The Charlotte

The Charlotte is now sadly closed. It was Leicesters most iconic live music venue, until it’s closure in early 2009. The beer was never the best and the sound was sometimes patchy, but you would go to The Charlotte for the bands who played there before the big time. Oasis, Coldplay, Suede, Scissor Sisters, Arctic Monkeys, Blur, Kasabian. All have graced the tiny stage at The Charlotte in the past. The building remains, but totally boarded up. Other small local music venues still fly the flag for live music, but nobody will ever forget this place

The Princess Charlotte is in the middle of a will they wont they close! To be fair in its hey day it was a great place boosting some top acts such as oasis, scissor sister, blur and many many more which you can see in the old advertising poster around the music venue.
Sadly over the last few years there music has been limited boosting only an array of local bands and tribute acts. The place is fairly dingy but I believe it gives a good atmosphere but beware of sticky floors. The only other thing to note is the drinks prices, which are not the cheapest!

Oh, I could tell you many tales about the Charlotte (seeing Bloc Party for £2; a Dandy Warhols show that was so packed it must have contravened Health and Safety and had sweat dripping off the walls). But somehow it seems like it’s had its best days — they do still have excellent club nights, and there are some good bands on, but not as many as there used to be. It seems to be resting on its past glories a bit, as demonstrated by the many posters for old Blur, Oasis, Coldplay, etc. shows there, all before they was famous, like.
But maybe it’s because I don’t slavishly follow NME buzz bands anymore — there are still plenty of quality acts, and ticket prices are still quite low. One thing’s for sure — the Charlotte is the beating heart of Leicester, and to see it ever close would be an absolute crying shame. So do go!

The Charlotte is Leicester’s largest music venue that puts on live gigs on a nightly basis. Though it is Leicester’s largest music venue, it is still relatively small compared to places in other Midlands cities, especially Nottingham and Birmingham. The size of the venue provides an intimate atmosphere, but in general the venue is in need of a serious revamp — the sound system is average, the interior is mediocre and the other facilities are fairly average compared to more recent developments in the city. Drink prices are fairly heavy and there aren’t many good promotions compared to other bars and clubs in the cities. Aside from putting on live music, the Charlotte also has many club nights, including an excellent drum ‘n’ bass night. There are also specialist nights catering to more niche tastes, such as dubstep and electo. In summary, its not a bad venue, but there are much better ones in the surrounding cities, Taylor John’s House in Coventry and the Custard Factory in Birmimgham spring to mind and in Leicester, venues like the Sumo on Braunston gate often provide better value for money and a more enjoyable night in general.

I feel like I have grown up with The Charlotte! I spent many nights drinking in here when I was a student, and ten years on I still visit the place now but only to see bands. Many great bands have played here over the years, often before they became huge (e.g. Muse for £2!!, Blur, Oasis, PJ Harvey, etc). It’s a great place to see your favourite band perform as the venue is so small and you can end up really close to your idols!