14 photos from our archives show the changes at Leicestershire’s Fosse Park down the years.

Fosse Park today boasts 45 shops, up from just 12 when it first opened.

Leicestershire’s Fosse Park has experienced enormous development since its inception in 1989, and it remains as popular as ever, receiving over 11 million visitors per year.

London & Edinburgh Trust, a multinational property development and investment organisation, opened it 36 years ago, south of Leicester.

It was originally 265,000 square feet in size, which is roughly equivalent to four football grounds.

Before it formally opened to the public, there were 12 shops on site, including a Marks & Spencer store that had a major renovation last year. Toys R Us, BHS, Next, and Comet were among the remaining twelve locations.

Many shops have come and gone over the years, leaving the area with 45 shops, including Flannels, JD Sports, Primark, which replaced BHS, New Look, Boots, and Currys, to name a few. The Next shop relocated as part of a £168 million makeover in 2021.

Everards Brewery and the original Food Hall, which included Pizza Hut Express, McDonald’s, and Drucker’s Patisserie, were demolished.

A stunning new area, known as Fosse Park West and Food Central, has added a 140,000 square foot space.

Food Central provides shoppers with even more options for food and beverages. Options include Nando’s, Zizzi, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Doughnuts, Itsu, and more.

KFC remains at the same location, however McDonald’s has moved to a separate facility within Fosse Park.

In August 2014, the Crown Estate paid £345.5 million for the location.

Fosse Park is currently 758,500 square feet in size, which is about equivalent to ten football grounds.

Shoppers taking advantage of the Christmas sales at Comet in 1999.

Fosse

The Sports Division Superstore in 2000.

Marks & Spencer in Fosse Park, in May 2001.

Shops at Fosse Park South in 2000.

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