We’re approaching the time of the year when De Montfort University and the University of Leicester welcome a new cohort of undergraduate students for the next academic year, with many young people moving to the city for the very first time filled with anticipation and excitement.
In what is a significant milestone in anybody’s life, leaving home for the very first time and moving to a new city is a fantastic learning experience, but it can also present a touch of trepidation.
Beyond the unknowns of meeting new people, settling onto a course and making student accommodation feel like home, sticking to a strict budget is a common worry for students, especially when it comes to food shopping for just one person.
In contrast to many supermarkets, at Leicester Market there are a huge variety of options for buying in smaller quantities, helping to keep food shopping bills down to a minimum.
When it comes to fruit and vegetables, there’s no shortage of options in the outdoor market with the likes of Vicki’s Fruits, Pittard’s, Teresa’s Salads and Mr Garcia all offering healthy essentials at cheap prices, from strawberries, bananas and apples to carrots, cucumber, onions and broccoli – and much more.
“Most of my produce is pick your own,” explained Odel Pittard, who runs the family business Christine’s Worldly Foods
“For university students, they often don’t want a big bowl of something so with us, you can just take one. In supermarkets, you see six pink lady apples priced at over £2, but here you can get eight to ten in a bowl for £1. We’re cheaper than supermarkets, and the produce is all really good quality.”
Moving inside, if you’re a meat lover then Keith Ashmore’s Quality Butchers can offer a delicious taste of Leicester with locally sourced meats such as spring lamb, mince and lamb grill sticks, and chilli willi marinated pork. Meanwhile, just a few steps away you’ll also find Country Fayre (don’t miss their delicious country ham, bacon and pork pies) and Andrew Sykes Butchers – a second-generation butcher with a huge variety of options for students on a budget.
“We are traditional butchers,” says Andrew. “We dry-age all our steaks for a minimum of 28 days and make all our own sausages and burgers.”
So, if you’re keen to maintain a healthy, balanced diet at university, or if your cooking skills extend beyond pasta and meal-for-ones, Leicester Market is a must-visit for you – situated just a 10-minute walk from DMU, and half a mile from Leicester Station.
The Leicester Market Food Hall and Outdoor Market is open Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm. We look forward to welcoming you to our city and seeing you at the market soon!