Leicester’s vibrant late night economy recognised

We all know that Leicester has a great nightlife, but now there’s even more ways to find out the best, safest and most well-managed spots to go out in the city.

On Tuesday 4 November, Leicester’s nightlife took centre stage as 53 city centre venues were recognised for excellence, safety, and customer experience at the Best Bar None Awards 2025

The awards celebrate venues that help make Leicester’s night-time economy one of the most vibrant and well-managed in the country.

Leicester’s Best Bar None scheme is in its third year and is delivered by BID Leicester in partnership with Leicestershire Police, Leicester City Council Licensing, and Leicester City Watch. It is part of a nationally recognised programme backed by the Home Office and rewards venues that demonstrate the across pubs, bars, restaurants, and late-night entertainment.

The awards saw the following venues recognised for the highest standards in safety, management, and customer care.

• Best Independent Pub/Bar: Queen of Bradgate
  Highly Commended: The Rutland and Derby, The Real Ale Classroom
• Best National Pub/Bar: Turtle Bay
  Highly Commended: Cosy Club, The High Cross
• Best Late Night Venue: Firebug
  Highly Commended: 2Funky, Mosh
• Best Live Entertainment Venue: The Y Theatre
  Highly Commended: 2Funky, Firebug
• Best Leisure Venue: Genting Casino
  Highly Commended: Roxy, Lane7
• Best Restaurant: Sonrisa
  Highly Commended: Knight and Garter, Wagamama
• Best Scheme Newcomer: The Old Horse
  Highly Commended: La Fontana, 33 Cank Street
• Standout Growth Award: The Corn Exchange
  Highly Commended: Audrey, The Globe

Alongside the winners, the event saw 53 different venues recognised by the Best Bar None scheme. We’ve split them into nice easy categories.

Party the night away at the 2 Funky Music Café with live music, club nights and more, Baton Rouge is the city’s premier country bar, with a mechanical bull to ride, live music and rootin tootin atmosphere. Bistro Live is the city’s top part venue and DMU: LVL1, part of the students’ union complex has branched out into gigs and discos for everyone.

If you’re into live music, then Firebug is where to find the best local artists, the O2 Academy at Leicester Uni hosts touring bands and The Big Difference venue on high street has both live music and awesome comedy shows. Want to bang your head? Then head to The Metal Monocle on Braunstone Gate for live bands and club nights and speaking of clubbing, Mosh is one of the top late night spots in the city.

We’ve already covered independent restaurants in another post, check it out here, but the places awarded Best Bar None status are Audrey, Bryter Moon, Cosy Club, Giggling Squid, Herb, Knight & Garter, Kayal, La Fontana, Las Iguanas, Middleton’s, Merchant of Venice (Granby Street), Merchant of Venice (Loseby Lane), Sonrisa, Turtle Bay, Veeno and Wagamama.

Leicester is packed full of fantastic places to get a drink. There are some fantastic traditional pubs like The Globe, The Old Horse, The Marquis Wellington, The Rutland and Derby, The Bowling Green, The High Cross and Queen of Bradgate.

You could also head to one of the large modern pubs like Hogarths, O’Neill’s, The Corn Exchange, The Friary and The Exchange Bar, or check out one of the great spots for cocktails… Japanese inspired at 33 Cank Street, late night tunes and innovative mixes at Little Sister, Vodka inspired flavours at Revolution and some spectacular creations at Watson’s Cocktail Bar.

Leicester’s theatrical traditions are well known thanks to the likes of Richard Attenborough and Joe Orton and you can catch a performance at the nationally renowned Curve Theatre, or the 300 seat Y Theatre. There’s bowling, mini golf and other games at Lane7, pool and snooker at Rileys and all kinds of pub games and fun at Roxy Ballroom.

And finally, the Genting and Grosvenor Casinos were recognised, as were hotels the Holiday Inn, City Rooms and The Gresham.