Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[TeamRocket]

Well i haven't been back to Leicester in years but i used to love the markets until i went last time half the stalls was closed but still better than Bolton market which is open only 3times a week which was shocking

[LutterworthLCFC]

I don't see the problem with expanding magna park. More jobs available, also loads of new houses are being built, can only be good news for the shops in the town!

Also they've just opened a new dominos pizza!!

[davieG]

First cars roll into new Leicester Royal Infirmary multi-storey car park

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/cars-roll-new-Leicester-Royal-Infirmary-multi/story-28646618-detail/story.html#ixzz3yvZG7wZc 
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I know it's only a car park but we do seem to like ugly buildings in Leicester

 

[davieG]

Lamp Lighters pub in Leicester to shut and become an American diner

By Tom_Mack  |  Posted: February 15, 2016

• 

  Pictured L-R: Business Partner Alistair Smith and Builder Louis White

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The "infamous" Lamp Lighters pub is to be closed and turned into a 1950s-style American diner.

Owners Geoffrey Thornton and Alistair Smith, who took it over a year ago, have given up in their attempts to tame the city centre venue, in Silver Street, which has a reputation for rows and violence.

The pair tried increasing drinks prices and hiring new door staff in a bid to "sort it out", but Mr Thornton said the pub was still attracting people whose arguments often led to fights.

He said: "The Lamp Lighters is infamous in Leicester and that building has been like that for about 40 years now.

 

"We acquired it thinking we could sort it out, but we can't.

"To the great relief of a lot of people, we're going to close it on February 28."

 

 

The news was greeted with joy along pedestrianised Silver Street, which is home to a wide range of independent shops, restaurants and the historic Globe pub, and forms part of The Lanes shopping area.

One shop employee said: "That's a big relief. The clientele haven't exactly been great for Silver Street.

"There are often incidents out in the street along here - fights or loud arguments.

"I think businesses around here will generally be very happy to hear it's closing."

A woman working nearby said: "It's going to be a big improvement for the street - there's quite a lot of noise and occasional fighting, too.

"It will make a massive difference in the summer months. It could be a really nice street to stroll down."

Another shop worker, when told the pub was closing, rolled his head back and said: "Thank God. That's the best news I've heard all year."

 

 

The new American diner will be called Jumping Jacks and seat 140 people.

It will serve classic US fare, including hotdogs, burgers, pizza, ribs and chicken wings.

Builders have already begun work, following the closure of the basement nightclub, The Cellar Bar, just over two weeks ago.

Mr Thornton said he had great hopes for the new restaurant.

He said: "It's a great location and it has entrances onto the High Street as well as the other door near The Lanes shopping area.

"I know the restaurant sounds similar to other things going on in Leicester but I think it will stand out by being very '50s and rock'n'roll."

 

 

Mr Thornton and Mr Smith already own Taps, a restaurant and bar in nearby Guildhall Lane, and they are in the process of converting one of Leicester's oldest buildings, Wygston's House, just off Jubilee Square, into a high-end eatery.

Mr Thornton said: "Wygston's House is going to be serving English food made with local produce.

"We're working on that at the moment. It's a listed building so we're limited with what we can do with it but it's a great building and it's going to be high-end dining."

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Lamplighters-pub-Leicester-shut-American-diner/story-28723552-detail/story.html#ixzz40EPp8NNg 

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[RoboFox]

Lamp Lighters pub in Leicester to shut and become an American diner

By Tom_Mack  |  Posted: February 15, 2016

• 

  Pictured L-R: Business Partner Alistair Smith and Builder Louis White

VIEW GALLERY

 

 Comments (5)

The "infamous" Lamp Lighters pub is to be closed and turned into a 1950s-style American diner.

Owners Geoffrey Thornton and Alistair Smith, who took it over a year ago, have given up in their attempts to tame the city centre venue, in Silver Street, which has a reputation for rows and violence.

The pair tried increasing drinks prices and hiring new door staff in a bid to "sort it out", but Mr Thornton said the pub was still attracting people whose arguments often led to fights.

He said: "The Lamp Lighters is infamous in Leicester and that building has been like that for about 40 years now.

 

"We acquired it thinking we could sort it out, but we can't.

"To the great relief of a lot of people, we're going to close it on February 28."

 

 

The news was greeted with joy along pedestrianised Silver Street, which is home to a wide range of independent shops, restaurants and the historic Globe pub, and forms part of The Lanes shopping area.

One shop employee said: "That's a big relief. The clientele haven't exactly been great for Silver Street.

"There are often incidents out in the street along here - fights or loud arguments.

"I think businesses around here will generally be very happy to hear it's closing."

A woman working nearby said: "It's going to be a big improvement for the street - there's quite a lot of noise and occasional fighting, too.

"It will make a massive difference in the summer months. It could be a really nice street to stroll down."

Another shop worker, when told the pub was closing, rolled his head back and said: "Thank God. That's the best news I've heard all year."

 

 

The new American diner will be called Jumping Jacks and seat 140 people.

It will serve classic US fare, including hotdogs, burgers, pizza, ribs and chicken wings.

Builders have already begun work, following the closure of the basement nightclub, The Cellar Bar, just over two weeks ago.

Mr Thornton said he had great hopes for the new restaurant.

He said: "It's a great location and it has entrances onto the High Street as well as the other door near The Lanes shopping area.

"I know the restaurant sounds similar to other things going on in Leicester but I think it will stand out by being very '50s and rock'n'roll."

 

 

Mr Thornton and Mr Smith already own Taps, a restaurant and bar in nearby Guildhall Lane, and they are in the process of converting one of Leicester's oldest buildings, Wygston's House, just off Jubilee Square, into a high-end eatery.

Mr Thornton said: "Wygston's House is going to be serving English food made with local produce.

"We're working on that at the moment. It's a listed building so we're limited with what we can do with it but it's a great building and it's going to be high-end dining."

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Lamplighters-pub-Leicester-shut-American-diner/story-28723552-detail/story.html#ixzz40EPp8NNg 

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Shame. The Lamplighters was such a lovely place.

[Wymsey]

Probably one of roughest pubs in Leicester.

[separator]

Those last 2 photos of the Lamplighters are nothing to do with the builders moving in, just a typical scene of last orders on a saturday night.

[Bellend Sebastian]

Like Leicester Forest East Services and the club that used to be Krystals, I've never been in it.

 

Is the Cellar Bar part of the same thing?  All I know about that is that when I've seen a friend that I've been out with of an evening, I ask them how things went after I went home (at about 10.30pm), and they tell me they were out for another 6 hours or so, and ended up in the Cellar bar where the atmosphere was terrible and there's always someone in there that just wants to start a scrap, like it's 1976 or something.

 

It's another world (not Another World, which used to be next door before turning into Forbidden Planet or something like that)

[rico]

went there a couple of times and had 2 good nights without trouble

Edited 15 February 2016 by rico

[davieG]

Leicester's 40 lost cinemas: Do you remember any of these?

By Leicester Mercury  |  Posted: February 27, 2016

• 

  There used to be 40 cinemas showing films in Leicester

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Before the days of £8.20 tickets, 3D glasses and tie-in merchandise, there were dozens of cinemas in Leicester.

In fact, Oscar-winning director Stephen Frears once told the Mercury "I recall there were 40 cinemas in Leicester. They had to take a half a page in the Leicester Mail for advertising what they had on."

Now there are only a handful in the city - and on the sites which once hosted luxurious auditoriums, grand entrance halls, decorative balconies and booming organs, you are more likely to find petrol stations, office blocks, shops or car parks.

We've taken a look back at the cinemas where you might have seen movie hits from Star Wars, Ben-Hur or The Sound of the Music on the big screen for the very first time.

 

Let us know your memories of visits to these cinemas in the comments section below. Which films did you see here? Do you prefer these picture houses to the modern multiplexes? And which cinemas have we missed off the list and should have included?

The ABC, in Belgrave Gate

This will be remembered by many as the popular ABC cinema - but in its first incarnation it was the Savoy Cinema and also hosted variety shows, musical performances and pop concerts. Leslie Phillips once compered a show here and Julie Andrews also performed at the venue. The cinema featured a small stage and dressing rooms.

It was re-named ABC in 1960 - and also had periods known run by MGM and Cannon leading to several iother name changes over the years.

 

 

But some 60 years after it first opened, it closed its doors on January 16, 1997, with a screening of Star Trek - First Contact.

Ten years later, it was demolished to make way for a development of flats, a casino, restaurant, shops and bars. But the plans never happened due to the recession.

Classic Cameo Cinema, High Street

This opened in August 1910 as The Electric Theatre - but changed its name many times until its closure in 1976. It was also called the Imperial Playhouse, High Street Cinema, Arcadia Cinema, Cameo News Theatre and Cameo Theatre.

 

 

 

The building's post-cinema life saw it become an amusement arcade and a computer store before the auditorium was demolished in 1994.

Now Blacks is on the site.

Odeon, Queen Street

This large cinema opened in 1938 with a showing of A Slight Case of Murder, starring Edward G. Robinson. It originally had seats for 1,307 people in the stalls and another 875 in the circle.

It was tripled in size in 1974, with two extra cinema screens added. And in 1988 it acquired a fourth screen.

 

 

 

The Odeon closed on July 16, 1997, due to the opening of another new Odeon multiplex at Freemens Park. The last films screened were Batman and Robin, One Fine Day, Karma Sutra and The Fifth Element. The building is now used as the Athena events venue.

Picture House, Granby Street

The 1910 cinema's main entrance was in Granby Street, but it also had an imposing facade at the back in Town Hall Square.

It was renovated and rebuilt in 1925 and went on to become a popular cinema for many years, owned by Rank.

 

 

The Picture House in the 1940s.

It was regarded as a very good example of 1920s 'luxury cinema'.

But that wasn't enough to stop it closing in 1973 and it then stood empty for years before being converted to offices.

Its facade at 7-9 Town Hall Square still remains as it is a Grade II listed building.

Odeon Cinema, Marketplace

This started off life in 1924 as the City Cinema, with The Covered Wagon the first film to be screen there. It had 2,200 seats in stalls and circle, an Apollo organ and also a cafe. But it was closed in April 1964 and the auditorium was demolished.

Six months later a new cinema was built behind the original facade.

 

 

 

The ground floor was the shopping arcade that you can still visit today, and the cinema was the on the first floor. It was notable for its 70mm presentations on the curved screen which measured 45ft wide by 26ft high.

 

 

 

It became a 'roadshow' cinema, a term used by the film industry for cinemas where films opened in a limited number of cities for a limited time before they went on national release. And the The Sound of Music had a two year run at the cinema.

But on May 31, 1975, the cinema closed. It then briefly became an independent movie house called the Liberty Cinema which screened Bollywood films. Since then, it has been used as a bingo club, amusement arcade and a music venue.

 

 

City Cinema, Abbey Street

The cinema located on the ground floor of the Abbey Street car park complex opened in 1969 as the Cinecenta. Originally its two larger screens showed the latest releases, while a smaller screen was for uncensored 'adult' films. It was run by Star, Cannon and MGM before it was closed in 1986 and lay empty for several years. It reopened in 1990. In 2006 it became the City Cinema - and had the cheapest ticket prices in the city at £2.90. It closed in 2014.

 

 

Brian Garner, manager of the City Cinema, Abbey Street, Leicester, in 2007

The Trocadero, Uppingham Road

The "Troc", as it was known, seated more than 2,000 people and featured a ballroom, cafe and even an open air swimming pool -Humberstone Lido - at the rear. In 1938 it was taken over by the ABC group, which also ran the Savoy in town, but it closed in 1963.

 

 

 

It became a bingo hall but was badly damaged in a fire in 1967 and the remains of the building were demolished not long after. A petrol station is now on the site of the entrance, while a block of flats is where the auditorium used to be.

Fosse Cinema, Fosse Road North

In the days when every suburb of Leicester had its own cinema, this Art Deco building could be found on the corner of Fosse Road North and Pool Road, in Newfoundpool.

 

 

It was open from 1936 until 1981, when it was turned into a bingo club. But this was demolished in 1998 and a Tesco Express petrol station is now on the site.

The Tudor Cinema

In 1914, the Tudor Cinema held the opening night of The Sea Wolf, a film which the Mercury described as a "A most thrilling and interesting picture."

The Tudor Cinema's advert in the paper bragged: "ALL ROADS in Leicester lead to the Tudor Cinema."

 

 

By the time the Tudor was built, the city had 15 cinemas for a population of just under 230,000.

But like other small surburban cinemas it struggled due to the rise in popularity of television. The last film was screened there in 1958.

 

And there are still more...

Do you remember any of these?

The Evington in East Park Road,

The Sovereign in Wood Street,

The Plaza in Whetstone,

The Cameo in Belgrave,

The Aylestone, in Aylestone

The Lyric in Clarendon Park Road

The Shaftesbury, in Overton Road

The Star, in Belgrave Gate

The Magna in Wigston

The Empress, in Belvoir Street

The Olympia on Narborough Road

Carlton Kinema, in Gypsy Lane,

Floral Hall Picture Theatre, in Belgrave Gate

Knighton Kinema, in Welford Road

Regal Cinema, in Havelock Street

Roxy Cinema, in Fullhurst Avenue

Sangam Cinema, in Belgrave Gate

Scala Cinema, in Granby Street

Sovereign Cinema, in Woodgate

Westleigh Kinema, in Harrow Road

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/happened-Leicester-s-lost-40-cinemas/story-28799592-detail/story.html#ixzz41MSjVSoh 

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[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Swear to God the number of homeless has shot up in town, walking from the railway station to st mags is on another bloody level

Although that brü coffee shop gaff is always FULL of SPLENDID looking girls

[SemperEadem]

Swear to God the number of homeless has shot up in town, walking from the railway station to st mags is on another bloody level

Although that brü coffee shop gaff is always FULL of SPLENDID looking girls

Tory cuts.

[davieG]

Demolition work begins clearing 43-acre former British Shoe Corporation site

By AlanThompson  |  Posted: February 29, 2016

• 

  British Shoe Corporation building in Kirby Lane, Leicester May 1964

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Work has begun clearing a huge warehouse and office complex which was once home to one of Leicester's biggest employers.

Industrial buildings on the 43-acre former British Shoe Corporation site, off Scudamore Road, Braunstone Frith, are being torn down and replaced with a series of massive structures.

Birmingham-based developers Graftongate and Blackrock Investments are behind the development which would create a strategic distribution hub with nearly a million square feet of industrial space.

The British Shoe Corporation site, which opened in January, 1964 and closed in July 1998, onceemployed around 2,000 people, complete with its own bus service for workers.

 

Bulldozers have started work demolishing buildings at the north end of the site.

The work to clear that part of the site is expected to take until June, with tenants occupying offices at the southern end expected to move out by around the end of July.

Peter Doleman, director at Innes England commercial property agents in Leicester, which is marketing the site, said it already has outline planning permission as a distribution site to be known as The Leicester Distribution Park.

He said: "There has been significant interest from logistics and other local companies in the distribution sector.

"Now that we've got vacant possession of the northern part of the site work has started on clearing around four fifths of the site which should take until June."

He added: "Some existing tenants in Ellesmere House at the bottom of the site at the south end have already made arrangements to vacate, leaving the property at the end of July or so.

"The first new tenants could move in early in the new year. It is a big, important site within Leicester with excellent links to the motorway network."

It's understood the park will be aimed at internet retailers and could potentially create more than 1,000 jobs when fully occupied.

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Demiolition-work-begins-clearing-43-acre-British/story-28829847-detail/story.html#ixzz41dlfyY9e 

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[davieG]

Shimla Pinks restaurant closed due to mouse and rat infestation

One of Leicester's best-known curry houses, Shimla Pinks, has been shut by health inspectors after they found it was infested with rats and mice.

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news#ixzz41vQu6skT 

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[davieG]

More student accommodation

 

- SAVE THE BLACK BOY FROM DEMOLITION -

 

You might be interested that an application has been made to demolish the Black Boy pub to make way for a block of student flats. Stuart Bailey of the Civic Society writes that: "The Black Boy is an outstandingly good example of an Art Deco pub dating from 1923. The Bass Brewery architect took an early Victorian street corner pub and rebuilt it incorporating as much design curvature as possible given the constraints of the site. The building is locally listed.

A previous application was for retention of the Albion Street and Chatham Street facades and construction of a block of 56 student apartments behind. We reluctantly acquiesced to this compromise but once again compromising our historic environment has led only towards destruction. 

The proposed block of 75 student apartments is the usual monolithic building totally out of scale with its surroundings and which will turn both streets into dark and narrow alleyways. I have objected and have launched a campaign to arouse the maximum public protest."

Deadline for comments is 10th March:http://tinyurl.com/hl2lv5c

 

https://www.facebook.com/Leicestermemories/photos/a.800173553343457.1073741844.296186597075491/1224611347566340/?type=3&theater

[Wymsey]

It's the new tradition now, things for students and accommodation.

 

Local, private pubs are getting towards the old tradition now sadly.

Edited 4 March 2016 by Wymeswold fox

[Len Finsbury]

Would be a real shame to knock it down. 

Some people won't be happy until all we have left is modern soulless buildings

[Webbo]

If the pub could turn a profit then it wouldn't be at risk. These old buildings are nice but if they have no purpose then what are you supposed to do with them?

[davieG]

If the pub could turn a profit then it wouldn't be at risk. These old buildings are nice but if they have no purpose then what are you supposed to do with them?

Fair enough but the original plan was to at least retain the facade now that ideas been binned.

 

We're fast stating to look like some early communist city sky line.

[Len Finsbury]

If the pub could turn a profit then it wouldn't be at risk. These old buildings are nice but if they have no purpose then what are you supposed to do with them?

 

Wait... are you talking about buildings or people now?

[davieG]

If the pub could turn a profit then it wouldn't be at risk. These old buildings are nice but if they have no purpose then what are you supposed to do with them?

 

Lots of structures have no purpose but they add to the overall ambience of the place and can create a feeling of well being such as historical buildings like the guildhall and statues. Almost every building that is deemed aesthetically pleasing incorporates aspects that serve no function other than to make them look good and that usually costs.

 

Even the guildhall was just another old building once and has little if any practical use.

 

The problem with many modern building especially student blocks is they are totally functional often out of place and will no doubt become future eyesores if they're not that all at the build stage.

 

If they'd put a little thought into achieving some aesthetic substance perhaps people would be less averse to something with character being pulled down.

[SemperEadem]

Leicester City Council put up 'historic Leicester' billboards up and then proceed to tear down all its history.

[Bob Hazels shorts]

Lots of structures have no purpose but they add to the overall ambience of the place and can create a feeling of well being such as historical buildings like the guildhall and statues. Almost every building that is deemed aesthetically pleasing incorporates aspects that serve no function other than to make them look good and that usually costs.

 

Even the guildhall was just another old building once and has little if any practical use.

 

The problem with many modern building especially student blocks is they are totally functional often out of place and will no doubt become future eyesores if they're not that all at the build stage.

 

If they'd put a little thought into achieving some aesthetic substance perhaps people would be less averse to something with character being pulled down.

Can't understand why the need to destroy old buildings with character and replace them with tomorrow's slums. Yet we have hideous empty building that bring shame to the city.........old Abbey hotel anyone!

[Foxxed]

As city centres go, Nottingham is the best in the midlands, although on a friday and saturday night, unless you're out for a stag do, it's not pretty: I'd rather having a quiet pint in the globe. New walk way is probably my favourite area in Leicester, but it's too far from the centre. It's a pity about the Phoenix. That areas could have been excellent--but it's just too far away, again. The Haymarket is the worst for me. It's the first experience may have in Leicester--and it's shoddy. Manchester is the only city with a truly excellent city centre--and they had to rebuild loads of it, too. Narborough Road is probably my favourite area, nearish the river, has some decent bars and plenty of excellent curryhouses along it, but most visitors will never see it.

[Col city fan]

Again. .yes.

Leicester City is a shit hole.