The University of Leicester (UoL) has confirmed it will not be renewing its partnership with Academy Music Group (AMG), meaning the O2 Academy venue on campus will change hands when the current agreement expires in December 2026.
The venue, located within the Percy Gee Building, has been a fixture of student life for decades, hosting weekly club nights including LetsDisko. UoL says it plans to invest in a full redevelopment of the space, with a new operator expected to take over a refurbished nightclub facility in 2027.
Work on the Percy Gee Building is scheduled to begin in January 2027 and be completed by the end of the year. According to UoL, the redevelopment will include a refurbished nightclub, expanded practice spaces for student societies, new social and faith spaces, a refreshed Square area, and additional storage for student society equipment.
A University of Leicester spokesperson said the aim is to make Students’ Union spaces “more accessible to students throughout the week, rather than primarily for Wednesday night events,” noting that much of the current O2 area is often reserved for public and external events and is unavailable to students during the day.
At this stage, UoL says no final decisions have been made on the detailed plans, and it intends to engage with students and student representatives over the coming months.
News of the contract ending has prompted a student campaign, spearheaded by Trans and Non-Binary Officer-elect Appy Simpkin alongside LSWAG and the UoL Green Party. The group launched a petition to “save the O2 on campus,” with organisers warning against the possibility of the space being knocked down and rebuilt as something unrelated to nightlife.
Simpkin told Ripple that while she supports UoL reclaiming control of the building, her concern lies with the risk of closure. “Most importantly, this space is used to host LetsDisko which is attended by 8,000 students a year,” she said. “It is a cornerstone of the University’s culture; it is convenient to attend, close to university-managed accommodation, and very safe thanks to campus security.”
Simpkin added that the venue holds personal significance for many students: “This space is important to me personally because it is where many of my friendships have been able to blossom, and it allowed me to connect with international students from all over the world.”
She also raised concerns about students being pushed toward city centre venues should the on-campus option disappear, describing those alternatives as “more dangerous and expensive.”
The Students’ Union has confirmed it has no direct control over the venue, which is owned by the University and currently operated by AMG through a management agreement with Leicester Food and Drink, a University subsidiary.
In a statement, the SU said: “A fit-for-purpose and thriving on-campus nightclub is essential to maintain positive student experience, safety, security and student jobs,” adding that it would “continue advocating for it.”