Open to opportunities... despite the coronavirus
While many businesses have had a tough year, Becky Jones looks at enterprises, ranging from cupcake bakers to cocktail makers, which have launched in the past 12 months
IT has been a difficult few months for businesses due to the impact of the pandemic.
However, a wide variety of new ventures have launched in Leicester. Some opened before the pandemic struck, but most have opened in recent months.
For some business owners, the pandemic has, in fact, inspired them to launch their businesses.
Here are the places that have opened in Leicester in 2020:
Novotel and Adagio hotel complex and NineB restaurant, Great Central Square – opened January
Leicester’s £40 million Novotel and Adagio hotel complex aimed to bring “high-end luxury and comfort” to the city.
Both premises are part of the Accor family of brands, with the 154room Novotel aimed at business and family travellers, and the connected 98-apartment Adagio “aparthotel” offering serviced apartments.
As well as the 10-storey Novotel and six-storey Adagio, there is also an independent restaurant, NineB, serving British cuisine with an international twist.
It celebrates the best of Leicestershire’s cuisine by supporting local food and drink suppliers, such as Brockleby’s Melton Mowbray pies, Langton Brewery ale, St Martin’s coffee and Two Birds Spirits gin.
Papa Frites, Granby Street – opened
January
It describes itself as “The Daddy of All Chips” and serves takeaway chips with a variety of toppings and sides.
There’s a big choice of sauces on the menu, including ketchup, mayo, Belgian Andalouse, sweet chilli, minty yoghurt and even chocolate sauce.
Sophy, King Street – opened February
New cocktail bar Sophy opened in the building that previously housed nightclub Sub8ten.
It was given an extensive revamp to turn it into a stylish venue, with white bar top, exposed brick walls and lots of natural light flooding in through the new large windows.
The cocktail menu features 10 “Lost” cocktails, all of which are named after Leicester venues which are no more.
Some of the best vocal house, disco and soul DJs in Leicester were showcased in the basement bar.
The bar is currently closed.
Clarks, Highcross – opened June
The Highcross store was originally due to launch on Saturday, March 21 in the unit formerly occupied by Miss Selfridge and Burton, which closed for good in May 2019.
However, this was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Clarks used to have a store in the city’s Haymarket Shopping Centre.
However, this closed in September 2019 following the news that Metro Bank had been granted permission to open a branch on the prominent corner site occupied by both Clarks and The Body Shop.
Giggling Squid, St Martin’s Square – opened February
Giggling Squid brought tasty Thai flavours, fresh ingredients and a lively dining experience to St Martin’s Square in February.
The 100-cover restaurant features Giggling Squid’s unique, bright interior with a nod to ingredients from the sea and the land. Menu items include the best-selling Salt and Pepper Squid (fresh squid with a touch of salt and pepper in a light, crispy coating) and creamy Massaman Curry).
The restaurant is currently offering a takeaway service.
Cake Origin, Queens Road, Clarendon Park – opened March
This family-run cake boutique was due to launch at the end of March and offer customers a relaxing space in which to sit and enjoy a cake and a cuppa. Due to coronavirus, plans had to be changed. The boutique opened, but for takeaway cakes and drinks only.
The business is owned and run by Tracey and Rob Percy. Tracey has been baking and producing cakes for more than 15 years.
You can find cupcakes with varieties changing each week. There’s also bakes including brookies and blondies.
La Forêt, King Street – opened September
This new cafe launched in September, serving a menu inspired by the owners’ experiences of different cultures from around the world.
It was opened by Minela Mhadhbi and her husband Radz, who has a background in French patisserie and has worked as a chef at hotels around the UK.
The menu included breakfast options such as a La Forêt brioche, comprising homemade brioche bread, soft cheese, grated apricot, figs, pistachio and passion fruit syrup.
Speciality sandwiches included falafel and butternut squash pitta, tandoori panini, tomato and mozarella panini, and harissa turkey baguette. The cafe is currently closed.
TAG Heuer, Highcross – opened
September
The luxury watchmaker opened a store on the upper level of the shopping centre, in conjunction with family jeweller Beaverbrooks, which also opened its revamped store next door.
According to the Swiss brand, the 30.67 sq metre boutique welcomes customers to discover the spirit of TAG Heuer with a contemporary design and the iconic red reflective of the brand’s motoring heritage.
Customers can purchase a selection of TAG Heuer’s most anticipated launches and most loved heritage pieces.
Lane7, Great Central Street – opened October
Attraction Lane7 opened in the historic former Leicester Central railway station at the end of October.
It offers entertainment options
including bowling, mini golf, UV ping pong, arcade games, and gaming tables, as well as a street food court and a variety of themed bars.
The 30,000 sq ft development was due to open earlier in the year but suffered building setbacks due to Covid-19. It is currently closed.
That’s Amore, King Street – opened October
This Italian restaurant and cocktail bar opened in October, in the building formerly occupied by Buddha Bay, which closed last year.
It was opened by an Italian family who have more than 25 years’ experience of running restaurants around Europe, including awardwinning venues in Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands.
They say they want to offer diners the chance to enjoy authentic Italian food in a modern restaurant, with excellent service.
Secondi, or main courses, include scaloppine di vitello al porcini (escalope of veal with porcini mushroom sauce) and branzino alla pugliesi (pan fried sea bass with sun dried tomato sauce).
It is currently open for takeaways.
Unicorfee, Belvoir Street – opened
October
Colourful coffee shop Unicorfee launched in the Belvoir Street unit formerly occupied by board game cafe Quest, which closed in March.
Currently open for takeaways, Unicorfee serves what it describes as “a unique blend of coffee beans from three continents”, with more than 70 different flavoured syrups available for those wanting to try something a bit different. Unicorfee was only started in July last year, by businessman Carl Knight.
Carl said he was spending so much money in coffee shops that he decided he may as well open his own. Now, after just five months, he has four of them.
The Nottingham branch opened first, quickly followed by Bedford and Northampton, then Leicester.
The city centre branch first opened on October 31, but following the announcement of the second national lockdown, closed until early December.
Jollibee, Humberstone Gate – opened November
Philippines fast food chain Jollibee opened its first Midlands branch in in Leicester, in November.
More than 100 people queued on the opening day to be among the first people in the city to try the chain’s famous fried chicken.
Chickenjoy – Jollibee’s signature dish – is served extra crispy on the outside and marinated to be extra juicy on the inside.
Another popular dish is the Jolly Spaghetti, a sweet style spaghetti with Jollibee’s signature sauce topped with hotdog pieces and grated cheese.
The restaurant, which is currently open for takeaways only, is based in the Humberstone Gate unit formerly occupied by Select Fashion.
Taco Bell, Gallowtree Gate – opened November
The fast food giant opened its Leicester branch in November for takeaways, click and collect, and delivery.
It is based in the former home of GAME, which closed in April this year. The Mexican-inspired food available includes tacos (soft or crunchy), burritos (including a ‘volcano burrito’ with spicy lava sauce), quesadillas and nachos.
Desserts include cinnamon twists and churros with dulce de leche.
Super Game Shack, Silver Arcade – opened December
Retro video game shop Super Game Shack opened at the start of December.
The shop is full of games, collectibles and merchandise, plus a full size Dr Who TARDIS (at least on the outside).
The shop has been opened by keen gamer Richard Tewkesbury, who has traded at conventions and comic cons across the UK for the last nine years, including Leicester Comic Con which he co-organises.
With the coronavirus pandemic meaning all UK conventions have been suspended, Richard had to change the way he works – and opening a shop was something he’d been eager to do for a long time.
The shop, from concept to opening, took just 10 weeks with six weeks build time, and all the shop fittings were hand-built by Richard and his dad during lockdown.
The Coffee Obsessive, Francis Street, Stoneygate – opened December
This stylish cafe was opened at the start of December.
Owner Iqbal Mahomed previously worked in the fashion industry and is now indulging his passion for – or rather obsession with – coffee.
He says he wants Leicester to be a destination for people to come and drink coffee.
The cafe, which is currently open for takeaways, will always have North Star coffee, which is its main coffee supplier, based in Leeds.
There will also be a regularly changing selection, such as Obadiah Coffee from Edinburgh and Dark Arts Coffee from Hackney in London.
There is a selection of cakes available, and a food menu is set to be introduced, focusing on simple, quality ingredients, with menu items such as sourdough with Cheddar or Mozzarella and kimchi.
The Verandah, Queens Road, Clarendon Park – opened December
This new venue, described by the owners as “the first Anglo-Indian cafe and bar of its kind in the UK”, opened in December.
It is currently offering a reduced food and drink menu for takeaway.
The Verandah aims to celebrate the culinary fusion that arose from the British Raj, as well as the migration of Indian nationals to Britain in the 1900s and again after 1945.
The word Verandah comes from the Indian word Varanda, meaning porch in Hindi. It is one of hundreds of words that were adopted by the British during their time in India.
The new venue is a family affair, having been launched by husband and wife duo Jaskaran and Ayesha Dutta, alongside Jaskaran’s mum, Tamanna Dutta.
Port and Nata, Queens Road, Clarendon Park – opened December
This Portuguese cafe and bar opened briefly to offer takeaway food and drink and other items on Christmas Eve.
Due to current restrictions, the venue in the former home of Jones’ Cafe Bistro isn’t able to open fully, but the owners wanted to welcome customers before Christmas.
Port and Nata aims to offer “authentic Portuguese food with a twist” and hot food, pastries, cakes, and Portuguese coffee. Both nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks will be available.