, Geese, Pendulum and The Last Dinner Party. At TESTBED, the focus will remain on a diverse and forward-thinking programme that balances international icons with local heroes.
TESTBED founders James Abbott-Donnelly and Laura Wellington said: “This partnership with AMAAD and Ghostwriter marks a new chapter for TESTBED. It gives us the backing to take what we’ve built and push it further – without losing what matters. From the start, this was never about just another venue, but about creating a space that truly holds people, where experience, culture and care come first. This allows us to achieve those goals. We’re still hands-on and committed to those values, now with the opportunity to build something bigger for Leeds and beyond.”
The redevelopment of TESTBED marks the next phase of Ghostwriter’s commitment to delivering high quality spaces for live performance. By combining AMAAD’s reputation for pioneering large-scale event promotion with Ghostwriter’s industry-leading expertise in venue operations and live programming, TESTBED is set to become a cornerstone of the vibrant Leeds cultural scene.