Restaurant famine

Leicester's restaurants are not what they used to be. That is the view of John Harris, the director of city advertising firm Rock Kitchen Harris.

He told me in an interview last week that when taking upmarket clients out to lunch in the city he was forced to go to the same eaterie each time - Casa Romana in Albion Street - because it was the only one he could rely on.

Mr Harris said he was worried the lack of fine dining establishments within walking distance of his Lower Brown Street office could have a negative impact on his business.
He admits the situation is much better within the county, but points out getting to these venues would require travelling by car.

Mr Harris says his views have received support from a number of prominent business people since the interview was published.

I agree with him to an extent. The closure of Watson's in Upper Brown Street, once seen as the city's premier fine dining restaurant, has exposed a shortage of top-notch places to eat in the city following a number of closures in recent years. But there is still The Case - which when I dined there a couple of weeks ago was excellent - as well as the recently opened The Boot Room, in Millstone Lane, and 1573 at Highcross.

Yes, Leicester does need more quality restaurants to help it compete with the likes of Nottingham and Birmingham, particularly as the city has upped its game in terms of shopping and cultural offerings.

Let's hope there are more entrepreneurs, like the people behind The Boot Room and 1573, willing to take advantage of this gap in the market.