Things to do and Special Offers in Leicester/shire

[Trumpet]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

Leicester Events  · 

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Balloons & Tunes UK  · 7 February at 07:34  · 

Prepare for an Unforgettable Festival Experience at Balloons and Tunes UK!

Get ready to be amazed as Balloons and Tunes UK, the ultimate festival of hot air balloons, music, and thrilling entertainment, is coming to Leicester!

This must-see event promises to captivate audiences of all ages with an incredible lineup of attractions and activities. From the breathtaking sight of hot air balloons gracefully floating through the sky to the heart-pounding excitement of monster truck shows and stunt performances, Balloons and Tunes UK is set to deliver an unforgettable experience.

"We are thrilled to bring the magic of Balloons and Tunes UK to 10 amazing venues" said the festival's lead organizer. "This is more than just a hot air balloon festival - it's a celebration of community, entertainment, and the wonder of the great outdoors. We can't wait to share this incredible event with our local community."

In addition to the mesmerizing hot air balloon displays, festival-goers can look forward to an array of thrilling attractions, including:

• Monster Truck Shows

• Stunt Performances

• Live Music and Entertainment

• Delicious Food and Beverage Vendors

• Fireworks Displays (at select events)

• And much more!

To find out the exact lineup of activities and events at the Balloons and Tunes UK festival in Leicester please visit our main Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/share/15sPWeMmj5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

There, you'll discover the unique offerings and schedules for each of our events across the region.

Don't miss your chance to be a part of this extraordinary festival. Mark your calendars and join us for an unforgettable day filled with awe-inspiring sights, endless entertainment, and unforgettable memories.

For more information and to stay up-to-date on the latest news and updates, follow Balloons and Tunes UK on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/share/15sPWeMmj5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

About Balloons and Tunes UK:

Balloons and Tunes UK is a premier festival that celebrates the beauty of hot air balloons, the thrill of live entertainment, and the joy of community. With events taking place across the region, Balloons and Tunes UK is dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences for people of all ages.

Went to this in Hereford last year. Pissed it down so the balloons were cancelled and the monster truck show was a single monster truck that spent 5 minutes driving around a field, attempting to crush an Old Ford Focus.

 

[Parafox]

8 hours ago, Trumpet said:

Went to this in Hereford last year. Pissed it down so the balloons were cancelled and the monster truck show was a single monster truck that spent 5 minutes driving around a field, attempting to crush an Old Ford Focus.

 

 

I had an old Focus nicked off my drive. I thought it had been stolen to order.

 

Seems I was correct.

[davieG]

Rival to Leicester's Space Centre.

 

Where To Go With Kids - Days out & Travel  · 

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A NEW Attraction is now open in the Midlands - the Sherwood Observatory and Planetarium. With a cost of nearly £7 million, this new state-of-the-art facility will be great for all ages.

You will be able to learn about the wonders of the cosmos, experience the scale of the universe in their wrap-around planetarium shows, and stargaze through the observatory telescopes.

Find out more - https://sherwood-observatory.org.uk/

[Parafox]

28 minutes ago, davieG said:

Rival to Leicester's Space Centre.

 

Where To Go With Kids - Days out & Travel  · 

Follow

 

A NEW Attraction is now open in the Midlands - the Sherwood Observatory and Planetarium. With a cost of nearly £7 million, this new state-of-the-art facility will be great for all ages.

You will be able to learn about the wonders of the cosmos, experience the scale of the universe in their wrap-around planetarium shows, and stargaze through the observatory telescopes.

Find out more - https://sherwood-observatory.org.uk/

 

It's in Nottinghamshire.

 

**** 'em.

[davieG]

[davieG]

[davieG]

Leicester Museums & Galleries is at Abbey Pumping Station.

 Leicester  · 

A week today you can get an exclusive tour of the mighty Beam engines with Steam with the Team Guided Tours 2025!

See the engine working at every level with guided tours from the team who maintain these feats of Victorian engineering.

Tickets are selling fast so book via the link below to avoid disappointment.

https://www.leicestermuseums.org/event-details/...

[Tommy G]

If anyone has younger kids we went to a Thomas the tank exhibition in Statford yesterday, they do it twice a year. Good fun if your kids are into Thomas. It’s Tamworth way but still worth a mention. 

[davieG]

Leicester City in the Community   · 

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Leicester City Green Swap Shop to take place on Saturday!

In support of Green Football’s Great Save campaign, Leicester City in the Community are hosting a Swap Shop in Highcross Shopping Centre on Saturday March 29th. The event, where members of the public can bring old clothing, including sportswear, and swap it for an item of more use, will run from 10am until 5pm. You can find us opposite Footlocker, on the ground floor of Highcross where the entrance to Debenhams used to be, on Saturday 29th March

Bring your old kit or just come and have a browse, we’ll be around all day

Clothes can also be donated prior to the event at drop-off points at Highcross’ Customer Service Desk, and both Foxes Fanstores

#LCFC #Highcross #ClothesDonation

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/new-roller-skating-rink-bowling-10097600?int_source=nba

 

New roller skating rink and bowling alley opening in Leicester
The venue will offer roller skating, bowling and arcade games

What's On
BySamuel KalantzisReporter
17:31, 10 APR 2025

A new roller skating rink is opening in Leicester tomorrow (Friday, April 11). SpinPin, in Navigation Street, near Burleys Flyover, is the idea of city man Mohammed Khan.

He said that his initial idea was for a roller skating rink, but over time he had decided to include six bowling lanes and arcade machines, which he said would be available from next month. The 44-year-old, of Evington Road, said it took him almost 15 years to find the right venue.

He said: "Initially I thought let me open a roller skate centre as the closest one is in Derby and once I saw that there was potential to create one I took the initiative." Mohammed added: "When I walked into this building I saw the floor was perfect but the cost was too much to cover just from the rolling rink, so I decided to put in six bowling lanes, which will be open for May half term. We just need to install the machines."

The 20,000 sq ft venue is located on the first floor of Ramdooth House. During the grand opening, visitors will be able to take part in free skating sessions, said Mohammed. He added that by half term, which runs from Monday, May 26, until Friday, May 30, there will be about 20 arcade machines available and a prize stall for people to exchange their winning tickets.

Mohammed said the aim was entice people of all ages to come to the venue, instead of limiting it to roller skaters. When asked why he wanted to open such a venue in the city, he said: "I love Leicester. when I go to another city and see something we don’t have here, I always think how could I bring this back to Leicester."

The grand opening's free skating sessions tomorrow take place between 5pm-6.30pm and again from 7pm-8.30pm. People interested in attending the free opening event tomorrow must go on the company's website and register.

Slots for the roller skating rink will normally cost £9.95 for an hour, plus £3 to hire roller skates if visitors do not bring their own.

[Stadt]

We went from having no bowling in the city centre to having East street lanes, Lane7, Roxy ballroom and now this. I can't see them all lasting, Lane7 in particular, huge unit and cans in there are £6.

[davieG]

44 minutes ago, Stadt said:

We went from having no bowling in the city centre to having East street lanes, Lane7, Roxy ballroom and now this. I can't see them all lasting, Lane7 in particular, huge unit and cans in there are £6.

We used to have the largest single floor bowling alley in GB, 36 lanes at the back of Lee Circle and it was always packed out and where you could find somewhere to go after the pubs all officially shut at 11pm. Then they started charging for entry and that seemed to kill it off.

 

You'd go there for a late coffee and snack not really intended to play but ended up playing anyway.

 

At the front was the largest supermarket, Tesco outside London.

 

Both sadly gone along with the Granby Halls, roller skating, exhibitions, top line pop acts, top line boxing.

 

Town Centre swimming pool although they messed up with that making it imperial not metric so no good for official events.

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/free-activities-families-leicester-over-10096960

 

Free activities for families in Leicester over Easter
Fire-breathing dragons, stilt-walking jesters, magical wizards and a trio of clumsy knights will be on hand to entertain visitors

ByTess RushinLocal Democracy Reporter
14:30, 12 APR 2025

Free activities for families are taking place in Leicester over the Easter holidays. Fire-breathing dragons, stilt-walking jesters, magical wizards, Roman theatre and a trio of clumsy knights will all be taking part in the festivities.

Everyone is invited to the Old Town Festival, taking place in Jubilee Square and the Old Town area of the city centre on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27. From Easter Monday, April 21, until Friday, April 25, visual artist Olivier Grossetête will be creating an enormous cardboard reconstruction of the entrance to Leicester’s Roman forum for the festival.

A series of free drop-in workshops will be held for children aged 9+ and their families at Highcross, running from 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm each day. Families can join Olivier Grossetête in Jubilee Square on the Saturday to help tape the cardboard sections together, and returning on Sunday, April 27, to take part in the artwork’s "dramatic dismantling".

 

Other activities across Jubilee Square, Cathedral Gardens and the Guildhall include an urban mosaic workshop at the Guildhall, a 'living history' Roman camp, hands-on archaeology and Roman theatre in Jubilee Square, and an artisan craft market, themed storytelling aboard the children’s bookbus, craft activities and Morris dancing, along with face-painting and a dress-up booth to turn young festival-goers into gallant knights, fearsome dragons and magical maidens, all taking place at Cathedral Gardens.

A fire-breathing dragon will also be roaming the cathedral's gardens, alongside stilt-walking jesters, magical wizards and a trio of clumsy knights taking on daring quests. At Jubilee Square, you can take part in Roman warrior training, where you can learn to march like a legionnaire, wield a sword like a true centurion, or raise a shield to victory.

The Haymarket shopping centre will also be hosting a free fun day on Thursday, April 24, with a dragon on the loose, mosaic and toga making, and fun arts and craft activities.

Leicester City Council's assistant city mayor for leisure and culture Councillor Vi Dempster said: “The Old Town Festival is a new event for 2025, bringing together our traditional St George’s Day celebrations and Leicester’s rich 2,000-year history and Roman heritage. Ahead of the festival on the 26th and 27th April, we’re really pleased to be offering these free workshops.

"They’re a great chance for families who are out and about in Leicester over the Easter holidays to do something free and creative together, as well as learning more about the city’s fascinating Roman history.”

Michelle Menezes, centre director at Highcross Leicester, said: “We’re delighted to be playing host to the Old Town Festival workshops here at Highcross. Help us bring history to life as we aim to rebuild a full-scale Roman monument - right in the heart of Leicester - across a series of free workshops, each led by Olivier Grossetête, who is known for his impressive cardboard constructions. We’ll travel back in time together to relive what life was like in the shadow of a Roman forum.”

Support for the Old Town festival has come from the council’s partners BID Leicester, Global Streets, Arts Council England, Highcross Leicester, Haymarket Shopping Centre and Hidden Histories.

Simon Jenner, from BID Leicester, said: "The Old Town Festival is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Leicester’s rich history while bringing exciting, free experiences to the city centre. Events like this create a real buzz, attracting visitors and benefiting local businesses."

You can find out more by going to the visit Leicester website and searching for "Old Town Festival". Festival brochures are available from the Visit Leicester information centre, within the KRIII Visitor Centre at 4A St Martins, Leicester.

[Parafox]

On 11/04/2025 at 10:35, davieG said:

We used to have the largest single floor bowling alley in GB, 36 lanes at the back of Lee Circle and it was always packed out and where you could find somewhere to go after the pubs all officially shut at 11pm. Then they started charging for entry and that seemed to kill it off.

 

You'd go there for a late coffee and snack not really intended to play but ended up playing anyway.

 

At the front was the largest supermarket, Tesco outside London.

 

Both sadly gone along with the Granby Halls, roller skating, exhibitions, top line pop acts, top line boxing.

 

Town Centre swimming pool although they messed up with that making it imperial not metric so no good for official events.

 

Didn't the bowling alley then become a nightclub for a while? It had like a sunken dancefloor which might have been part of the previous bowling lanes.

 

I seem to remember filling in as DJ for a couple of nights but that was about 1980, so my memory might be false.  

 

Was it called Fusion?

Edited 14 April by Parafox

[davieG]

3 hours ago, Parafox said:

 

Didn't the bowling alley then become a nightclub for a while? It had like a sunken dancefloor which might have been part of the previous bowling lanes.

 

I seem to remember filling in as DJ for a couple of nights but that was about 1980, so my memory might be false.  

 

Was it called Fusion?

Yeah it did. Don’t know the name as I never went to it. 

[stretch1965]

4 hours ago, Parafox said:

 

Didn't the bowling alley then become a nightclub for a while? It had like a sunken dancefloor which might have been part of the previous bowling lanes.

 

I seem to remember filling in as DJ for a couple of nights but that was about 1980, so my memory might be false.  

 

Was it called Fusion?

Yes Para it was Fusion then became coasters, spent many a night at both. Rocky Campbell ran the door and I went school with one of his kids. I used to give it the big un and  tell my workmates it's alright lads I know the doorman