Independent Shops in Leicester

Leicester city centre is packed full of fantastic independent stores, restaurants, cafes, bars and venues. We were set a challenge by some of our local independent venues to do a bit of promotion and we are running with it!

For our first blog we’re going to focus on shops, galleries and places where you can buy that unique gift, special something or rare bit of memorabilia. This is not an exhaustive list, so if we’ve missed someone, just let us know!

Leicester has some great places if you consider yourself to be on the geeky side. Super Game Shack in the Silver Arcade is a mecca for gamers, with loads of classic and modern video games on offer, plus loads of memorabilia and a Tardis. Their newly opened café and arcade on the second floor features classic cabinet arcade games! If boardgames are more your bag then ReRoll gaming café on Granby Street has more than 400 board games to play, made to order bagels and snacks and weekly events for table top game lovers.

Looking to stock up on the latest sounds, then Out of Joint Records in the Silver Arcade is where to get your vinyl fix. On Cank Street Beat Route has CDs and vinyl aplenty, and then round the corner in Malcolm Arcade is Leicester’s favourite and longest running independent record store Rockaboom.

If you want to look the part then you need to head to Damaged Society in Highcross. Find them on the lower level. Whether it’s gothic and alternative fashion, band tees, or horror-inspired merch, this is the place to get yourself kitted out. Specialising in fantasy, gothic and spiritual gifts, The Source on Churchgate is the place for unique presents and a huge range of licensed merch including Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and loads of band merch.

If you’re looking for something really special and shiny, then Leicester has a great selection of jewellers to choose from. Locally run since 1881 Lumbers have their flagship store on High Street and you can find brands like Breitling, Faberge, Gucci, Tag Heur plus an Omega specialist store. Over on Market Street Pragnell also offer an unparalleled range of exquisite masterpieces, exclusive jewellery collections, engagement rings and bespoke jewellery services. They are also an official partner of Rolex and Patek Philippe.

On Loseby Lane, Lanes Fine Jewellery offer bespoke diamond jewellery, engagement and wedding rings with connections to Bond Street and Hatton Garden diamond merchants. Established in 1977, Churchgate Jewellers is one of the city’s oldest independent jewellers with top quality gold and silver jewellery plus a gold buying service.

If gold is what you’re looking for then Leicester’s world Golden Mile is the place to head. The huge variety of jewellery merchants and gold dealers on Melton Road gave the area its name and continues to serve the city’s Asian and wider community. Top names on the road include Bipin Jewellers, Malabar Gold and Diamonds, D M Soni Jewellers, Raj Jewellers, Krishna Jewellers and many more!

Starting off with one of Leicester’s classics, the Very Bazaar is the home of alternative home design. With the smell of incense wafting from the door come in and find a host of crystals, jewellery, fashion accessories, soft furnishings and ornaments. Across the road you will find the Fair Trade Shop offering all kinds of ethically sourced gifts and items. Right next to them is Cocoa Amore whose chocolate treats are the perfect gifts for any special occasion. They also offer chocolate making workshops!

Based on Lineker Road not far from the King Power Stadium, Harriman and Co are an independent furniture and homeware store who will help make your home beautiful. They were named one of Home & Garden magazine’s top 50 independent stores. Not far away, on Burnmoor Street, the Burnmoor Street Store offer unique, vintage and stylish home décor. It’s an absolute treasure trove!

Leicester is well served for arts and crafts as befits this creative city. Based in Malcolm Arcade Button Boutique has absolutely everything you need for sewing, crafting, haberdashery or crochet. Round the corner by Green Dragon Square, Gadsby’s is the place for art supplies. Whether you need paints, brushes, pencils, paper, clay or anything you can imagine, they’ll have it. They also offer picture framing and restoration. If art is your thing the recently opened The Love of Colour on King Street does exactly what it says on the sign. The gallery and shop is run by local artist Sally Ann Dyer whose beautiful and colourful artworks are on sale inside.

Leicester has become known as a Street Art city and that’s thanks in part to Graffwerk, who are based at GraffHQ on Jarvis Street near Lane7. Their shop offers everything you need to get started in the Street Art scene from spray paint and markers to clothing and safety gear, plus info on the best legal street art sites to try it out.

If you’re looking for the latest fashions or vintage styles then there’s loads of options for great retailers in the city. Tin Fish Shoes have been in Silver Arcade since 1991 and are the place for fashionable trainers, bespoke designs and brands including Dr Marten, Crocs, Blowfish, Birkenstock and many more. Keeping on the shoe theme, over on Belvoir Street, Kings Luxe Italia are a recent success story. With clients including top sports stars, they have a huge range of high fashion sneakers and shoes, streetwear and accessories. Brands include Air Jordan, D&G Trapstar, Yeezy, Gucci and Prada.

Pop across to St Martin’s Square and you’ll find Patina who have loads of great fashion workwear and streetwear with brands including Carhartt, Dickies, Vans, Rapha, No Problemo, Service Works and more. Recently opened on Carts Lane, Arciide are a vintage and Y2K streetwear store with brand collections including Carhartt, Stussy, Quiksilver and Nike, but a huge range of pre-loved items. Also just about to open on Carts Lane is Cover Story who are run by an experienced team who have been in Leicester retail for at least 30 years. Their aim is to help men build better wardrobes with clothing that lasts. Whether it’s British tailoring, sustainable denim, or streetwear with a story, they offer brands that value craftsmanship, design, and substance.

Vintage stores are a speciality on Silver Street, where The Wardrobe is one of the most established in the city. You can spend hours browsing the racks for a unique bargain, we know, we’ve done it too! Blue Tit Thrift can be found a few doors down. If you’re looking for something absolutely unique, you’ll find it here thanks to their specialism in upcycled clothing, vintage pieces and hand-printed shirts. Finally pop over to Market Street where you can find White Rose with their range of Men’s, Women’s & Kids Pre-Loved Fashion.

We’ve popped the last few here as they definitely class as specialist stores. Kicking off (or rather serving first) is Withers Sports Shop. Established in 1940, they have built a deserved reputation as one of the UK’s most respected racket sport specialists. You can get all your tennis, badminton, squash, pickleball and padel accessories here, plus home fitness equipment, running shoes, plus hockey, swimming, table tennis, bowls and rugby accessories.

Looking for a wedding dress or something super special? Then you’re going to be spoilt for choice. Divine Boutique on Silver Street have gorgeous, glamorous gowns suitable for any black tie event, plus a Bridal and bridesmaid suite on the 1st floor. Brides of Bond Street (somewhat confusingly, on Silver Street) specialise in wedding dresses and every single item in their store is hand made in their Leicester factory, a real local success story.

We’re not leaving out the men though. If you’re looking to get suited and booted, then Suit Yourself on Belvoir Street offers off the rack, tailored and made-to-measure suits, shirts, ties, cufflinks and shoes. Once you’ve visited, you’ll be the best dressed in the city. Their partner brands include Harris Tweed, Patherella, Benetti and many more top names.

Always a treat to see their displays, both inside and out, Flower Works bring the colour to the heart of Leicester’s old town from their store in Loseby Lane. With beautiful seasonal bouquets, plants and botanical, they bring over 20 years experience to Leicester. The Flower Corner is one of two fantastic flower shops in Leicester’s Clarendon Park. Whether it’s weddings, events or gifts, there’s something for everyone. Rounding out the list is another Clarendon Park staple, The Bloom Project. Known for their creative window designs and colourful funky bouquets, they’re the people to go to if you’re looking for something a little different for that special someone.