Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[MaidstoneFox]

4 hours ago, Lionator said:

 

Spent many an hour in Thomas' and then checking out the second-hand army gear in Irish.

[Trav Le Bleu]

29 minutes ago, MaidstoneFox said:

Spent many an hour in Thomas' and then checking out the second-hand army gear in Irish.

Gauntlet, Space Harrier, International Karate, Out Run, Firefox, Operation Wolf...

 

Those were the days.

[Lionator]

1 hour ago, MaidstoneFox said:

Spent many an hour in Thomas' and then checking out the second-hand army gear in Irish.

I’m a bit younger (I guess) but my childhood was Dominoes, cafe in the arcades, then the 153 back to my grandparents. Good times. 

[Stuntman_Mike]

1 hour ago, Lionator said:

I’m a bit younger (I guess) but my childhood was Dominoes, cafe in the arcades, then the 153 back to my grandparents. Good times. 

That train that ran around the shop and came outside under the sign is the ultimate nostalgia. 

 

There was a real charm to that. 

[kenny]

10 minutes ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

That train that ran around the shop and came outside under the sign is the ultimate nostalgia. 

 

There was a real charm to that. 

It's now at abbey pumping station, still going.

[Stuntman_Mike]

4 minutes ago, kenny said:

It's now at abbey pumping station, still going.

No way! I didn't know that. That's a nice touch.

[Paninistickers]

The least surprising news ever, the 02 at Leicester uni is closing.

 

 

 

 

[sharpylcfc]

27 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

The least surprising news ever, the 02 at Leicester uni is closing.

 

 

 

 

Think that's it for Leicester now. No chance we can call ourselves a big city now. No bigger than a town these days. No music venues left in the city now.

[SecretPro]

2 minutes ago, sharpylcfc said:

Think that's it for Leicester now. No chance we can call ourselves a big city now. No bigger than a town these days. No music venues left in the city now.

State of city reflects the state of the club. Tin pot. 

[sharpylcfc]

1 minute ago, SecretPro said:

State of city reflects the state of the club. Tin pot. 

Never understood why we didn't capitalise when we won the league for a bigger music venue and making the city attractive to visitors. Now everyone will be venturing to Notts Birmingham etc for gigs now.

[Stadt]

47 minutes ago, sharpylcfc said:

Never understood why we didn't capitalise when we won the league for a bigger music venue and making the city attractive to visitors. Now everyone will be venturing to Notts Birmingham etc for gigs now.

They were anyway, 02 academy only ever had tribute acts on. Which is probably downstream of a lack of attendance for when acts have played.

[SemperEadem]

My mum is quite poorly so I have and will be seeing a lot more of home going forward. On Saturday I spent some time in Abbey Park, it is lovely. A really attractive  park but I did feel underused, especially on such a nice day.

[CosbehFox]

There's an operation underway in the city in regards to homelessness and drug abuse. 

 

Some of the business have been reporting real success in the last three weeks how it's notable reduced. 

[davieG]

Leicester Local ·

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LEICESTER LOCAL NEWS: “CITY CENTRE ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE” AS SHOPPERS MOURN LOSS OF FAMILIAR STORES

The closure of the WH Smith and Post Office branch on Gallowtree Gate has sparked a wave of frustration and sadness among Leicester shoppers, with many saying the city centre has “lost its heart”.

The store – now rebranded as TG Jones – was one of the last remaining places in the city centre where residents could access books, stationery, cards and Post Office services all under one roof.

For many older residents especially, the closure marks another blow to a city centre they say has changed dramatically over the past decade.

Shoppers speaking to Leicester Local described a growing feeling that Leicester’s high street is becoming dominated by vape shops, phone stores and barbers, while long-standing names and everyday essentials continue to disappear.

The closure follows years of major changes across the city centre, including the loss of the M&S, Debenhams, Size, independent retailers and a number of restaurants and cafés that once made the city feel busier and more vibrant.

Others pointed to the closure of popular venues such as Peter Pizzeria and the gradual decline in evening footfall as signs the city centre is struggling to retain its identity.

One shopper told Leicester Local: “You used to come into town for the whole day. Shopping, lunch, a coffee, browse the bookshops. Now people just order online or avoid town altogether.”

Another said: “Older people especially relied on places like WH Smith and the Post Office. Not everyone wants apps and self-service machines.”

Despite the criticism, many residents said they still want Leicester city centre to succeed — but believe it needs more independent shops, safer streets, cleaner public spaces and attractions that give people a reason to visit again.

What do YOU think Leicester city centre is missing most?

[MaidstoneFox]

11 hours ago, davieG said:

Leicester Local ·

Follow

 

LEICESTER LOCAL NEWS: “CITY CENTRE ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE” AS SHOPPERS MOURN LOSS OF FAMILIAR STORES

The closure of the WH Smith and Post Office branch on Gallowtree Gate has sparked a wave of frustration and sadness among Leicester shoppers, with many saying the city centre has “lost its heart”.

The store – now rebranded as TG Jones – was one of the last remaining places in the city centre where residents could access books, stationery, cards and Post Office services all under one roof.

For many older residents especially, the closure marks another blow to a city centre they say has changed dramatically over the past decade.

Shoppers speaking to Leicester Local described a growing feeling that Leicester’s high street is becoming dominated by vape shops, phone stores and barbers, while long-standing names and everyday essentials continue to disappear.

The closure follows years of major changes across the city centre, including the loss of the M&S, Debenhams, Size, independent retailers and a number of restaurants and cafés that once made the city feel busier and more vibrant.

Others pointed to the closure of popular venues such as Peter Pizzeria and the gradual decline in evening footfall as signs the city centre is struggling to retain its identity.

One shopper told Leicester Local: “You used to come into town for the whole day. Shopping, lunch, a coffee, browse the bookshops. Now people just order online or avoid town altogether.”

Another said: “Older people especially relied on places like WH Smith and the Post Office. Not everyone wants apps and self-service machines.”

Despite the criticism, many residents said they still want Leicester city centre to succeed — but believe it needs more independent shops, safer streets, cleaner public spaces and attractions that give people a reason to visit again.

What do YOU think Leicester city centre is missing most?

Pretty much the same everywhere. Even somewhere like Oxford Street in London is finding it tough and has filled up units with American candy stores. One of the initial reservations around building the Highcross was that it would move footfall away from Gallowtree Gate and that's happened, even more so with the decline of high street shopping and the focal point now is very much High Street, Highcross and St Martin's. The reality is that with out-of-town and online shoppers there just aren't enough customers to sustain a shopping area from Belgrave Gate, Gallowtree Gate, up to Market Street and across to High Street and the Highcross. So the bigger question is what do you do with those areas that are declining, you don't want them to become no-go zones.

 

Would we have been better not building the Highcross in the first place? I think it was impossible to predict the rapid expansion of online trade and arguably the city needed the newer facilities of the Highcross to attract the marquee entertainment brands, stores and restaurants that would of gone elsewhere.  Similarly, there were quite a lot of arguments at the time, against locating The Curve and the Phoenix where they are now and creating the 'Cultural Quarter', as it was away from where most of the footfall was. Some figures in the council argued that the creation of that Cultural Quarter was better positioned close to the station to appeal to commuters and out-of-town visitors. However, what you now have is a very siloed city centre.

 

In my opinion, the one thing that might rescue the city is a tram system, linking all the key sites, such as hospitals, universities, stations, shopping areas and so on. But maybe it's too late for that, you are possibly looking at just how well you manage the decline of those shopping areas.

[danny.]

1 hour ago, MaidstoneFox said:

Pretty much the same everywhere. Even somewhere like Oxford Street in London is finding it tough and has filled up units with American candy stores. One of the initial reservations around building the Highcross was that it would move footfall away from Gallowtree Gate and that's happened, even more so with the decline of high street shopping and the focal point now is very much High Street, Highcross and St Martin's. The reality is that with out-of-town and online shoppers there just aren't enough customers to sustain a shopping area from Belgrave Gate, Gallowtree Gate, up to Market Street and across to High Street and the Highcross. So the bigger question is what do you do with those areas that are declining, you don't want them to become no-go zones.

 

Would we have been better not building the Highcross in the first place? I think it was impossible to predict the rapid expansion of online trade and arguably the city needed the newer facilities of the Highcross to attract the marquee entertainment brands, stores and restaurants that would of gone elsewhere.  Similarly, there were quite a lot of arguments at the time, against locating The Curve and the Phoenix where they are now and creating the 'Cultural Quarter', as it was away from where most of the footfall was. Some figures in the council argued that the creation of that Cultural Quarter was better positioned close to the station to appeal to commuters and out-of-town visitors. However, what you now have is a very siloed city centre.

 

In my opinion, the one thing that might rescue the city is a tram system, linking all the key sites, such as hospitals, universities, stations, shopping areas and so on. But maybe it's too late for that, you are possibly looking at just how well you manage the decline of those shopping areas.

Imagine getting a train to Leicester to watch a play and your first experience is Granby Street

[brookfox]

16 hours ago, davieG said:

Leicester Local ·

Follow

 

LEICESTER LOCAL NEWS: “CITY CENTRE ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE” AS SHOPPERS MOURN LOSS OF FAMILIAR STORES

The closure of the WH Smith and Post Office branch on Gallowtree Gate has sparked a wave of frustration and sadness among Leicester shoppers, with many saying the city centre has “lost its heart”.

The store – now rebranded as TG Jones – was one of the last remaining places in the city centre where residents could access books, stationery, cards and Post Office services all under one roof.

For many older residents especially, the closure marks another blow to a city centre they say has changed dramatically over the past decade.

Shoppers speaking to Leicester Local described a growing feeling that Leicester’s high street is becoming dominated by vape shops, phone stores and barbers, while long-standing names and everyday essentials continue to disappear.

The closure follows years of major changes across the city centre, including the loss of the M&S, Debenhams, Size, independent retailers and a number of restaurants and cafés that once made the city feel busier and more vibrant.

Others pointed to the closure of popular venues such as Peter Pizzeria and the gradual decline in evening footfall as signs the city centre is struggling to retain its identity.

One shopper told Leicester Local: “You used to come into town for the whole day. Shopping, lunch, a coffee, browse the bookshops. Now people just order online or avoid town altogether.”

Another said: “Older people especially relied on places like WH Smith and the Post Office. Not everyone wants apps and self-service machines.”

Despite the criticism, many residents said they still want Leicester city centre to succeed — but believe it needs more independent shops, safer streets, cleaner public spaces and attractions that give people a reason to visit again.

What do YOU think Leicester city centre is missing most?

Venn diagram of people who miss WH Smith and actually bought something there in the last 3yrs:

 

OO

[Samilktray]

They're opening a World Cup fanzone in Jubilee Square this summer. Pretty good idea I think, nice enough area that always seems massively underutilized especially in the summer.

[boots60]

54 minutes ago, Samilktray said:

They're opening a World Cup fanzone in Jubilee Square this summer. Pretty good idea I think, nice enough area that always seems massively underutilized especially in the summer.

Apologies in advance for my pessimism but that will be packed with non football fans getting all excited about the world cup in the USA, drinking watery lager at £7 a pint.

[SemperEadem]

There being only one post office in town now will be pain for some.

[DJW1]

6 hours ago, MaidstoneFox said:

Pretty much the same everywhere. Even somewhere like Oxford Street in London is finding it tough and has filled up units with American candy stores. One of the initial reservations around building the Highcross was that it would move footfall away from Gallowtree Gate and that's happened, even more so with the decline of high street shopping and the focal point now is very much High Street, Highcross and St Martin's. The reality is that with out-of-town and online shoppers there just aren't enough customers to sustain a shopping area from Belgrave Gate, Gallowtree Gate, up to Market Street and across to High Street and the Highcross. So the bigger question is what do you do with those areas that are declining, you don't want them to become no-go zones.

 

Would we have been better not building the Highcross in the first place? I think it was impossible to predict the rapid expansion of online trade and arguably the city needed the newer facilities of the Highcross to attract the marquee entertainment brands, stores and restaurants that would of gone elsewhere.  Similarly, there were quite a lot of arguments at the time, against locating The Curve and the Phoenix where they are now and creating the 'Cultural Quarter', as it was away from where most of the footfall was. Some figures in the council argued that the creation of that Cultural Quarter was better positioned close to the station to appeal to commuters and out-of-town visitors. However, what you now have is a very siloed city centre.

 

In my opinion, the one thing that might rescue the city is a tram system, linking all the key sites, such as hospitals, universities, stations, shopping areas and so on. But maybe it's too late for that, you are possibly looking at just how well you manage the decline of those shopping areas.

It´s a difficult one. I only come to Leicester for the football, by train, and don´t go into the centre very often. When I´ve been there, the Cultural Quarter and Highcross seemed busy.

 

Leicester has a number of wide roads where trams could operate, but the initial cost would be the stumbling block, I suppose.

 

Converting city centre buildings into flats (for under 35s who live alone or as couples) might result in those people spending money in the centre. 

 

There is a need to find out what (if anything) has worked in other, similar-sized cities and implement it in Leicester. For example, has the tram system been a success in Nottm and has it boosted the city centre?

 

[MaidstoneFox]

6 hours ago, danny. said:

Imagine getting a train to Leicester to watch a play and your first experience is Granby Street

Yes, first train back to Islington.

[MaidstoneFox]

1 hour ago, DJW1 said:

It´s a difficult one. I only come to Leicester for the football, by train, and don´t go into the centre very often. When I´ve been there, the Cultural Quarter and Highcross seemed busy.

 

Leicester has a number of wide roads where trams could operate, but the initial cost would be the stumbling block, I suppose.

 

Converting city centre buildings into flats (for under 35s who live alone or as couples) might result in those people spending money in the centre. 

 

There is a need to find out what (if anything) has worked in other, similar-sized cities and implement it in Leicester. For example, has the tram system been a success in Nottm and has it boosted the city centre?

 

I lived in Manchester before and after trams and it really transformed the place, helped open up areas and it made it feel like a modern accessible city. But it's a very costly project and i doubt the money would be there for Leicester.

 

Could you turn Gallowtree and Granby St into more of residential area with a cafe culture? It would take quite a vision and lots of questions about whether there are jobs for those under 35s, in what has never really been a white-collar city. But at some point I assume those landlords will run out of any sort of takers for the leases in that area.

[davieG]

Turn the M&S building into a new indoor market with eateries upstairs leaving the market clear for events. With the M&S building going from Gallowtree Gate through to Humberstone Gate would generate extra footfall.

[Free Falling Foxes]

1 hour ago, MaidstoneFox said:

Could you turn Gallowtree and Granby St into more of residential area with a cafe culture? It would take quite a vision and lots of questions about whether there are jobs for those under 35s, in what has never really been a white-collar city. But at some point I assume those landlords will run out of any sort of takers for the leases in that area.

Agree. I too, have suggested this.

However, the track record of the city mayor and council demonstrates that, if buildings are repurposed, then they will be for students or 'Places of Worship'.

Meanwhile, green spaces outside the city centre are being built on instead.

Edited 15 May by Free Falling Foxes