Leeds venue The Duchess receives blue plaque

Iconic Leeds venue The Duchess receives blue plaque

A much loved venue that was key on the eighties and nineties UK touring circuit has finally got recognition with a blue plaque. Back in the day before there was a whole clutch of venues like the amazing Brudenell, Leeds – like many UK cities – only had one or two at a push circuit venues. The Duchess of York was a real rite of passage space where many classic gigs occurred and where Oasis once performed to an empty room

Leeds Civic Trust is unveiling its 197th blue plaque to celebrate the former music venue The Duchess of York. The blue plaque celebrates the significance of the venue’s contribution to the music industry playing host to emerging bands who went on tobecome commercially or culturally successful. 

Oasis performed there in 1993 to an empty room and were back again in 1994.

The plaque will be unveiled on 14 September at 11:00 at 71 Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6QA now Hugo Boss. The unveiling is part of this year’s Heritage Open Days.

The blue plaque reads:

The Duchess of York

(1988-2000)

This building was once the heart of Leeds music scene.

John Keenan helped transform “The Duchess” public house into a vibrant incubator venue for new artists including PJ Harvey, Oasis, Radiohead and Coldplay.

Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain slept upstairs on a sofa after their gig on 25 October 1989.

The energy of legendary music promoter, John Keenan, transformed this city centre pub into becoming a thriving stalwart of the regions’ music scene during the 80s and 90s. A long-standing campaign for a blue plaque as finally come to fruition, after Leeds Civic Trust, who are the city’s custodians of the blue plaques scheme approved a nomination. Amanda Burns, one of the campaign leaders said, following the announcement;

“Commemorating the remarkable contribution to Leeds’ music scene with this Blue Plaque for The Duchess is a chance to also celebrate our city’s creative cultures. Promoter, John Keenan, not only brought notable figures from the wider music industry to the city, he provided a platform for local/unknown talent to be nurtured and careers were built from these opportunities, locally and on the world stage. After a very long campaign, I’m absolutely thrilled (and relieved) at our successful application. I would like to thank everyone who has supported this. Thanks, too, to Leeds Civic Trust for having the vision to acknowledge Leeds’ music and cultural heritage. I hope this is just the beginning of the story for the recognition of grass-roots venues and their positive impact on communities.“

Dr Brett Lashua, co-editor of Popular Music in Leeds: Histories, Heritage, People, Place(Routledge) explained:

“The Duchess of York became Leeds’ most important grass-roots concert venue where emerging bands and artists performed on their way to becoming commercially or culturally successful. The iconic list includes Oasis, The Verve, Radiohead, Blur, Coldplay, PJ Harvey, Muse, Bush, Placebo, Green Day, The Cranberries, Pulp and, most notoriously, Nirvana. Nirvana played on 25th October 1989, two years before the release of their multi-platinum selling album ‘Nevermind’ in 1991.”

Also co-editor of Popular Music in Leeds: Histories, Heritage, People, Place (Routledge) Dr Paul Thompson, added:

“Our research showed that The Duchess of York was an important site in the history of Leeds’ music heritage, and it became an iconic part of the fabric of Leeds’ music scene in the 1980s and 1990s. It played a role in the histories of numerous bands and artists who are now commercially and culturally successful worldwide and a Blue Plaque helps to highlight its importance for future generations.”

Trust Director, Martin Hamilton said;

“The city has an incredible music legacy, which the Trust is keen to celebrate. In 2011 we were proud to unveil a blue plaque for jazz band leader, Ivy Benson, as well as a Rainbow Plaque for composer Angela Morley. The Duchess celebrates the places and spaces that grassroots bands and musicians so desperately need and which enhance our culture so richly. The campaign to recognise The Duchess with a blue plaque is one we look forward to undertaking. The Duchess nurtured bands that became nationally and internationally famous – including some that were locally based. It is a perfect candidate for a Blue Plaque.”

The Duchess history

The Duchess opened in 1985, with a capacity of 250 people, The Duchess of York (The Duchess) became Leeds’ most important grass-roots music venue where emerging bands and artists performed on their way to becoming commercially or culturally successful. The iconic list includes Oasis, The Verve, Radiohead, Blur, Coldplay, PJ Harvey, Muse, Bush, Placebo, Green Day and Pulp.

Situated at 71 Vicar Lane, it was formerly the site of the Robin Hood pub before being replaced by the Marquee. However, with the threat of a lawsuit from the Marquee of London this venue became known as “the pub with no name” for most of 1986 before settling on The Duchess of York with John Keenan as owner transforming it into a music venue. The venue was at its height between 1988 to late1990’s. Tim Hornsby, of Fibbers of York, took over the lease in late 1994 putting Miranda McMullen an experienced band manager as the venue manager. 

The venue adhered strictly to its pub opening hours with bands performing at 7:30pm and headliners from 10pm. Bands played almost every night with The Duchess offering variety, regularity and quality of performers as well as a venue for bands to learn their trade. 

The final gig at the Duchess of York was Chumbawumba, a band who had played the venue multiple times before the venue closed in March 2000. 

Oasis performed at the Duchess of York, with reportedly 2 paying customers in 1993, Bonehead said. “Just two years after playing the Duchess we walked out in front of 250,000 people at Knebworth,” he says, “but those little venues with people are right in your face are where you learn your craft. If you can do it there, you can do it anywhere.” 

Nirvana played October 1988 with Kurt Cobain reputedly spending the night on the sofa upstairs. 

“I’m really saddened that the Duchess is closing, because we couldn’t get gigs anywhere else when we started out. We actually got signed by playing at the Duchess because it was one of the few venues where record companies would be prepared to come and see you.” (Embrace singer Danny McNamara — Simpson 2000) 

“The Green Day gig was so full kids were trying to climb through the skylights at the front to get in….I even think one got stuck.” (Miranda McMullen, Band Manager) 

In 2021 the Duchess was recreated as part of an art installation as part of the Compass festival. The pop up was based in Kirkgate Market and had been reimagined by artists Katie Etheridge and Simon Persighetti. 

A full list of past performers can be found here. 

The Duchess of York public house site is now occupied by Hugo Boss forming part of the Victoria quarter shopping area of Leeds. 

The Duchess remains a symbol of Leeds’ rich musical heritage and a reminder of the power of music for the community with even a Facebook fan page to its name. 

Leeds Civic Trust

Leeds Civic Trust is a charity established in 1965 that promotes the improvements of Leeds in the spheres of planning, architecture, heritage, and city amenities.  It is responsible for the “Blue Plaque” scheme in the city. Leeds Civic Trust is proud of our city and takes inspiration from its achievements. We celebrate and promote the best of Leeds and its people. The historic Blue Plaques scheme in Leeds celebrates people, places, events and buildings that have made an important contribution to the city.