This venue is a welcome addition to the Leeds music scene. The acts playing here would have usually played at The Uni Refectory which was never really any good for gigs.
My first venture to the Academy was to see Terrorvision. First impression were good. Nice decor. The support band was on when we arrived and the PA sounded good. All as you would expect for the amount they've spent on opening the place (rumoured to be about 5 million). Toilet facilities were good. No issues there.
Be warned, the bar is expensive, around £3.25 for a pint, so make sure you have a few in the Cuthbert Broadrick on Millenium Square or at Bourbon Bar next to venue before you go in.
There is one problem with this new venue, and it's quite a big one. You can't get pass outs. So if you want a smoke during the night you are just gonna have to go into a toilet cubicle and hope no alarms go off! Why are they doing this, who knows? But it's obviously going to put a lot of smokers off going there or make them come into gigs a lot later on in the evening which means they'll be drinking more elsewhere and the Academy lose out on bar takings.

For cheap drinks before the gig call in at Cuthbert Broadrick (Wetherspoons/ Llloyds Bar) on Millenium Square.
Bourbon Bar next to Academy also has some good drinks offers on for students.
If you're a smoker be warned that there are no pass outs at the Academy. If you go out, you stay out unless you pay in again.