The Shed is located on Yeoman street which is technically in the city centre, but it is a little…read morefurther out the way than some more centrally located venus such as the Musician or Firebug. The Shed as the name would suggest is a rather small venue. Maximum capacity is probably around 150 people tops. Gigs are on most nights of the week at The Shed, catering to tastes across the rock genre, from blues to heavy metal, with ska and everything in between being covered. As far as I am aware you will not find any electronic or hip-hop gigs here, it is most definitely a 'rock' place. The sound system and lightning system are excellent and I have never had any complaints about sound quality/mixing from gigs I have attended here. Friday nights are aimed at the slightly more mature crowd with singer-songerwriters mainly focusing on the blues and the more melodic side of the rock spectrum. Saturday evenings tend to be showcases for young up and coming bands from the local area and further afield. These bands tend to be at the harder end of the rock scale, predominantly punk and metal bands. The venue also puts on some club nights once or twice a month which are geared towards the hard rock/heavy metal audience. Drink prices are average and the choices of drinks available is reasonable but not as wide as some other music venues in the city. The Shed's size is its greatest strength and weakness. When you get a good gig, the small space creates a really intimate atmosphere that some larger venus you can't match. On the other han, because it is such a small venue, you do not get much in the way of more established acts playing here. If you are on the lookout for new talent and relatively unknown bands this is the place to go in Leicester, but if you are looking for more established acts you would be better looking at The Charlotte or Sumo.

I attended a recent charity event at The Shed, one of the standout bands was The Eaves. What great…read moresongs, absolutely brilliant musicians too. They remind me of a cross between Ocean Colour Scene and Stereophonics, their singer is very Kelly Jones in his delivery, but the band as a whole are prob one of the best i've seen in years. Chris Odd and his band were also top notch, quality punk tunes all the way, didn't think much of Firebrand though, not sure what all the hype is about

I have a 2 hours' video of several kids continuously giggling, dancing and enjoying to the fullest…read more- that was how my daughter's 5th birthday party was like! Chuckle Chops were great fun, all children were kept occupied, yet due importance was given to the birthday girl... she later mentioned she felt special...what else do you want for your kid? Well done Chuckle Chops...parents are already enquiring about you..." Svara's mum, Bhawna - (Hinckley)

We hired Mr & Mrs Chuckle Chops in May 2012 for our son's 5th Birthday Party attended by 24 3-6…read moreyear olds and 31 parents. In the absence of personal knowledge or a friend's recommendation we found it very difficult to make a decision on which entertainer to choose, so I am very pleased to recommend Mr Chuckle Chops as a genuine, professional, quality children's entertainer. He is in character from the very second he arrives, both with children and parents alike. I have 2 hours of photos and video footage of a room full of smiling and laughing children along with parents to boot. The children only took 15mins to devour the food before all running back to Mr Chuckle Chops for more games, magic, music and fun. Birthday boy was made to feel special (magic helper etc) but all the children are totally included throughtout the party. Never did I imagine that children and parents alike would happily join hand in hand and dance to the Hokey Cokey in 2012. Worth very penny, you will not be disappointed.

This is Leicester's main concert venue, and we were lucky enough to see half the town turn up for a…read morerendition of Carmina Burana by the City of Leicester singers. The performance was absolutely stunning, the crowd loved it, and the venue worked perfectly. We got a partial translation from the singers in the Bar later, mostly of the more familiar drinking songs, but this is the stuff of powerful emotions: Siqua sine socio, caret omni gaudio; tenet noctis infima sub intimo cordis in custodia; fit res amarissima Mea me comfortat promissio, mea me deportat negatio. Fortunately, it all ended happily, those ancients knew a thing or two about love: Dulcissime, totam tibi subdo me! Ave formosissima, gemma pretiosa, ave, decus virginum, virgo gloriosa, ave, mundi luminar, ave, mundi rosa, Blanziflor et Helena, Venus generosa.

Much better for theatre than it is for live music. Its not really geared up for a mosh pit or a…read morethousand sweaty rockers. I've seen Kasabian, Fun Lovin' Criminals & The Fratelli's there to name a few. Getting to the bar is hideous. However every year they do the Summer Sundae festival which is based in their outside stage area, this is totally different and a must if you get the chance...

The adventure zone is a soft play area centre based on the Somers rd industrial estate in Rugby…read morejust off the main rd into the cement works. It opened a couple of years ago and to be honest although it was not brilliant to begin with it really has gone from strength to strength and is now a place that myself, my friends and family visit quite often. Upon arriving at the play centre, to be honest you will not be that impressed as it's based in an industrial area, and from the outside although it provides great parking facilities, it just looks like a small warehouse. Although upon walking in you a pleasantly surprised, you will always be welcomed by their front of house staff, which will take down your children's names, what time they arrived, whom will be looking after them etc. they will then take your admission fee and let you in through the gates. Admission is as follows 2 Adults Free Additional Adults £1.00 0 - 11 months £1.00 (Free with Paying Sibling) 1 up to 23 months £1.75 2 up to 4 yrs £3.50 5 up to 12 yrs £4.00 The play centre is very large (approx 9000 square feet) you have the food counter selling a variety of meals, drinks and snacks, lots of seating areas including table and chairs and even sofa areas. The play areas are separated into three areas really; there is a toddler area, a 3 tiered play system and then a football/basketball area also. The toddler area** The toddler area is really nice, very bright colours and a variety of things for the little ones to play with, such as, A wind blowing machine A ball pit Lots of big shapes for them to dive on or make into things, such as boats and cars etc A slide A Rope bridge Spinning seats It really is a nice area, and my little girl loves it, its also nice that the older ones are separate to this, as then the little ones can play nicely without feeling intimidated by the bigger children and also the bigger apparatus. The Main play system (recommended for over 5's) *** The main system is a three tiered system and is very large, the children love it and you have over fifty kids on it easily and it would still not be that crowded. This system consists of the following; A four lane gastro bumpy slide Rollers Climbing wall Helta skelter type slide Net ropes/bridges Dizzy discs Ball pit Monkey bars My son whom is six and a half loves it, he will run about for hours if I let him and defiantly burns a lot of energy whilst playing on this system, and it's also a nice variety of activities for all ages and physical capabilities. The games area** Once my son has burnt off a suitable amount of energy on the play system he normally spends the rest of his time playing on their little indoor football/basketball area, he loves football and he loves playing penalty shoot outs on this area. They have toilets and baby changing facilities, which although nicely decorated etc and well equipped I sometimes find the hygiene a little to be desired, although again is getting better and the last couple of times we have been there they have been spotless so I'm in hope that they have took on feedback from customers feedback sheets etc and they will now keep them in better conditions. The food is really nice and they sell a variety of meals and snacks from items such as toasted sandwiches and Panini's and burger and chips or hotdogs or jacket potatoes etc. There are loads of drinks on offer from lattes and cappuccinos to soft drinks and milkshakes, they also do a jug of squash for 1.00 which I think is great as the kids get a few classes of squash I think each jug gets about 8-10 glasses dependant on how full you do the cups. They also have a variety of cakes, chocolate, biscuits etc. There homemade cakes are really nice and that is normally my preference along with a yummy latte. The prices of the food are not very expensive and I think the most expensive thing is about 4.00 for a burger and chips type meal. The centre is open everyday, opening hours as follows; Monday 0930-1800 Tuesday 0930-1800 Wednesday 0930-1800 Thursday 0930-1800 Friday 0930-1800 Saturday 0930-1800 Sunday 0930-1800 Overall it's a lovely place and is great if you just want some peace, sometimes I go there with a couple of magazines or a book, and chill out while the kids run off all their energy, takes them a while but at least once their finished I feel rested alsoha-ha!!! The things we do for peace!!! My friend also sometimes goes down with her laptop, they have wifi connection and it's a good way for her to catch up on some work while her kids run ragged. They also provide birthday party packages, which they have a separate party rooms for, which I must say if really lovely and I have attended parties there a few times. They also have special offers on from time to time with play and eat deals for about a fiver etc. All in all a great place for the kids to get hyper and for you to chill.

I'm done with this place now after being a regular weekend visitor with my 2 children for last 2…read moreyears. The number of private party bookings resulting in early closing on weekends and holidays has left me and my kids very disappointed. The final straw is the almost complete closure over Easter 2015. Bye bye...we're off to Tigers in Daventry!

Great place to dance and hang out and great music as well and I love the drinks as well and I got…read morelots of friends there and the toilets are clean and they do great trips out to places and lots of groups and I like the dj as well and Xmas is good on a Wednesday night disco and it gets very packed as well and I live in Leicester and it's only a drive away from where I live

Jaides Stage studios is a brilliant organisation in Rugby, Warwickshire, not only is this a…read moreperforming arts school but also a registered charity (no 1124316) that aims to offer free places or subsidized classes to various children within the community, including under privileged, the disadvantaged, low academic achievers, children whose parents receive low incomes, special needs and the black and ethnic minorities. I first came in contact with Jaides over two years ago, when my little boy was just coming up to five years old and myself and my husband decided we wanted him to have a out of school hobby that would help him gain confidence and also something that he would enjoy. My husband came up with all the usual a daddy normally does, footy, kickboxing, karate, Rugby..... But I tried to think more about what did he like doing. He like many children loved singing and dancing, he was not especially brilliant at it or anything (the gene of the two left feet was passed on from his daddy) but I thought why not try it. I had a look on the internet for a dance school in rugby and came up with Jaides website, so I gave the number a call and it was the best phone call I have ever made. I got through to a wonderful lady called Sandra Ellery, (whom is Jaides mum) she was so helpful, not only did she talk me through everything they had to offer but also said to me, that she knows what children are like and they can start clubs and go off them really quickly so she would offer my son two free classes to see how he felt about it. The following week we turned up at the studios, and upon arriving I was given loads of information, timetables, programs of shows and festivals they had taken part of and also just a really lovely welcome. We had turned up about 30 minutes before the street dance class started, so after our welcome I was told I could now leave.......OMG!!!! I can not leave my baby....I can remember thinking, but Sandra advised me that although I was clearly anxious about this, my some would be in safe hands and also this would give him the independence and confidence that I desired for him. I went downstairs and sat in the reception area, and I can say it was the longest hour ever!!!! But 1030 came and down bounced my son with the biggest smile on his face ever...sticker on his shirt.... And a jelly sweet in his hand!!! He was so happy, he told me that he had been dancing, skipping, and having lots of fun and that Jaide was brilliant and he had a sticker and a sweetie for being such a good boy. Seeing him like this made me realize that this class was going to do wonders for him. Well, as the years have gone on my son has been in numerous shows, festivals, fete's etc, he has gained two qualifications and numerous certificates and has not only made him independent, confident and also good at dancing, the biggest thing is that Jaide tries to teach her students the correct way to behave while in class, while someone to talking to you etc etc, and I can say that all her students show such maturity and great manners. **How Jaides got started* Jaide had always done lots of dancing, singing, performing etc from a very young age and worked very hard at her skills and attended classes nearly every day. At the age of 14 she wanted to be a teacher but instead of this being a girls fantasy she put it into practice, to begin with she just taught street dance, but she did not stop here she then continued with the help and support of her mother to complete her a levels, to train in all forms of dancing and pass all her teaching qualifications so she could offer more classes to the children of Rugby. When I look at what she has done, I just feel amazed, she is still only 22, but when all her friends were going out clubbing etc, she was teaching so many children so many classes, and yet I have spoke to her about this and she never regrets it, she feels privileged to be living her dream and sharing her love of the arts with different children in the community. She really is a great role model and inspiration to many children, and the kids absolutely love her to bits *What they offer* Well as I stated before they offer numerous opportunities not only for children whom are looking for a hobby or qualifications in some of the arts but also to more underprivileged children Jaides offers a numerous amount of classes; I have listed a selection of the classes on offer; IDTA Freestyle/Street Dance for ages 4-6 yrs/7-10 yrs/10-12 yrs/12-15yrs/15+ yrs and also adult classes. IDTA Ballet Preparatory, Primary, Grade 1 - Grade 6 and Pointe classes and adult classes. IDTA Tap Preparatory, Primary, Grade 1 - Grade 5 and adult classes. IDTA Theatre craft grade 1-4 IDTA Modern Jazz primary- grade 2 Musical theatre 5-10yrs/11+ years/adults Vocal singing UKCA Cheerleading IDTA gymnastics and acrobatics Melody Bear which is an introduction to dance for toddlers 2-4 yrs All classes are

I saw jaides stage studios perform at the local spring air at whitefeild wreck park, and I must say…read moreI was really impressed. They have a great staff whom obviously look after and care fgor the children very well, their costumes were fantastic and also so sweet, some of the little ones were adorable. I never realized also they are a charity until seeing their stand at the fayre, they have done a lot of work in the area also, which I think the locals are really proud and protective of them because of. I have enquires already about my daughter attending and I think I will defiantly be enrolling her when he is old enough, the staff are very imfformative and were really helpful and kind to me, especially being a dad asking about the dance classes, they made me feel really welcome and at ease. They do numerous classes, all the standard ones like ballet, tap modern etc but also things like drama and cheerleading They are defiantly a great asset to our community.

Great venue for gigs. Little run down in places but tradition venue with great acoustics and…read moreatmosphere. Used less for gigs now o2 academy opened. Generally have more local bands gigs but well worth checking out some local talent

I have to say that Big Beat Entertainment is the most professional and friendly agency I have ever…read morehad the pleasure of working with. Unlike some companies they are always contactable and you are greeted with a warmth that is sadly vacant in most businesses today! I have always received a feeling of personal importance, which is difficult to portray when you are as successful as Big Beat and have so many acts on the 'books' ready to meet all types of demand from the entertainment scene these days! Well done Tim & Janine for all the hard work you have put into the business!!

Excellent service and always with concern that everything is right. As a performing artist you dont…read morealways find these things these days with all agencies. Support to its acts cannot be faulted and venues visited so far feel that the agency is a good one to deal with. Contracts are correct and effort in satisfying all parties cannot be faulted. All in all a pleasure to work for and with. DAVE BARRON, ZOE and "HITZ"