Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[Muzzy_no7]

19 hours ago, Wymsey said:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/knives-fights-drugs-spotted-thousands-10568829

 

This was horrendous.

 

Small sections of the crowd let off fireworks at eachother.

 

Several stampedes as well, miracle no one was seriously injured. 

[Paninistickers]

Having last been out last in town on a Tuesday in August and been pleasantly surprised, last night (Friday) was first weekend night for a long time. It was upsetting to see. No busier than Tuesday. 3 or four tables at each restaurant I snooped in. Bars with 4 or five tables occupied, all quietly sitting and minding their own business (quite pleasant in a low key way)

 

The city as it was, I'm afraid, is lost. The 'white flight' is as rapid as it is startling. Belvoir street and granby street and London road you won't see a white face. The students (who should prop up the nightlife) are London blacks who party differently. Or Chinese. Or Indians and africans who have scammed a visa to do deliveroo. 

 

I can only assume now, those who once used to go into town prefer to stay in their hometown locals for a bit of life; , ratbys, grobys, shepsheds, harboroughs, Broughton astleys etc 

 

On a wider note, it doesn't bode well long term for City's core support. The support was traditionally around 50% urban Leicester and 50% county. It must be up to 80% county based now. 

[jonthefox]

I'm going into town later. Not looking forward to it. 

[davieG]

31 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

Having last been out last in town on a Tuesday in August and been pleasantly surprised, last night (Friday) was first weekend night for a long time. It was upsetting to see. No busier than Tuesday. 3 or four tables at each restaurant I snooped in. Bars with 4 or five tables occupied, all quietly sitting and minding their own business (quite pleasant in a low key way)

 

The city as it was, I'm afraid, is lost. The 'white flight' is as rapid as it is startling. Belvoir street and granby street and London road you won't see a white face. The students (who should prop up the nightlife) are London blacks who party differently. Or Chinese. Or Indians and africans who have scammed a visa to do deliveroo. 

 

I can only assume now, those who once used to go into town prefer to stay in their hometown locals for a bit of life; , ratbys, grobys, shepsheds, harboroughs, Broughton astleys etc 

 

On a wider note, it doesn't bode well long term for City's core support. The support was traditionally around 50% urban Leicester and 50% county. It must be up to 80% county based now. 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/shoppers-rue-decline-charity-street-10574442

 

The County Towns are faring no better.

 

Shoppers rue the decline of 'Charity Street' town hit by shop closures
Bodycare, NatWest and Snap have closed in recent months in Hinckley

Dylan Hayward Reporter
04:00, 18 Oct 2025

The Hinckley high street

Hinckley shoppers say their high street is 'dying on its feet' as the town faces a wave of closures. Castle Street, the main shopping thoroughfare in the Leicestershire town, has been nicknamed 'Charity Street' on social media, with residents saying essential retailers have been replaced by charity shops and cafes.

Bodycare, Snap womenswear and NatWest have all shut in recent months. And more closures are on the way - New Look on December 9, Card Factory in January and Claire's in mid-November.

"Charity shops and coffee shops," one market trader told us bluntly. "It's fine if you're the lady for lunch..." The 60-year-old, who asked not to be named, said he'd had just one customer inquiry in five hours on Monday.

He described some weekends as "dead" with just four traders turning up. "There's two more stores in the Britannia Centre closing," he said.

Drink-driver in crash arrested less than 21 hours after release for same offence

‘One of the best’ Leicester restaurants announces immediate closure in 2am Facebook post

The market trader called for urgent action. "Hinckley has the history," he said. "The local council got to do something. You need a store that's going to anchor this. Having Sainsbury's all the way over there [in Rugby Road] isn't helping."

The market trader said that the town was 'crying' out for an 'anchor' store

 

'Turkish barbers everywhere'
Caroline, 62, who has lived in Hinckley for much of her life, said: "It's in a bad state. Hinckley used to be a good town. Now it's just charity shops. Everything's closed and we've got loads of cafes."

She remembers the town's thriving hosiery industry in the 1970s and 1980s. "You could get a job anywhere. All that's gone." She voiced frustration about what's replacing traditional shops, saying: "Turkish barbers everywhere. Why do we need all these barbers? It's ridiculous. And vape shops."

Caroline said the number of turkish barbers in the town was 'just ridiculous'
Caroline said there are now just two clothing shops - and one is closing. "We've not even got any fruit and veg shops. And have no bakeries."

Her solution? "Why can't they open a Primark in The Crescent? There's nothing. Where do you go?"

'This high street's OK'

David described Castle Street as 'lovely'
Not everyone was critical. David, 73, visiting from Scotland, said: "I think it's lovely. It's doing OK for high streets." He's travelled across the UK and reckons Hinckley is better than most. "Many high streets in Scotland are finished."

He blamed wider issues. "High street rates are far too high. People come for a look then buy it online cheaper. You find them at retail parks now."

'I quite like the charity shops'
Margaret, 74, was even more upbeat. "I quite like the charity shops," she said. "People come from miles around. My daughter comes from Brighton - they're more expensive there." But even she admitted: "It's not as busy as it used to be."

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council said it was working hard to support the town centre. A spokesperson said the council and Hinckley BID have put on more than 40 events throughout the year to boost footfall, with last Saturday's Oktoberfest event attracting 6,000 extra visitors.

Council officials said events like the three-day Snap Dragon Children's Festival and Feast Hinckley bring in around 100,000 extra visitors each year. They added that footfall in Hinckley was "one of the strongest across the county" and the vacancy rate was "one of the lowest", indicating a "healthier retail environment" than other towns.

The spokesperson said: "The council, Hinckley BID and others work constantly to improve the town centre. Plans are in place to constantly improve and work with the ever-changing times ahead." They added that the council works with commercial estate agents through a Destination Hinckley campaign to attract new retailers.

[Paninistickers]

1 hour ago, jonthefox said:

I'm going into town later. Not looking forward to it. 

No kidding, if you added up everyone around town starting at Witherspoon on high street, through st Martin's, down market street and bottom of new walk, there were no more than 300 punters. And a good chunk of them were in middle aged in mixed m/f groups and couples on a date night. There couldn't have been more than 50 who were there for a 'night out'......50, in a county of 1 million

[TamuffFox]

3 hours ago, Paninistickers said:

Having last been out last in town on a Tuesday in August and been pleasantly surprised, last night (Friday) was first weekend night for a long time. It was upsetting to see. No busier than Tuesday. 3 or four tables at each restaurant I snooped in. Bars with 4 or five tables occupied, all quietly sitting and minding their own business (quite pleasant in a low key way)

 

The city as it was, I'm afraid, is lost. The 'white flight' is as rapid as it is startling. Belvoir street and granby street and London road you won't see a white face. The students (who should prop up the nightlife) are London blacks who party differently. Or Chinese. Or Indians and africans who have scammed a visa to do deliveroo. 

 

I can only assume now, those who once used to go into town prefer to stay in their hometown locals for a bit of life; , ratbys, grobys, shepsheds, harboroughs, Broughton astleys etc 

 

On a wider note, it doesn't bode well long term for City's core support. The support was traditionally around 50% urban Leicester and 50% county. It must be up to 80% county based now. 

Did you go Krystals? 

[South Shire Fox]

I dont think the city centre is any more of a dump then any other city. Actually some pretty good restaurants/bars/pubs to visit on a night out (St Martins/Highcross area) and gets some pretty undeserved hate.

 

Its more some of the scruffs that are walking about. Teenage chavs wearing balaclavas talking like a London roadman when they are from Highfields

Edited 18 October 2025 by South Shire Fox

[westernpark]

11 hours ago, Paninistickers said:

Having last been out last in town on a Tuesday in August and been pleasantly surprised, last night (Friday) was first weekend night for a long time. It was upsetting to see. No busier than Tuesday. 3 or four tables at each restaurant I snooped in. Bars with 4 or five tables occupied, all quietly sitting and minding their own business (quite pleasant in a low key way)

 

The city as it was, I'm afraid, is lost. The 'white flight' is as rapid as it is startling. Belvoir street and granby street and London road you won't see a white face. The students (who should prop up the nightlife) are London blacks who party differently. Or Chinese. Or Indians and africans who have scammed a visa to do deliveroo. 

 

I can only assume now, those who once used to go into town prefer to stay in their hometown locals for a bit of life; , ratbys, grobys, shepsheds, harboroughs, Broughton astleys etc 

 

On a wider note, it doesn't bode well long term for City's core support. The support was traditionally around 50% urban Leicester and 50% county. It must be up to 80% county based now. 

The city is broken and it will only get worse. I try my best but it will be time to leave soon.

[bungy]

On 18/10/2025 at 11:25, Paninistickers said:

Having last been out last in town on a Tuesday in August and been pleasantly surprised, last night (Friday) was first weekend night for a long time. It was upsetting to see. No busier than Tuesday. 3 or four tables at each restaurant I snooped in. Bars with 4 or five tables occupied, all quietly sitting and minding their own business (quite pleasant in a low key way)

 

The city as it was, I'm afraid, is lost. The 'white flight' is as rapid as it is startling. Belvoir street and granby street and London road you won't see a white face. The students (who should prop up the nightlife) are London blacks who party differently. Or Chinese. Or Indians and africans who have scammed a visa to do deliveroo. 

 

I can only assume now, those who once used to go into town prefer to stay in their hometown locals for a bit of life; , ratbys, grobys, shepsheds, harboroughs, Broughton astleys etc 

 

On a wider note, it doesn't bode well long term for City's core support. The support was traditionally around 50% urban Leicester and 50% county. It must be up to 80% county based now. 

So true😞 desperately sad what’s happening to this country. 

[Zear0]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/nov/16/i-think-the-city-is-falling-apart-leicester-braces-for-a-make-or-break-budget

 

Pretty grim read. 

[davieG]

10 minutes ago, Zear0 said:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/nov/16/i-think-the-city-is-falling-apart-leicester-braces-for-a-make-or-break-budget

 

Pretty grim read. 

We're continually bypassed when it comes to government approved investment with the electrification of the Midland Mainline and the dismissing of the Ivanhoe Line.  The moving of the Civil Service departments to the regions also gave us a miss. Nottingham got the Tax office.

[kenny]

48 minutes ago, davieG said:

We're continually bypassed when it comes to government approved investment with the electrification of the Midland Mainline and the dismissing of the Ivanhoe Line.  The moving of the Civil Service departments to the regions also gave us a miss. Nottingham got the Tax office.

Leicester council has done a terrible job in recent years and now it wants harborough. If their plan is accepted, it probably means harborough gets worse rather than Leicester getting better.

[MaidstoneFox]

2 hours ago, Zear0 said:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/nov/16/i-think-the-city-is-falling-apart-leicester-braces-for-a-make-or-break-budget

 

Pretty grim read. 

It has been like that for quite a while though and growing up in Leicester I never felt it was affluent. I'd still be quite happy to move back to Leicester once the kids have grown up, but realistically it would be one of the wealthier, southern suburbs. If I'm being honest, in doing that I would barely notice the deprivation.

[Paninistickers]

1 hour ago, MaidstoneFox said:

wealthier, southern suburbs

Mate, the 'wealthy Southern suburbs' are in the rapid process of decimation. The cool, urbane Asians with some money move in. That then sets out some kind of smoke signal for the less cool, less wealthy that it's safe ground for Asians. Then after that, the place is in tatters as the next layer of asian punters who settle  are spinning down a poverty plughole. 

 

The white flight is at breakneck pace at the moment. What's left of Leicester is running to the county. Groby or Kibworth. Shepshed or Lutterworth. Broughton Astley or Burbage. 

 

 

[leicsmac]

8 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

Mate, the 'wealthy Southern suburbs' are in the rapid process of decimation. The cool, urbane Asians with some money move in. That then sets out some kind of smoke signal for the less cool, less wealthy that it's safe ground for Asians. Then after that, the place is in tatters as the next layer of asian punters who settle  are spinning down a poverty plughole. 

 

The white flight is at breakneck pace at the moment. What's left of Leicester is running to the county. Groby or Kibworth. Shepshed or Lutterworth. Broughton Astley or Burbage. 

 

 

I wasn't aware that particular single ethnic group moves into one area ----> poverty pipeline was limited only to the "Asian" demographic. 

[Paninistickers]

3 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

I wasn't aware that particular single ethnic group moves into one area ----> poverty pipeline was limited only to the "Asian" demographic. 

You make a fair point. The last line with the poorer demographic are not solely Asian. With that comes in Turks, Kurds and various other ethnic groups. 

 

But the 'reverse gentrification' of Leicester's nice bits starts with the Asians. 

[PAULCFC]

7 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

I wasn't aware that particular single ethnic group moves into one area ----> poverty pipeline was limited only to the "Asian" demographic. 

I take it you don't live in Leicester? Melton Rd,St Mathews and to a lesser extent Narborough Rd are all nearly single ethnic areas.

[leicsmac]

21 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

You make a fair point. The last line with the poorer demographic are not solely Asian. With that comes in Turks, Kurds and various other ethnic groups. 

 

But the 'reverse gentrification' of Leicester's nice bits starts with the Asians. 

The inference here that it is uniquely nonwhite demographics that lead to such deprivation is...a point of view, certainly.

 

15 minutes ago, PAULCFC said:

I take it you don't live in Leicester? Melton Rd,St Mathews and to a lesser extent Narborough Rd are all nearly single ethnic areas.

I don't and I've no reason to disbelieve you here, but I'm not sure what that has to do with the point being made.

[Paninistickers]

5 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

The inference here that it is uniquely nonwhite demographics that lead to such deprivation is...a point of view, certainly.

Your reading a first hand witness account. Like, proper primary source material. I'm not expressing a view. I'm telling you as it is, not as it ought to be. 

 

 

 

 

[leicsmac]

26 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

Your reading a first hand witness account. Like, proper primary source material. I'm not expressing a view. I'm telling you as it is, not as it ought to be. 

 

 

Or it's an anecdotal account coupled with a value judgement against every race demographic except for one based upon it. 

 

Which, of course in a free society a person is entitled to do and I'll leave it at that. Other people can draw their own conclusions. 

Edited 16 November 2025 by leicsmac

[splinterdream]

I can share an interesting perspective in this debate, I’m a gas engineer and Leicester born and bred. For 9 years I worked in Stamford and Peterborough, but for 1 of my 10 years at British Gas, I worked Leicester South, mainly highfields. I then moved back to Leicester and sub contracted for Leicester city council, and worked in the private homes of people around Leicester and the shire for the rest of my 32 year career. I have seen the demographic shifts in the areas and imo there is concentrated areas of one ethnic group. 
one thing that saddened me recently was town. My wife, somebody who grew up in Loughborough, always prefers to go fosse park, the rare occasion I go to buy some clothes, I always persuade her to go town as I think it has more variety, but last time I went I think it has now got to the point where I think fosse park is better, I’m even thinking next time I go clothes shopping, I might go Nottingham or Birmingham, which saddens me a lot.

[Paninistickers]

3 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Or it's an anecdotal account coupled with a value judgement against every race demographic except for one based upon it. 

 

Which, of course in a free society a person is entitled to do and I'll leave it at that. Other people can draw their own conclusions. 

You're a clever dude. An IQ way beyond mine. But sometimes all this intelligence forms you a cosy harmonious live and let live narrative. So long as you don't have to actively live it,.obvs.

 

I haven't got a narrative. My comments aren't anecdotal. It's my own eyes matey. South Leicester suburbs are my patch, my manor.

 

And I'm telling you, not expressing a view, that Indians (Asians) moved in and it triggered a decline. The housing stock in oadby and wigston is in tatters. Broken fences, unkempt gardens. Weed strewn driveways.  Garish and incongruous extensions. Mosques in semi detached houses. Diwali fireworks banging off at all hours.

 

And because of this the white population has fcked off. Whether you like it or not. They've fcked off to the county villages.  And in that vacuum come more and more. 

 

 

[splinterdream]

9 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

You're a clever dude. An IQ way beyond mine. But sometimes all this intelligence forms you a cosy harmonious live and let live narrative. So long as you don't have to actively live it,.obvs.

 

I haven't got a narrative. My comments aren't anecdotal. It's my own eyes matey. South Leicester suburbs are my patch, my manor.

 

And I'm telling you, not expressing a view, that Indians (Asians) moved in and it triggered a decline. The housing stock in oadby and wigston is in tatters. Broken fences, unkempt gardens. Weed strewn driveways.  Garish and incongruous extensions. Mosques in semi detached houses. Diwali fireworks banging off at all hours.

 

And because of this the white population has fcked off. Whether you like it or not. They've fcked off to the county villages.  And in that vacuum come more and more. 

 

 

My own nan was from Highfields, was the place to be back in the day apparently 

[MaidstoneFox]

1 hour ago, Paninistickers said:

Mate, the 'wealthy Southern suburbs' are in the rapid process of decimation. The cool, urbane Asians with some money move in. That then sets out some kind of smoke signal for the less cool, less wealthy that it's safe ground for Asians. Then after that, the place is in tatters as the next layer of asian punters who settle  are spinning down a poverty plughole. 

 

The white flight is at breakneck pace at the moment. What's left of Leicester is running to the county. Groby or Kibworth. Shepshed or Lutterworth. Broughton Astley or Burbage. 

 

 

I can't really add to this debate as I don't live in Leicester and only get up there a couple of times a year. You'll have a much better sense of how communities have changed and how quickly as well. All I can say is that yes I've seen the demographic change a bit but then I also grew up in Leicester, which was a still a very multi-cultural city then and that was and is something I liked. 

 

Of course it's very different going to a place a couple of times a year and looking at everything with nostalgia and fondness, compared to living somewhere day-in day-out. You'd probably think Maidstone is alright, whereas i think it's one of the dullest places in Britain.

[leicsmac]

1 hour ago, Paninistickers said:

You're a clever dude. An IQ way beyond mine. But sometimes all this intelligence forms you a cosy harmonious live and let live narrative. So long as you don't have to actively live it,.obvs.

 

I haven't got a narrative. My comments aren't anecdotal. It's my own eyes matey. South Leicester suburbs are my patch, my manor.

 

And I'm telling you, not expressing a view, that Indians (Asians) moved in and it triggered a decline. The housing stock in oadby and wigston is in tatters. Broken fences, unkempt gardens. Weed strewn driveways.  Garish and incongruous extensions. Mosques in semi detached houses. Diwali fireworks banging off at all hours.

 

And because of this the white population has fcked off. Whether you like it or not. They've fcked off to the county villages.  And in that vacuum come more and more. 

 

 

I appreciate the compliment, but if I was actually smart on this topic I wouldn't be on here simply talking about it. And yeah, that's my worldview, and I've explained why I hold it quite a few times and so the only thing I'll add is that the day I stop holding it is the day you can measure me for pine, because without "live and let live" that's where everyone else is heading anyway.

 

As for the specific topic, the only other thing I'll add there is that there are in all likelihood socioeconomic issues that go far beyond race demographics also playing a large part.