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<\/p>\nLeicester’s flagship \u00a316.8m Roman museum has achieved its visitor target in its first year, according to the latest figures.<\/p>\n
The Leicester City Council-run Jewry Wall Museum marked its first anniversary at the end of July.<\/p>\n
The council aimed to attract 35,000 visitors in its first 12 months and has said 35,234 passed through the doors in that period.<\/p>\n
Leicester’s mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he was pleased with the first year’s figures given the “challenges” facing the tourism industry.<\/p>\n
However, opposition councillors said they feared visitor numbers may have peaked already and expressed concerns about the museum’s long term-future.<\/p>\n
The museum stands next to the landmark Jewry Wall itself, the remains of a bathhouse that served the old Roman city, known as Ratae, from about AD 160.<\/p>\n
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The council said the museum generated \u00a33.7m for the city’s economy in its first year [BBC]<\/p>\n
“I’ve always said Jewry Wall is an excellent addition to Leicester’s offer to visitors,” Soulsby said.<\/p>\n
“It has been a challenging year for attractions up and down the land, and many places have struggled during a cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n
“For our figures to have held up so well is very encouraging.”<\/p>\n
The council said the 35,000 target had been set based on factors including the total number of potential visitors living up to 60 minutes drive away from the museum.<\/p>\n
The calculation used an industry-recognised target, the council said.<\/p>\n
It also estimated the attraction had generated about \u00a33.7m for the city’s wider economy in its first year.<\/p>\n
According to the council, 65% of the museum’s visitors came from outside the city.<\/p>\n
“I hope we can build on this,” Soulsby added.<\/p>\n
“The feedback we have had is that visitors find [the] Jewry Wall [museum] is a very impressive experience that tells them about how life was in Roman Leicester.”<\/p>\n
The city council said the number of visitors included 1,742 people who returned using an offer that allows people come back for free for a year after buying a ticket.<\/p>\n
Green Party city councillor Patrick Kitterick said: “My concern is the first year is going to be the peak year because there is the curiosity factor.<\/p>\n
“They have just got over their target, which is good, but they did open it up and allow people in for free for a weekend in July so I wonder how that affected the numbers.<\/p>\n
“We have spent a lot of time and money on this and if we want it to be viable, I think, we should make it free to enter but open it for fewer days.”<\/p>\n
The museum currently opens seven days a week.<\/p>\n
Work on the creation of the new museum, in the former Vaughan College building, began in 2021, but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the original contractor going bust.<\/a><\/p>\n Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds<\/a> and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook<\/a>, on X<\/a>, or on Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk<\/a> or via WhatsApp<\/a> on 0808 100 2210.<\/p>\n More on this storyRelated internet links