Retail, Tourism & Hospitality

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Retail is a significant sector in this area, employing 43,900 people. Several key retailers have their headquarters here, including Next, Joules and Dunelm.

 

The City’s shopping experience comprises a mix of large centres and smaller boutique areas like St Martins. The famous ‘Golden Mile’ in the Belgrave area of the city is home to the largest selection of Indian jewellery shops outside of India, a range of saree houses and Indian sweets.

 

Recent growth in the retail sector has been driven by the impressive Highcross development with further expansion plans currently underway. Complementary city centre regeneration schemes, when finished, will also raise the potential for further growth, attract increased tourism and inward investment.

 

The county market towns boast attractive shopping offers and there are dedicated destination outlets such as Fosse Park which attracts 10 million visitors a year. Recent development plans for a £150 million extension to be completed by 2020, will see it double in size and create around 1,000 full time equivalent jobs. Big names moving on to the 12.5 acre site, (called Castle Acres) will include a Debenhams, TK Maxx and Clarks alongside a flagship Next store.

 

Everards Brewery formerly located on the Castle Acres site, is moving to the new Everards Meadows site located just across the main dual carriageway. The company is investing in a new state-of-the-art food and drink park encompassing a brewery, offices, a pub, restaurants, and craft food and drink production facilities, which is anticipated to employ a further 300 people.