New openings in Leicester!

This year Leicester has seen loads of fantastic new openings across the city, from delicious food from around the world in a range of new restaurants and cafes, some fantastic new late-night venues and entertainment complexes and some great shops and retail offers on the high street. Check out below to find out more!

There are loads of great new spots to try out in Leicester if you’re feeling peckish. In the former Shimla Pinks on London Road, Golden Sands is a Goan influenced Indian restaurant serving delicious main meals plus Indian style breakfast and brunch. The newly opened Mandi & Biryani House can be found at the top of Granby Street. Coming soon to the former Counting House pub on Freemen’s Common is Soho Tavern, an Indian Gastropub chain which has been a hit across the West Midlands.

Continue your tour of world flavours around the Highcross with a rash of new openings. Soon to be open in St Peter’s Square Umami World Kitchen, a new buffet restaurant. Also on Highcross Lane is Daiu, a new Korean BBQ and Hotpot and The Thai Classic, expanding from their Birmingham site into the city. Kumo is a new Japanese restaurant soon to open on the High Street with Thành Nam Phở now open next door serving Vietnamese Street Food, making this area a hotspot for South East Asian cuisine.

A few big names have opened new spots in Leicester with popular restaurant Bill’s and viral sensation Wingstop opening near Highcross. Starbucks has opened a brand new café on Gallowtree Gate as has Dave’s Hot Chicken with their takeover of the old Pret unit bringing a splash of colour and flavour to the area.

Café-wise one of the biggest recent wins for the city was the opening of Public and Plants on King Street, a fantastic bakery and coffee stop which has been absolutely packed since opening. Lynn in St Martin’s Square serves up quality brunch, dinner and cocktails and on Jubilee Square Alcove has tastefully reimagined the old Alfred Lenton antiques store as a fantastic new café serving coffee, matcha and açai. Tea Time comes to Leicester straight from Qatar, with eastern influenced drinks, brunch and desserts.

Rounding out our list are Crust Issues on High Street, serving up individual pizza slices, Biggies Pizza in St Martin’s Square, and on Granby Street, Scooperb serving up desserts, Lala’s Restaurant with pizza, chicken and burgers and finally Grillworks, who offer flame grilled burgers, fries, salads and more.

Leicester’s nightlife is still absolutely thriving, and while the hub of the city’s activity has shifted towards the old town and St Martin’s Square, whether you’re hitting the bars, live music venues or taking part in something more active, there’s loads going on. Sally Cinnamons is a new music venue in a basement on Cank Street, with line-ups influenced by 90s and northern soul. Right next door to them is Ivy Lounge, a luxurious venue for parties, bottomless brunches and socials!

Merchants Yard opened last summer, but is set to provide a fantastic outdoor events space as the weather warms. Tucked away just off High Street expect DJ set, live music, sports events, street food and great drink. Taking up the space where the Case restaurant used to be in St Martin’s, Cork & Case is now a vibrant bar with live music, cabaret performances and comedy nights.

If you’re looking for some fun and to get active then Activate is your spot, opening later this year in Highcross it’s described as ‘Live Action Gaming’ your team of players will test their speed, agility, problem-solving and teamwork with the latest technology. In Evington is Claw Kingdom, this is the UK’s first ‘human claw machine’ where you are the claw, they’re now looking to expand into the city! Loads more arcade fun inside too! And rounding out the active fun is Padelaire, offering premium padel courts, pickleball and table tennis just to the north of Leicester city centre.

Alongside Leicester’s fantastic range of independent shops (see our blog here) there are a bunch of new openings to highlight. Henshin is a unique store focused on anime and Japanese culture with great geeky gifts available, you can find them on Silver Street.

Fashion lovers will want to head to Highcross’s new Office store for all your footwear needs, if you love a bit of denim then Jeans and Jeans have opened a pop-up shop in the Highcross and there’s also a new Topshop concession in John Lewis.

Luxury diamond company Austin and Blake have opened a new store in Highcross offering beautiful custom-made jewellery designs. Also in Highcross is Nomination, an Italian jewellery store which allows you to build your own bracelet link by link. Joining the Golden Mile on Belgrave Road is Kalyan Jewellers, a 112 year old family business from India with more than 300 showrooms across Indian, the Middle East and the USA.

Leicester is the perfect place for a spot of pampering with a range of new shops and boutiques.

Hair Nova Leicester is a Premium hair salon in St Martins Square who specialise in hair colour, extensions and styling. Over on Market Street Chloes Nail Art have taken on a large unit where they create stylish and glamorous nail looks. For a glow-up Pure Seoul are opening a new store in Highcross with Korean inspired skincare, makeup and beauty brands.

Also recently opened in Highcross are large Bodycare and Superdrug stores, giving you the chance to shop for affordable toiletries and perfumes. And speaking of perfumes Loris Parfum has opened a store on Loseby Lane with a range of original scents, aftershaves and perfumes.

Stabana Cultural Products is worth a mention as after the retirement of the owners they sadly closed after 30 years serving the African-Caribbean community with dedicated hair and beauty products. But now a new owner has taken on the store on Charles Street!

And don’t forget that Highcross Leicester offer all day parking for just £5, you just need to set up a subscription here. if you arrive after 5pm then it’s just £2.50 for the evening.

Leicester is well served by buses on all main routes running into the city centre every 15 minutes, the free Hop bus running around the city centre and the Enderby Park & Ride service extended to run until 9pm, meaning you can stay for a meal once you’ve done with your shop.

Check out Choose How You Move for a range of travel options whether you’re walking, cycling, drinking or using public transport.