Guest Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 It's my home, but there are better places out there.
Steven Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 As an outsider it looks like so many other cities you might find anywhere in Western Europe. Yes the City Centre is uninspired and has had too much Student accommodation built in it but that could apply to places all over the UK. It has some history to it, Romans, Civil War, War of the Roses and artefacts left over from other ages. It has shops, a market and good links to other destinations. All in all could be better, could be worse, it just is.
Katy Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 I haven't lived in Leicester for over 5 years but I still enjoy coming back to it because most of my friends are here and of course Leicester City and Fosse City. It has changed quite a lot in those 5 years though with the New Shires and the redevelopment of Gallowtree Gate. I'll always be proud of it because that's where I'm from.
Ultra Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Drab, Dull, Dump, with anything that has any historical interest being pulled down, piss poor sporting facilities. Like the Clock Tower? The New Walk Museum? The Guildhall? The Wygston's House? The Town Hall? The Jewry Wall? The Thomas Cook statue? The Cathedral? The War Memorial? The Space Centre? Plus the Way, a venue which has already hosted England and Brazil games (which Filbo would NEVER have done), plus, in three years' time, the biggest purpose-built club rugby venue in Europe. You've obviously been reading the Mercury too long. That publication likes to do Snottingham's job for it. That doesn't mean we should follow suit.
Ultra Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 that certainly seems to be the case, but sadly it's not improving nearly as well or as rapidly as many other cities, and also at the expense of some real landmarks...and too many missed opportunities.unfortunately for leicester the damage is done, and the council neither have the bottle or the money to do anything ahead of it's time, even the modern stuff looks dated. as the saying goes - you can't polish a turd. But it would seem you can post them on websites... Don't hurry back from Norway - we're doing just fine without you.
davieG Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 Like the Clock Tower? Overlooked by the monstrosity that is the HaymarketThe New Walk Museum? Had the heart ripped out of it when they removed the staircase The Guildhall? The Wygston's House? No longer open to the public The Town Hall? The Jewry Wall? The Thomas Cook statue? - Thomas Cook Hotel - need I say more The Cathedral? - Must be the most insignificant Cathedral in England, besides I'm not religious The War Memorial? - The Space Centre? Plus the Way, a venue which has already hosted England and Brazil games (which Filbo would NEVER have done), plus, in three years' time, the biggest purpose-built club rugby venue in Europe. Legoland type copy, totally unispiring You've obviously been reading the Mercury too long. That publication likes to do Snottingham's job for it. That doesn't mean we should follow suit. Places ripped out - Humberstone Gate / Haymarket -replaced by the ugly Haymarket Centre Before After Lewis's - the Tower's only there because of the public outcry. Marshall & Snelgrove and all the other attractive shops in Gallowtree Gate The Market Square - many of the old building pulled down, again those that remained are there because of public protest Granby Halls/St Margarets Baths - A centrally located swimming pool (please don't argue that the Braunstone one is a suitable replacement City centre Theatres - Replaced by the Haymarket itself replaced by Curve appalling quality for the £61 million wasted on it. Saffron Lane Velodrome The Speedway Stadium Filbert St went because of the intransigence of the Council The Castle - locked away for the eyes of the council and privaledge people The Silver Arcade £19 million wasted on those awful, dull, drab, dirty difficult to clean grey granite slabs that now swamp the City Centre Soon to go the Bowstring Bridge & the Pump and Tap along with everything else in the way of DeMontfort University Putting a bus lane through Applegate - WTF! The list is endless
Trav Le Bleu Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 In which other city can you watch top football , rugby union, cricket, basketball teams & national hunt horse racing all within a couple of square miles. If they would just bring back the speedway except when they bulldozed granby halls and the riders had to play in loughborough....but i'd imagine the answer is nottingham, and they have an ice rink too... No rugby worth being called that in Notts - also am I right in thinking that Notts race course is flat? Oh and Oadby hosts both flat and jump races, if memory serves (it frequently doesn't) one of a few courses that do. And Ice Hockey? Defined (in my book) as "violence with occasional outbreaks of sport". Used to love it for the gigs but the city is not on the circuit now, its Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottingham all the way these days. Some of their venues are shite too. too true DMU Student Uni was a great venue and we have a great Victorian music hall which was a superb venue in it's day and what acts play there? Simply Red, Human League, basically any one bland and/or past it. It's the council to blame rather than the city itself. Has been ever since I can remember. Lastly, why has no one mentioned one of my favourite Leicester landmarks... the Peacock Cafe!? I love Leicester and find it hard to be away for long.
Zingari Posted 28 November 2008 Posted 28 November 2008 everyone calls you by your first name , well, they do if your name's meduck
Zingari Posted 29 November 2008 Posted 29 November 2008 lots of little known interesting stuff about leicester http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Leicester
Guest Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 Having spent a fortune on revamping the city centre, and fitting new paving slabs in down Gallowtree Gate, I couldn't believe how disgustingly untidy the area is, and the dirt, muck and grime on those expensive stones made me feel sad. I appreciate that the mess only gets there because of the crappy attitude of the people who use the city centre, and who feel the need to throw their litter onto the streets, piss in doorways, or spill food and drink all over the place, but to then just allow the mess to stay there seems to defeat the whole purpose of replacing the old paving. With nobody cleaning the streets, or enforcing the rules on littering, I would have thought that the money spent could have been used more productively elsewhere.
Dr The Singh Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 Leicester as a whole isn't a bad city, it's quite a ok city to live in......................it's ethnic community live in peace with each other, racial tensions are at a very low. Although some say the community is segregated but where I live it seems to be rather mixed. I feel safe in Leicester and for me the majority of amenities are on my door step, but what makes me stay in leicester is my family, my brothers\sisters, parents etc are in Leicester. In comparison with other cities, Leicester is probably average, the city centre isn't great, with quite average restaurants\pubs, the schools in the area I live are poor, there are very few youth clubs and youth facilities. Leicester has no real industry anymore, and the job market is very limited!!
MC Prussian Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 I've only been to Leicester a few times over the past few years and I've thoroughly enjoyed walking in the streets and I must say they've done a nice job with the new shopping centre, as well as the new pavement. Unfortunately, it only covers a certain part of the centre and I miss more plants/trees. There's still a few ugly buildings stemming from the 60ies/70ies concrete era, like that one Haymarket shopping centre next to the Clock Tower (which brings back bad memories connected to the use of Glass Wool - yuck!). However, public transport in and around Leicester is an embarrassing thing. Bad connections, no late-night buses, (to some extent) old vehicles and horribly high ticket prices. If there's an incentive to buy a car and pollute the environment even more, than public transport in Leicester certainly is. St. Margaret's could also use a revamp. I mean, Leicester's in such a wonderful location in the middle of the country, a gateway to all directions, the heart of England (geographically you're very close) and should use this fact more to its own advantage in order to promote the city AND the county.
leicesterseddon Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 I have never lived in Leicester, But obviously spend a lot of my time in the city.I love it in all honesty, I remember the buzz I got the first time I went to Leicester, The first game, That feeling. I love the place, Obviously living there is a different story but I can be sure it is a hell of a lot better than Kettering. You seen what they've done in Market Square...that...thing. I mean it's supposed to be an outdoor stage, but last time I saw it, it was just functioning as a nice windbreaker for the lads beneath it drinking white lightening.
lou Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 Im not blind to its faults and it does have its share of them but its my place of birth and Im proud of it and love the cultural diversity of the place. Most people get on well, apart from the odd moron. My old man wants us to relocate back to York in a few years and I'll fight tooth and nail to stay in Leicester Wish we would have a speedway/velodrome again and Ice Hockey is a sport and a damn good one but I hate having to go to Cov to watch it!
Poakey Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 Im not blind to its faults and it does have its share of them but its my place of birth and Im proud of it and love the cultural diversity of the place. Most people get on well, apart from the odd moron. My old man wants us to relocate back to York in a few years and I'll fight tooth and nail to stay in Leicester Wish we would have a speedway/velodrome again and Ice Hockey is a sport and a damn good one but I hate having to go to Cov to watch it! We are getting Speedway back. I like Leicester,has most things apart from a good concert venue.Theres alot of shit holes in England and Leicester isnt one of them.
OriginalRobboFOX Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 Parts of the city centre are becoming deserted fast.... - St Martins Square has a record number of empty shops since it was first opened - Shops along Charles Street are suffering too, they're either unoccupied or they're 2nd hand mobile phone shops or pound-style shops - St Georges tower stands empty after its 'big refurb' - Pubs are closing down at a rapid rate - Even shops in the highcross stand empty - Top end of Charles Street has no passing trade anymore (for us estate agents, incidentally it seems we're being cut off from the rest of the centre) - High Street beyond the highcross is also becoming a ghost town I'm sure its the same for most cities in the current economical climate but town planners need to think fast before all we have is the Highcross....
lou Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 Parts of the city centre are becoming deserted fast.... - St Martins Square has a record number of empty shops since it was first opened - Shops along Charles Street are suffering too, they're either unoccupied or they're 2nd hand mobile phone shops or pound-style shops - St Georges tower stands empty after its 'big refurb' - Pubs are closing down at a rapid rate - Even shops in the highcross stand empty - Top end of Charles Street has no passing trade anymore (for us estate agents, incidentally it seems we're being cut off from the rest of the centre) - High Street beyond the highcross is also becoming a ghost town I'm sure its the same for most cities in the current economical climate but town planners need to think fast before all we have is the Highcross.... They have plans in motion dont worry......... we'll have the Highcross and DMU will occupy the rest of the City!
Guest Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 I've only been to Leicester a few times over the past few years and I've thoroughly enjoyed walking in the streets and I must say they've done a nice job with the new shopping centre, as well as the new pavement. That's the whole point. They spend a fortune doing it up only for it to look like it's never been cleaned! Wish we would have a speedway/velodrome again and Ice Hockey is a sport and a damn good one but I hate having to go to Cov to watch it! The speedway is returning, they're "regenerating" the area at the back of the Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre for it. Apparently it will be completed for next year, and the Lions will be joining the Premier league, I think it is.
Pete_foxes Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 I feel Leicester is somewhat lacking in terms of aesthetics, perhaps comparable to errr... Vanessa Felts.. Fun but not great to look at. The main thing the city has going for it in my opinion is how multicultural it is. It is also true in earlier posts it is getting better, e.g. the improvements to the city centre, but probably still not on a level with other cities in the UK. I mean I've lived in Leeds (scum I know) now for the last two years and it is alot better than leicester, having said all that, Leicester as a city will always have a place in my heart, I still love it and like to return to it on occasions to see family and watch the city!
MikeyT Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 Drab, Dull, Dump, with anything that has any historical interest being pulled down, piss poor sporting facilities.I went and had a look inside Curve the other day and it's like being down the Walkers with painted breeze block walls and badly finished painted concrete floors - where the hell did the £61 million go. Spot on. Totally agree.
Budweiser Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 It's not bad, just meh. The abuse you get for being from Leicester is very annoying. "fooking paki's, it's like you live in India" etc. That's all we are ever known as these days. We do have way too many foreigners/immigrants here though. *WAITS FOR ABUSE*
Uncle Albert Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 Can't wait till I'm old enough to move away and when I say move away I mean move out of the UK completely. Leicester is awful, with idiots in it and a crap town centre. The Highcross is awful, was built upto be something special but its nowhere as good as the Bullring or that one in Sheffield. I hate going into Leicester to go shopping or to have a walkabout, all you see is a gang of people standing outside Mcdonalds or Footlocker. The shops are poor, House of Fraser was the shop everyone went to a few years ago and now that's on it's last legs. Not done a proper night out in Leicester and that doesnt look to be happening anytime soon, Loughborough all the way.
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 It's alright, has it's ups and downs, but going to places like Liverpool and Birmingham does make me look forward to moving away in a few years.
Joe. Posted 17 August 2009 Posted 17 August 2009 Don't like it personally. The town centre is full of pond-life everywhere you look. Can't see myself living here in the future anyway.
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