Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[Dr The Singh]

Just now, Parafox said:

 

What is you local, I need to avoid it on my pub crawl of Britain.

Blue Oyster Bar

[SemperEadem]

10 hours ago, Paninistickers said:

I'm sure it's out there, but who the fck owns all the city centre real estate? Not just here, but any old town or city centre? 

 

Must be some kind of lizard thing. Duke of Devonshire/Marlborough/Duchy of Cornwall thing. 

 

I'd love to nationalise these fcking properties and have some kind of a municipal, co-operative run centre 

 

Edit; answering my own question, ING Bank owns the Haymarket. So, yep, Dutch Heineken family lizards. 

 

Would be interesting to see who owns the buildings on the woeful gallowtree gate. Google search starts now

Duke’s of Devonshire and Norfolk both own outrageous amounts of property and land in Sheffield.

[Zear0]

Fosse Park is a retail shopping park not the Ponte Vecchio. I'm never sure what people expect it to be when sticking the knife in as compared to other out of city retail parks (Pride Park etc.) it's miles nicer. 

 

I'll always visit there over town as its free parking, quiet in the evening, open late, and I don't have the threat of being mugged or have to avoid the walking dead who populate the city centre. 

[orangecity23]

19 hours ago, Paninistickers said:

I'm sure it's out there, but who the fck owns all the city centre real estate? Not just here, but any old town or city centre? 

 

Must be some kind of lizard thing. Duke of Devonshire/Marlborough/Duchy of Cornwall thing. 

 

I'd love to nationalise these fcking properties and have some kind of a municipal, co-operative run centre 

 

Edit; answering my own question, ING Bank owns the Haymarket. So, yep, Dutch Heineken family lizards. 

 

Would be interesting to see who owns the buildings on the woeful gallowtree gate. Google search starts now

I thought the council had bought the Haymarket, it was in the news a couple of years ago. Had a Google myself, and it brings up both ING and the council, so no idea what the current state is.

[davieG]

1 hour ago, orangecity23 said:

I thought the council had bought the Haymarket, it was in the news a couple of years ago. Had a Google myself, and it brings up both ING and the council, so no idea what the current state is.

LCC own the Theatre lease which still has decades to go.

[Paninistickers]

2 hours ago, orangecity23 said:

I thought the council had bought the Haymarket, it was in the news a couple of years ago. Had a Google myself, and it brings up both ING and the council, so no idea what the current state is.

It rings a bell with me too that the council bought it. But yup, ING is stated. 

 

Marks and Sparks actually own the gallowtree gate building for them. As did Fenwick's,  owning their gaff. Comes to something that they still were failing businesses with no rent to pay. 

 

I dunno what a radical rethink is, but it needs one. Leicester isn't unique. It's probably just the biggest of the worst of retail urban calamities in the UK. 

 

There's so many things that conspire against the city; the appalling train connections meaning that punters from nearby Northampton, Rugby, Cov and even Coalville FFS can't get here for a shop or evening out. 

 

The crimes of that town planner's inner ring road. 

 

The rapid immigration in the 70s and the turbo charging since Brexit. Parts of it has helped but the speed of it and cultural alienation (ie boozing and shopping)  of City centre traditions has fcked the city centre over big time

 

 

 

I'm convinced the City centre could find a niche, you'd think someone  somewhere with imagination would fancy it as  a social experiment. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[davieG]

AS I said above

 

Leicester City Council purchased a 99-year lease of the theatre in 1974. Between 1974 and 2007 the theatre was operated by The Leicester Theatre Trust. The trust vacated the theatre in 2007 when it moved to the newly built Curve Theatre, Leicester in Leicester's Cultural Quarter.

 

THe latest attempt to save/use it

 

Leicester Haymarket Theatre gets new lease of life from 'Europe's biggest' music and dance school
There are still hopes the theatre will reopen to the public at some stage

ENTERPRISE
ByTom PegdenLeicester Mercury business editor
10:13, 30 AUG 2023

A music and dance school offering degree level courses has signed a one year lease to use Leicester Haymarket Theatre.

Addict Dance Academy (ADA) – described as one of the biggest performing arts colleges in Europe – has struck a deal with Leicester City Council to use the 1970s theatre, which sits in a prime location in the city centre.

The theatre went bust during Covid owing more than £900,000 to ticketholders, suppliers and other businesses – including almost £285,000 to Haymarket Consortium, the group which relaunched it two years previously.

Prior to that the building had been empty after it was superseded by Curve Theatre on the other side of town.

The Leicester-based academy will use the theatre’s auditorium, stage, studio and foyer areas for teaching from September 11 – initially for one year.

The academy will pay the city council for the costs associated with reopening the building.

Leicester Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Since the Haymarket Theatre closed during lockdown, we’ve been looking for a sustainable solution that will guarantee the future of this wonderful building.

“Using the theatre as a teaching venue for dance and musical theatre students will bring the building back into use in the short-term and could even be part of a more permanent solution, so I’m really pleased to announce our partnership with Addict Dance Academy.

“In the longer term, however, I’m determined to reopen the theatre to the public, and look forward to working with partners to create a programme that will attract new audiences and complement what’s on at Curve and De Montfort Hall.

“While that will require some further modest investment, to allow us to replace outdated equipment and carry out further upgrades, we remain committed to reopening the theatre fully and making sure that the lights stay on at this iconic Leicester landmark.”

The licence with ADA will run for one year initially, and over the next 12 months both sides will decide whether a longer-term arrangement would work.

ADA was established in 2012 and operates from two sites in the city – Imperial House, in St Nicholas Circle, and Wellington Street.

Founder and principal Gareth Chown said: “We’re already one of the largest performing arts colleges in Europe, with around 600 students on our books, but demand for our courses at both further and higher education level is huge.

“Last year, for example, we had to turn down applications from more than 1,000 would-be students because we just couldn’t accommodate them.

“Having the Haymarket Theatre as our teaching base means there’s potential for us to expand our remit and work towards developing a wider range of complementary courses covering subjects such as sound, lighting, wardrobe and make-up.

“The opportunity to teach our students on one of the biggest theatre stages in the country is amazing and we can’t wait to move in on 11 September, in time for the start of the new academic term.”

Antony Flint, venue director at De Montfort Hall – which will take over the day-to-day running of the theatre – said: “The cultural ecosystem in the city is quite finely balanced so it’s important that the Haymarket Theatre works alongside other arts organisations in the city rather than competing against them.

“The mixed use model for the theatre that we hope will develop out of the partnership with ADA should help support culture in the city, while also making sure the venue is financially viable.

“Having an education company using the theatre during the daytime provides a really solid base to work on and, importantly, doesn’t prevent us from exploring further opportunities that could help ensure the Haymarket Theatre has a bright, and sustainable, future.”

[Guest Lako42]

I thought the haymarket was to become some sort of esports hub. 

[orangecity23]

Here's the story - council announced they bought the whole centre, partly to save cash on the stupid lease they had for the theatre.

 

https://news.leicester.gov.uk/news-articles/2021/november/council-purchase-of-haymarket-centre-will-generate-funding-for-services/

 

Unless ING are the "management agents" mentioned in the article? Confusing.

[fox_up_north]

They've really just been out of step with the times. I regularly go to Manchester but just avoid the big shopping areas. Cities are increasingly serving less purpose. People buy online and can't afford drink. So what do they actually do?

[davieG]

10 hours ago, Lako42 said:

I thought the haymarket was to become some sort of esports hub. 

Covid killed that off

35 minutes ago, fox_up_north said:

They've really just been out of step with the times. I regularly go to Manchester but just avoid the big shopping areas. Cities are increasingly serving less purpose. People buy online and can't afford drink. So what do they actually do?

Coffee shops

[Dr The Singh]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

Covid killed that off

Coffee shops

Turkish barbers and phone repair shops.

[Langston]

Leicester has some really nice (borderline beautiful in some cases) pockets but the way they're stitched together isn't great – to get from A to B you invariably have to go through a neglected, or depressingly empty, bit of town. I've lived in bigger cities that have felt less sprawling purely because walking around them is more pleasant.

 

As said above, a good rail link to Northampton(shire) / Bedford(shire), even a better service from Peterborough would serve us so well – there are no major cities directly South / South East of us but a lot of reasonably sized towns.

[Paninistickers]

9 hours ago, fox_up_north said:

Cities are increasingly serving less purpose

Agree. They literally have no purpose in today's society. A relic. I guess from the days people used to meet at market for trading. 

 

Be fascinating if we could get some academics in with a theory of a modern landscape and give them free reign 

[Tommy G]

On 03/05/2024 at 08:46, Zear0 said:

Fosse Park is a retail shopping park not the Ponte Vecchio. I'm never sure what people expect it to be when sticking the knife in as compared to other out of city retail parks (Pride Park etc.) it's miles nicer. 

 

I'll always visit there over town as its free parking, quiet in the evening, open late, and I don't have the threat of being mugged or have to avoid the walking dead who populate the city centre. 

Have to agree here - much better to experience Fosse Park over the city centre, which is a dump to shop. The parking in the new side of fosse park does get very busy at times 

[Guest Lako42]

Much prefer town but rarely go. 

 

Both full of absolute *****, more live laugh love brigade at fosse park though. 

[MattFox]

On 02/05/2024 at 19:43, Parafox said:

Annoying thing is, Coventry M&S stays open in what is possibly the worst city centre in the Midlands.

It’ll probably go at some point, they are getting rid of all their inner city stores or relocating to shopping centres

 

Birmingham, Liverpool etc have all downsized massively 

[MattFox]

Fosse Park being in Blaby council areareally screws the city over as you’ve got one council having a strategy that directly harms another.

 

Leicesters boundaries in general really harm the city with the vast majority of areas with a decent tax base are all in various different districts

[davieG]

On 01/05/2024 at 21:12, SemperEadem said:

Hell of a blow to the centre a big anchor tenant like that going.

New details of Fosse Park Marks and Spencer expansion plan revealed

Work is expected to finish this autumn but the first part opens this week

 

Fosse Park Marks and Spencer reveals more details on expansion plans (Image: Marks & Spencer)

 

Retail giant Marks and Spencer has today revealed new details of its plans for the expansion of its Fosse Park store. The news comes after M&S revealed last week that it was "proposing" to close its Leicester city centre store.

M&S's plan to expand its Fosse Park store was approved earlier this year by Blaby District Council. The plan had been objected to by Leicester City Council, which feared the expansion would damage trade in the city.

The company said today that work was under way at the Enderby store, and was expected to finish this autumn, with one part already completed and due to open tomorrow (Thur). It added that the scheme was its biggest single investment in a store renewal to date.

 

 

An M&S spokesperson said the transformation would include a bigger, market-style food hall, with an improved in-store bakery, dedicated flower shop, wine shop and cheese "barge", alongside Mai Sushi and hot chicken counters. Changes will also include a new, "spacious" clothing & home department, with dedicated Per Una, Autograph and Jaegar sections.

The new womenswear section is due to launch tomorrow, Thursday, May 9, and will be shortly followed by the launch of a new beauty department in June, the retailer added. The store will also have a "new and improved" M&S café, with indoor and outdoor seating, which will have the company's viral Magic Coffee on its menu.

 

The retailer said the investment in the Fosse Park store would see its footprint extended by 11,500 sq ft to just over 100,000 sq ft, which is an increase of just over the size of six, 10-pin bowling lanes lying side by side overall. The store will remain open throughout, with different departments transformed gradually, it added.

Andy Frith, manager of the store at Fosse Park, said: “We want to deliver a brilliant shopping experience for our customers and the very best of M&S. This investment – M&S’ biggest single renewal investment to date – will mean we can create a brand defining store here in Leicestershire. The store team and I are incredibly excited about the transformation and we can’t wait to show customers the new womenswear department this week and all the changes we have planned between now and autumn!”

Councillor Ben Taylor, Blaby District Council portfolio holder for planning, said: “It’s brilliant to see a brand such as M&S investing in the district. The expansion plans for the Fosse Park store were small in planning terms, relating mainly to external changes, but the commitment of M&S to developing such a flagship store demonstrates how Blaby district is a draw for major retailers and shoppers.”

[Wymsey]

It's big enough as it is, really.

[Trav Le Bleu]

15 minutes ago, Wymsey said:

It's big enough as it is, really.

That's what she said.

[Parafox]

33 minutes ago, davieG said:

New details of Fosse Park Marks and Spencer expansion plan revealed

Work is expected to finish this autumn but the first part opens this week

 

Fosse Park Marks and Spencer reveals more details on expansion plans (Image: Marks & Spencer)

 

Retail giant Marks and Spencer has today revealed new details of its plans for the expansion of its Fosse Park store. The news comes after M&S revealed last week that it was "proposing" to close its Leicester city centre store.

M&S's plan to expand its Fosse Park store was approved earlier this year by Blaby District Council. The plan had been objected to by Leicester City Council, which feared the expansion would damage trade in the city.

The company said today that work was under way at the Enderby store, and was expected to finish this autumn, with one part already completed and due to open tomorrow (Thur). It added that the scheme was its biggest single investment in a store renewal to date.

 

 

An M&S spokesperson said the transformation would include a bigger, market-style food hall, with an improved in-store bakery, dedicated flower shop, wine shop and cheese "barge", alongside Mai Sushi and hot chicken counters. Changes will also include a new, "spacious" clothing & home department, with dedicated Per Una, Autograph and Jaegar sections.

The new womenswear section is due to launch tomorrow, Thursday, May 9, and will be shortly followed by the launch of a new beauty department in June, the retailer added. The store will also have a "new and improved" M&S café, with indoor and outdoor seating, which will have the company's viral Magic Coffee on its menu.

 

The retailer said the investment in the Fosse Park store would see its footprint extended by 11,500 sq ft to just over 100,000 sq ft, which is an increase of just over the size of six, 10-pin bowling lanes lying side by side overall. The store will remain open throughout, with different departments transformed gradually, it added.

Andy Frith, manager of the store at Fosse Park, said: “We want to deliver a brilliant shopping experience for our customers and the very best of M&S. This investment – M&S’ biggest single renewal investment to date – will mean we can create a brand defining store here in Leicestershire. The store team and I are incredibly excited about the transformation and we can’t wait to show customers the new womenswear department this week and all the changes we have planned between now and autumn!”

Councillor Ben Taylor, Blaby District Council portfolio holder for planning, said: “It’s brilliant to see a brand such as M&S investing in the district. The expansion plans for the Fosse Park store were small in planning terms, relating mainly to external changes, but the commitment of M&S to developing such a flagship store demonstrates how Blaby district is a draw for major retailers and shoppers.”

 

31 minutes ago, Wymsey said:

It's big enough as it is, really.

 

I've listened to conversations amongst fellow volunteers and others and the general consensus is, that once M&S closes, they won't bother visiting the city centre again.

 

They are generally in the older population demographic, though. Even so, other retailers and independents in the centre are bound to be affected by the loss of M&S and the resulting potential for reduced footfall in town.

 

I also disagree and believe it's disingenuous of BDC to make such a statement that I've put in bold. It's not Blaby attracting major retailers, It's Fosse Park, which just happens to be in their district. Where else in Blaby District are there "major retailers" that aren't supermarkets or DIY outlets?

Edited 8 May 2024 by Parafox

[Otis]

On 05/05/2024 at 15:22, MattFox said:

Fosse Park being in Blaby council areareally screws the city over as you’ve got one council having a strategy that directly harms another.

 

Leicesters boundaries in general really harm the city with the vast majority of areas with a decent tax base are all in various different districts

I would suggest LCC screws itself over with its anti business approach.

I don't see how BDC making the most of it's location and facilities is to blame for the slow demise of town.

[MattFox]

26 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

 

I've listened to conversations amongst fellow volunteers and others and the general consensus is, that once M&S closes, they won't bother visiting the city centre again.

 

They are generally in the older population demographic, though. Even so, other retailers and independents in the centre are bound to be affected by the loss of M&S and the resulting potential for reduced footfall in town.

 

I also disagree and believe it's disingenuous of BDC to make such a statement that I've put in bold. It's not Blaby attracting major retailers, It's Fosse Park, which just happens to be in their district. Where else in Blaby District are there "major retailers" that aren't supermarkets or DIY outlets?

Fosse Park is within the Ring Road, idea its not part of the city is ludicrous

[Paninistickers]

28 minutes ago, MattFox said:

Fosse Park is within the Ring Road, idea its not part of the city is ludicrous

Central Government always looking for local government savings, yet we have absurd councils within Greater Leicester duplicating services and working against each other. 

 

Urban 'city' places such as Oadby, Wigston, South Wigston, Blaby, Thorpe Astley, Glenfield, Anstey, Birstall, Thurmaston, Syston- probs 200k  people - have no say in a prosperous Leicester