BUT IT’S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM: WHAT’S OPENING IN 2021
MORE VENUES OFFERING MORE OPTIONS SET TO OPEN THIS YEAR
LEICESTER has a great selection of places to visit, whether that’s for a drink, a meal, a night out bowling or watching a film.
Of course, the pandemic has meant that many places had to remain closed for a large portion of 2020.
Hopefully, things will improve in 2021, and we can get back to enjoying our favourites venues.
As well as being able to visit existing places, we’ll soon have more options to choose from, with many new businesses set to open in the city.
Here are the places that are due to open in Leicester this year:
EAST STREET FITNESS,
East Street
As we revealed in December, a fitness studio is set to be launched in the city centre venue that is home to East Street Lanes bowling alley and Caddyshackers crazy golf course – both of which are closed due to coronavirus restrictions.
As well as Caddyshackers, which opened in 2018, and East Street Lanes, which opened in 2019, there is an event space, East Street Events.
It is this area that is being converted into East Street Fitness, as well as a co-working space.
The fitness studio will include a gym, kitted out with exercise bikes, treadmills and weights, and will offer classes, including 45-minute HIT sessions.
Describing the new fitness studio, owner Billy Allingham said: “It will have a very modern, funky vibe with nightclub-style lighting to create a vibrant buzz to work out to.”
East Street Fitness is due to open in mid January.
BELGIAN CHIPS,
Granby Street
If you like Belgian-style chips, then keep your eye on this place. We noticed the signs going up recently, but we’ve yet to discover when it’s opening.
We’ll let you know as soon as we find out though!
SONRISA,
St Martins
Argentinian restaurant and bar Sonrisa is due to open in the grade IIlisted Leicester building formerly occupied by deli Delilah Fine Foods.
Sonrisa is being launched by Birmingham’s Lasan Group, and will be an offshoot of its well-established Fiesta Del Asado venues in Birmingham and Solihull.
Customers will be able to enjoy a range of Argentinian food, with a small plates menu and full restaurant menu available, along with a wide selection of cocktails and fine wines from Argentina and elsewhere in South America.
Originally, the owner hoped to be able to open in November. However, delays were caused by coronavirus, and now the venue is expected to open in February or March.
AFRIKANA KITCHEN,
Charles Street
African-inspired restaurant Afrikana Kitchen is set to open in Charles Street.
The brand began in 2018, in the small Midlands village of Aldridge. The vision was to bring authentic home-cooked African-inspired dishes to the high street and incorporate them in dishes most loved by diners.
You can also expect to enjoy African culture, music and art as part of the experience.
NINJA WARRIOR,
St George’s Retail Park
A new adventure park, inspired by the ITV show Ninja Warrior UK, is to open in Leicester, in St George’s Retail Park, in the unit formerly occupied by Toys ’R’ Us, which closed in 2018.
Children and adults will be able to tackle assault courses featuring a variety of obstacles, and discover if they’ve got what it takes to beat the wall.
The park is due to open in February or March, depending on the Covid-19 situation.
YUMMITOS,
Granby Street
New restaurant Yummitos is opening soon in the unit formerly occupied by The Peri Experts.
It will offer flame-grilled peri chicken, which, according to the brand, will “take you on a fiery adventure”.
Also on the menu will be fish, pizza and burgers, plus sides such as potato wedges, French fries and coleslaw. It was originally due to open for Christmas, but the opening was delayed due to coronavirus.
PAI,
St Martin’s Square
Pizza fans are sure to be in for a treat when new restaurant PAI opens in the city centre.
It is being launched by the team behind existing St Martin’s Square eatery KAI, which is well known for its excellent pancakes and more.
PAI is set to open early in 2021.
KITTY CAFE,
Highcross
There was a huge amount of excitement when it was announced earlier this year that Kitty Café was coming to Leicester.
The fourth branch of Kitty Café (joining Nottingham, Leeds and Birmingham) was set to open in June, but the pandemic meant it couldn’t happen.
However, the owner has confirmed to the Mercury that Kitty Café will be coming to Leicester this year.
As well as being cafes, the locations are also cat rescue centres, with the aim that every cat, regardless of the situation, finds a loving home and has a long and healthy life.
KAKE TEMPTATIONS,
London Road
Customers will soon be able to visit Kake Temptations’ Americaninspired bake house.
It will serve a huge range of homemade treats including 14 different types of gourmet cupcakes, giant, chunky cookies and layered American cheesecakes.
Kake Temptations is owned and run by Sumaiya Patel, who operates from an industrial unit in Maidstone Road.
The bake house was originally due to open in March 2020, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, this was delayed. It is now set to open in early 2021.
BUNK,
Granby Street
Cocktails and wings venue Bunk is to open in Leicester this year.
The small chain, which has three branches in Nottingham and one in Derby, is to open in Granby Street.
Bunk is known for its chicken wings and cocktails. The menu available at the Nottingham and Derby branches features traditional wings and boneless Southern fried wings, as well as chicken nuggets, vegetarian Quorn nuggets and vegan tofu pieces.
Premium cocktails include Parma Violet and Drumstick, and Bunk House cocktails including Long Island Iced Tea, Woo Woo, Espressotini and Singapore Sling.
Although government restrictions have delayed work to the new venue, a member of the Bunk team confirmed it is due to open early in 2021.
FOOT LOCKER,
Highcross
A new Foot Locker store is coming soon to the Highcross shopping centre.
Boards have gone up outside a large unit on the lower level of the shopping centre, advertising the opening of the new shop.
According to the signs, it will be opening this month, and jobs are available. The company already has a Kids Foot Locker store in Highcross shopping centre, and the new store will be very close to this, in a corner unit situated opposite Ray’s Traditional Fish and Chips and Sharps Bedrooms.