Possible venue + description

Population & location

No. of pubs in town centre

No. of Indian restaurants in TC

No. of night clubs

Accommodation

General notes

Tony’s score out of 5

Market Harborough

 

12th Century historic market town

All pubs, clubs, restaurants situated around town square.  East side of Leicestershire is v scenic

17, 000

 

10-15 miles southeast of Leicester, J20 M1

~10

2

2

10 hotels, none in centre £40-£80 for double rooms.  No Travel Inn types.  1 Best Western £50 for double room

Very picturesque town, situated in rural area.  Plenty of daytime activities in surrounding countryside, although there are no hills to climb.  Accommodation may be an issue.  Is it big enough?

4

Hinckley

 

Old market town grown significantly over last 20 years

60K

 

<10 miles southwest of Leicester, J1 M69

~20+

5 (maybe more)

4

Numerous B&Bs around town centre.  No Travel Inn types. Hinckley Island Hotel (Where G Lineker was married!) on outskirts is big £50 double room

Quite big, possibly too big.  I recall that only 1 of the nightclubs was any good.  Can get a bit rough. Quite close to both Leicester & Coventry & many people choose to go out in the cities instead. Plenty of activities to choose from in the day though & pubs are generally good

2 ½

Melton Mowbray

 

Historic Market Town similar in appearance to Market Harborough

 

Famous for its pies & cheese

25K

 

10-15 miles northeast of Leicester,  J21A M1

~15

2

3

Numerous B&Bs around town centre.  No Travel Inn types

Slightly bigger than Market Harborough, but has similar feel, maybe just a touch rougher though.  Tricky to get to, need to go round Leicester ring road.  Again plenty to do in the day, but landscape again v flat

3 ½

Ashby de la Zouch

 

Historic spa town, has pretty main street with Georgian buildings.

 

Reasonably impressive castle ruin.

 

Home of Sue Townsend’s Adrian Mole.

13K

 

15-20 miles northwest Leicester.  J11 M42

~ 10

4

2 (I think)

Number of B&Bs in town, get the impression there are a bit naff.  Best hotels are out of town 5-10 miles.  2 Travelodge hotels approx 10 miles away, 1 towards Nottingham, the other towards Leicester

Never been to Ashby, so don’t know what its like.  Prob plenty to do in the day being close to Bradgate Park, Mkt Bowsorth 7 New Forest area. 

3