Retail Revolution: new in Leicester

Leicester's Leisure Line-up

Leicester is responding to the evolution of retail by filling vacant units with exciting new leisure offers – City Centre Director Sarah Harrison explains

CADDYSHACKERS

SIXES CRICKET

The retail sector continues to evolve as it responds to changes in consumer behaviour. Online retail sales accounted for 14% of all sales in 2016, rising to 37.8% in January 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. With shoppers returning to the high street, online retail sales in 2022 fell from this all-time high to 26.5% of all sales (CRR).

UK shoppers spend more money online on average than any other country in the world. It is forecast that retail sales from m-commerce (mobile commerce) are expected to surpass the £100bn mark by 2023 – up from £50.36bn in 2019, reports Statista.

Omnichannel is a term used in e-commerce and retail to describe a business strategy that aims to provide a seamless shopping experience across all channels, including store, mobile and online. Bricks-and-mortar stores have a large role to play in the future, as not only are customers looking for experiential shopping but also like the option of click-and-collect.

Recent charges made by retailers for online returns drives customers in-store. Zara brought in a policy recently to charge customers £1.95 to make a return at a designated drop-off point, but returning items to Zara stores located in the same region as the online purchase is free. Boohoo has also brought in charges for returns and it is expected that other retailers will follow suit. This may be due to rising last-mile delivery costs, a way of tackling

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY: BETH WALSH, EXCEPT BOOST TRAMPOLINE PARK serial returners or to entice customers to visit in-store and encourage more sales.

More than 17,000 chain store outlets closed across Britain in 2021 (Local Data Company) as heritage brands such as the Arcadia Group and Debenhams closed stores and other retailers including banks restructured.

The challenge for cities and towns is how to fill these vacant units. There has been a welcome increase in independent brands on the high street, more residential schemes as urban living becomes the top choice amongst youngsters and the emergence of leisure activities. Leicester has welcomed a host of new entertainment venues, adding to the richness of the city centre’s overall offer.

Leisure venues

BOOST TRAMPOLINE PARK

The latest to open is Sixes Cricket in the former 19Gale restaurant in the Cultural Quarter. It’s cricket, but not as you know it. The tech-powered game offers adrenalinefuelled batting against some of the greatest bowlers with a precision scoring system igniting competitiveness. Add in the food and drink offer and Sixes Cricket is perfect for office nights out and team-building days through to birthdays, and stag and hen dos.

Treetop Adventure Golf invites you to tackle the Tropical Trail or discover the Ancient Explorer with two full 18-hole mini golf courses.

If you’re looking to get active, head over to Boost Trampoline Park for plenty of bouncing fun. They have activities suitable for all ages, including special under-four sessions for toddlers.

You can check out your strength and endurance at Ninja Warrior Adventure Park at St George’s Retail Park. Based on the ITV programme, you can climb, balance, jump and swing across different obstacles, using and developing your Ninja skills, then see who can conquer the famous Warped Wall – the ultimate challenge for every aspiring Ninja.

From a bouldering session at Social Climbing or flying across Europe in the cockpit of a Spitfire plane at Leicester Simulations, the city is full of exciting options for a day out with a difference. If you’re planning a get-together with friends, then a competitive element always adds a little extra excitement to the gathering.

East Street Lanes is Leicester’s independent boutique bowling alley, featuring eight bowling lanes alongside a stylish cocktail bar and arcade. Situated just next door, Caddyshackers, the home of crazy golf in Leicester, takes you through 18 themed holes, from a brewery theme to a building site and even a Leicester City-themed football hole. Under-18s can visit Caddyshackers before 7pm, but the evenings are made for the grownups.

If you’re looking to elevate the competitive element up a notch, how about axe throwing? Axethrowing lanes can be found at Caddyshackers and Angle Axe Throwing.

Across the city, Lane7 offers a complete entertainment destination in the transformed former Leicester Central Station. Lane7 houses the

SOCIAL CLIMBING

city’s biggest social gaming zone. Bowling lanes, crazy golf, ping pong, pool, shuffleboard, arcade games and Leicester’s biggest sports screen all await you inside.

You can also travel to far-off places at one of the city’s escape rooms. Enjoy a family-friendly Egyptian mystery in The Betrayal of Cluetankhamun at ClueHQ or join your friends as you tackle Operation Magnus in Escapologic’s specially designed 1942 bunker.

The emergence of exciting leisure experiences adds to the overall appeal of the city centre and, importantly, encourages people to interact socially.

To find out more information, go to visitleicester.info.