Business owners delighted at Leicester festival boost
Independent business owners have praised the impact of a popular festival in Leicester, saying it helped boost footfall in the city centre.The four-day Light Up Leicester event attracted 93,500 people between 12-15 March to see art installations and other attractions, according to Leicester City Council.Leion Dillon, who runs the Scrumptious sweet shop in Gallowtree Gate, said the high street was facing "tough times" because of the loss of flagship stores but that the festival provided a welcome boon.The 46-year-old said: "We need more incentives to bring people back to town to see what they are actually missing... a lot of people don't even know that many shops on the high street exist."
"It's a great city and I think we just need to pull together to really push Leicester," he added.
Aleisha Hartsilver, an employee at pasta restaurant Mac Lovin in St Martin's Square, said the festival had helped the restaurant during a typically quiet period."Leicester's quite good for doing little arty pop-ups," she said. "I think it brings a lot of people in, and especially since Covid the city has struggled a little bit."It's really nice to see the city be so lively again."The festival included art installations in eight locations and the cathedral was illuminated with a digital lightshow depicting the city's history.A number of attractions also took place during the free four-day event, such as a dance performance and illuminated bike ride.
Layla Sidat, who runs The Globe pub in Silver Street, said the event had attracted a larger number of children to the city."Families will tend to stay away from the city centre at nightfall, and obviously that's for safety reasons, but I think projects like this have been really good with security," she added."We've still got wonderful things that we can provide for the city of Leicester, and if you're going to retail parks, you're missing out on something."The city council said the event's footfall represented a 45.1% increase in the area compared to the same times and days in the previous week.Meanwhile, early estimates put the financial benefit to the city at £4.5m.
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BBC News
25-03-2025
- BBC News
Business owners delighted at Leicester festival boost
Independent business owners have praised the impact of a popular festival in Leicester, saying it helped boost footfall in the city four-day Light Up Leicester event attracted 93,500 people between 12-15 March to see art installations and other attractions, according to Leicester City Dillon, who runs the Scrumptious sweet shop in Gallowtree Gate, said the high street was facing "tough times" because of the loss of flagship stores but that the festival provided a welcome 46-year-old said: "We need more incentives to bring people back to town to see what they are actually missing... a lot of people don't even know that many shops on the high street exist." "It's a great city and I think we just need to pull together to really push Leicester," he added. Aleisha Hartsilver, an employee at pasta restaurant Mac Lovin in St Martin's Square, said the festival had helped the restaurant during a typically quiet period."Leicester's quite good for doing little arty pop-ups," she said. "I think it brings a lot of people in, and especially since Covid the city has struggled a little bit."It's really nice to see the city be so lively again."The festival included art installations in eight locations and the cathedral was illuminated with a digital lightshow depicting the city's history.A number of attractions also took place during the free four-day event, such as a dance performance and illuminated bike ride. Layla Sidat, who runs The Globe pub in Silver Street, said the event had attracted a larger number of children to the city."Families will tend to stay away from the city centre at nightfall, and obviously that's for safety reasons, but I think projects like this have been really good with security," she added."We've still got wonderful things that we can provide for the city of Leicester, and if you're going to retail parks, you're missing out on something."The city council said the event's footfall represented a 45.1% increase in the area compared to the same times and days in the previous early estimates put the financial benefit to the city at £4.5m.
BBC News
12-03-2025
- BBC News
Leicester city centre illuminated for three-day light festival
Leicester city centre has been brightly illuminated with the start of a three-day festival of Light up Leicester festival began on Wednesday when hundreds of schoolchildren took part in a procession through the city installations have been set up at eight locations and the cathedral has been illuminated with a digital lightshow depicting the city's history including the discovery of the remains of king Richard III who is interred City Council said it hoped the free event would draw tens of thousands of visitors into the city centre before it ends on Friday. The festival is being staged for the first time since 2022 when 80,000 people attended, the council Thursday, a 1.5km (0.9 mile) illuminated bike parade will take place around the city centre from 18:30 to 20:30 GMT with riders invited to "bling up" their bikes with Friday, a dance performance - The Holi Experience - will take place at the Clock Tower from 18:30 to 19: festival will conclude on Saturday when 4m (13ft) tall illuminated horses parade down New Walk from 19:00. Art installation locations Evanscent – a giant bubble-inspired structures in Jubilee SquareDouble Flux - a kinetic sculpture in Bath House LaneHula Hoop – Geometric hoops of light and sound in High StreetChorus – a light and motion sculpture in Market StreetNoor Tower – an LED light tower inspired by Moroccan architecture in ChurchgateBeacon – a light sculpture at the Clock TowerHenge – a light and sound installation inspired by ancient monuments in Town Hall SquareNocturnal – Glowing inflatable wildlife installations in St Martin's Square Simon Jenner, of the Leicester Business Improvement District (BID) scheme said: "Light Up Leicester is a testament to the power of partnership, with our partners working collaboratively together to create something truly special for the city."
BBC News
18-01-2025
- BBC News
Hundreds of pupils to take part in Leicester festival parade
More than 300 schoolchildren will parade through Leicester to open a free festival as it returns to the city for the first time in three Light Up Leicester festival will include projections, light and sound installations plus interactive performances by local and international City Council says the parade, which starts at 11:00 GMT on 12 March, is inspired by Richard III and the city's diverse cultural heritageThe festival will finish on 15 March. 'Extraordinary performances' More than the 80,000 people attended the event when it was last held in 2022, according to the city festival will feature a range of events, including a light, paint and dance performance by Nupur Arts at the Clocktower at 18:30 on 14 final night will see a performance delivered by French street theatre company Compagnie des Quidams featuring giant illuminated will run from New Walk to The Circle at 19: will also be a trail of illuminated artworks on display for each of the festival's four city mayor Vi Dempster said: "For four nights in March, Leicester will come alive with light and colour, with extraordinary performances and installations by international artists that people will be able to enjoy free of charge."
