Okay. At the moment we have, roughly speaking, zilch. A few tiny venues for music, a large one about a mile outside the city centre and a couple of small capacity cinemas. What we're getting is.
A new theatre (Curve)
A 12 screen multiplex (Cinema de Lux)
A 3 screen digital cinema (DMC).
What I'd suggest we need.
A new large capacity music venue (over 1,500 seated with provisions to stage larger capacity standing only gigs) in the city centre.
A second theatre. I suspect we have one of the worst theatre provisions in the country at the moment with approximately 1 theatre (well, 0 right now) for 300,000 people. (more if you include the contiguous urban area)
A 1K+ capacity nightclub (although the venue mentioned above could serve this purpose).
By the way. OT Question for Nottingham forumites. I know a lot of you like to mock our city's numerous fast food joints. But are you saying that no one has ever stumbled out of a bar/club in Nottingham with a sudden inexplicable craving for a kebab?
That would make you truely unique amongst Britons.
The "city of kebab shops" comments came when Danz went to Leicester city centre with his camera once and took some shots of some of your grand Victorian city shopping streets, which were full of kebab shops!
That's Rackhams/HofFraser, isn't it, backing onto a street with crappy cafes etc.
Of course, we have plenty of kebabs in Nottingham, but it is pushed out of the central shopping core into the secondary retail areas such as Mansfield Road, Sneinton, Ilkeston Road etc. The "kebab shop city" comment was Danz's impression that, in Leicester, things like crappy chip shops and takeaway pizza places were more a part of Leicester city centre.
We do have some very good restaurants. I could recommend either Maiyango or The Case both of which, if a little pricey, are very good. We also have the Y Theatre which |I hear is very good though I have never been.
Things can only go up in terms of entertainment offer and when High Street is pedestrianised then I'm sure it will become more lively and the 'crappy' shops will be banished!
I still think that the Singer Building would make a great shopping arcade (Lears idea originally).
That Singer building would maek a great shopping arcade and would link HXL with Greyfriar's - as well as getting rid on the one kebab shop and the one chip shop on High Street...
Though this isint strictly nightlife, went yesterday to the Cow and Plough pub which is on the Gartree Road just past the golf course. First time I have been here, was recommended by work colleagues. This is the home of Steammin Billy bitter, which was very nice. We had sunday lunch there and it was the best bit of lamb I have tasted in a while. Nice bar/restaurant and seats outside for nice days like yesterday.
That place looks pretty good and the beers sound even better (one of them is 7.1% - think I would need to get a taxi!). I might have to go for a meal there soon.
The Criterion. Real ale pub and the bottom end of Mill Lane. Usually 6-7 real ales on tap, Oakham ales JHB being a regular. Live music at the weekend, food everything from snack to pizzas and short tapas menu.
The Halli. South Indian Vegetarian Restaurant. Really good authentic Indian food. can thoroughly recommend the Beetroot curry. Sounds wierd but is really nice, and hot. Very reasonable price.
Maiyango. Personally my favourite restaurant in Leicester. Has a nice area for drinks with a very extensive cocktail list. Expect modern British food with an international twist, so something like partridge for a starter when in season and monkfish and lamb with couscous as a main.
Have also heard good reports about Flores World Tapas on New Walk/King Street though havent been, intend to in the near future.
If you like authentic Italian food, you can't go far wrong at either the Roma Cafe on Halford Street or Cafe Italiano on East Bond Street. Both bloody cheap as well...
You can't beat Casa Romana on Albion Street if you like your Italian food. The Terrace next door is a good bar too.
For the Real Ale fans amongst you, the Ale Wagon on Charles St has a good selection.
Always have a good night in Maiyango, Sophbeck Sessions, Orange Tree, The Quarter and Helsinki. And of course there's always the 'West End' - Mobius, Loaf, The O Bar, Nine Bar, Entropy, The Looking Glass... there are some really nice places to go.
Leicester does have some decent watering holes .. the Western, since being bought by Steaming Billy, has a good selection of real ales and traditional Pub food which you used to see in country pubs (until most of them converted into "restaurants with a bar" )
Narborough Road, north of Upperton Road, is now lined with a variety of different bars and eateries. You really are spoilt for choice .. and the ones on Braunstone Gate are open until the early hours no need to risk your neck on Church Gate any more .. although there are quite a few decent places in the Lanes area near the Shires (sorry Highcross)
The Charlotte
In the last few years has seen bands such as Babyshambles, Ocean Colour Scene, The Scissor Sisters and many more, but literally everyone has played here, from Oasis to Robert Plant.
Firebug
Upstairs hosts all manner of local bands, plus the Bottle Rocket comedy night.
Sumo
Hosts bands including 80s Matchbox B-line Disaster, NME tours,
Leicester Uni
The Ting Tings and Futureheads are playing here soon.
The Shed
Local bands mainly, but the occasional touring band comes through.
The Musician
Ryan Adams, Laura Cantrell, Jason Ringenberg, the greats of Americana have played here.
And don't forget the many pubs hosting acoustic or folk evenings such as The Donkey, Criterion, Swan and Rushes.
It's on Welford Road, really near Halfords and Homebase. It does Real Ale and stuff (think it's Everards).
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