Leicester’s Iconic Hotel Enters a New Era with Bold Rebranding Under New Management This evening, we went to the hotel's opening launch and were very impressed with the quality and ambiance of the rooms and the food offerings. The historic Grand Hotel Leicester has now reopened after a bold reimagining, as it officially joins The Unlimited Collection. The hotel will become the 8th property to open globally under The Unlimited Collection, joining a growing portfolio of cultura

Young people and their families are invited to attend Leicestershire’s biggest SEND information event of the year. ‘Have-a-go’ activities including ‘emoji cold cookery’, music creation and stone decorating will feature at the bumper event from 5 - 7.30pm at County Hall, Glenfield, on Thursday, September 24. Around 35 different organisations which support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families are expected to attend. They include gro

A major new employment support programme has been launched across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to help disabled people, people with health conditions and those facing other barriers to find and stay in work. Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, Connect to Work is offering free personalised support to people who want to work but need extra help to get there. Currently around 92,500 working-age residents across the area are economically inactive. Of these 36

Blood pressure monitors can be borrowed by adults for free under a new council initiative launched in libraries across Leicester. The city council has made 100 devices available for loan across all city libraries, and members can borrow them free of charge for up to three weeks at a time. It is estimated up to 24,000 people living in Leicester could have high blood pressure and not know it. Around one in three adults in England are affected by the condition. High blood pressu

M&S have now confirmed that they will not be reopening the Food hall store which they had been operating from for more than 16 years. Laura Arnold, regional manager at M&S, said: “Over the past few months, we have been assessing the damage caused by the fire at Thurmaston Shopping Centre and sadly, our store will now permanently close. We know this is disappointing news for local customers and I’d like to thank everyone who has shopped at the store over the past 16 years and

A major road has been closed this morning in the city. Upperton Road, Leicester is currently closed between Wilberforce Road and the Roundabout with Western Boulevard due to a Road traffic collision. We have no details on any injuries at this time. Please avoid the area if possible. Pictures Supplied

Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a man was stabbed on a canal towpath in Glen Parva. The incident happened at around 2.30pm on Friday (11 September) on the towpath behind New Bridge Road, close to the junction with Leicester Road. The victim, a man in his 30s, was attacked by two men and sustained a puncture wound to his body and cuts to his arm and face. He was taken to hospital for treatment and discharged the same day. No arrests have been made and

The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev Dame Sarah Mullally, visited the Leicester Royal Infirmary on Saturday 12 September as part of a pastoral visit ahead of a special service at Leicester Cathedral. During her visit, Archbishop Sarah met the Trust's Chaplaincy team and chaplaincy volunteers at the hospital's Spiritual Centre before visiting Ward 31, where she spoke with patients and frontline colleagues. Kartar Bring, Head of Chaplaincy at the University Hospitals

Free gym sessions, swimming, group exercise classes and other activities are on offer for everyone in Leicester to celebrate National Fitness Day. National Fitness Day is on Wednesday 16 September, and to mark the occasion, the city council’s Active Leicester leisure centres are offering the chance to get fit for free. Swimming will be free of charge at Aylestone Leisure Centre, Braunstone Leisure Centre, Cossington Street Sports Centre, Evington Leisure Centre, Leicester Ley

A man has been found guilty of killing a bus passenger during an incident at a stop in Wigston in October 2022. Darren Bakewell, 62, of Bentinghouse Gardens, Leicester, was today (Monday 14 September) found guilty of the manslaughter of Christopher Pearson, 78, following a trial at Leicester Crown Court. He has been released on bail and is due to appear for sentencing on 9 October. The incident happened just after 2pm on Saturday 15 October 2022 in Long Street, Wigston. Mr Pe

Police are appealing for help in identifying man after a large number of laptops were taken from a building in Leicester. More than 60 laptops were stolen from premises in University Road between 31 July and 14 August and it is believed the person pictured below may have information that can assist with the ongoing investigation. PC Des Bausor, the investigating officer, said: “I’m appealing for anyone who recognises this man to get in touch as he may be able to help with our

Oadby & Wigston Borough Council (OWBC) has approved plans this week to transform the former Nautical William pub in Wigston into 14 affordable homes, bringing a long-vacant site back into use and helping to meet local housing needs. The development will see the former pub site redeveloped to provide much-needed affordable housing. Having stood empty for several years, the building had fallen into a poor state of repair and become a growing concern for many local residents. Th

Council tenants and leaseholders from across Charnwood have been celebrating after winning awards over two annual competitions. Photo shows tenants' garden and arts competition winners with the Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor Colin Hamilton. Charnwood Borough Council’s tenant garden competition attracted 36 entries this year, with awards handed out in 10 different categories, showcasing gardens of all shapes and sizes. The creative competition returned for its third year and r

Artists from across the East Midlands are being invited to submit their entries for Leicester’s annual Open exhibition before next month’s deadline. Open: The People’s Exhibition 2026 will once again showcase the region’s creativity, with selected paintings, sculptures, textiles, prints and photographs by local artists going on display at the Leicester Museum & Art Gallery at the end of November. Open to all artists – from complete beginners to seasoned professionals – the de

Leicester Magistrates' Court has granted a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) against Jordan Stacey following repeated offences linked to retail crime in Leicester. The order imposes a number of restrictions designed to protect businesses and deter further offending, including: Prohibited from entering commercial areas of Leicester city centre. Must leave any store immediately when requested to do so by a member of staff. Prohibited from entering a number of Tesco s

A main road in Leicester was closed for several hours following the death of a man who fell from a building. A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said: “The force was called at 7.20pm last night (Friday) following a report of an injured person in the street in Welford Road, Leicester. It appeared that he had sustained his injuries after falling from a height from a nearby building. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. There is not believed to be any third-party invo

Emergency services are in attendance at a car park on Welford Road tonight. A police cordon is in place, and the surrounding roads are closed due to an ongoing incident. The car park is currently closed. East Midlands Ambulance Service is at the scene. Please avoid the area if possible. We have contacted Leicestershire Police for more information on this incident. Police Update Saturday 12/09/26 09:00 A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said: “The force was called at 7.

Two women who were sexually abused by a man when they were children have been praised after their evidence led to him being jailed today (Friday 11 September). Jordan Gray-Higgs committed his crimes in Leicestershire between 2012 and 2014. His offending was brought to the attention of police in 2022, when the victims told officers what had happened. They described how Gray-Higgs had incited them to engage in sexual activity and abused them. Jordan Gray-Higgs In interview Gray

Between 25 March and 7 April 2026, a woman, who lives in North West Leicestershire, was victim to a courier fraud scam. The victim was contacted by a man claiming to be a police officer stating that someone had attempted to purchase a laptop using her bank account and if she withdraws cash from her account they would keep it for safe keeping. A woman later visited the address to collect this withdrawn cash. Enquiries have been ongoing into this incident, and officers have rel

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service joined emergency services colleagues from across the world in paying tribute to all those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. At 13.46 - the exact time the first aircraft struck the North Tower - they held a minute’s silence and lowered flags to half-mast across our stations and sites. Today is the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks back in 2001, when a series of four coordinated suicide attacks were carried out by the Isla