Leicester museum to shut it's doors over the Easter holidays
Leicester City Council has come under fire
Leicester City Council has come under fire after it revealed staffing issues mean it will not open a 500-year-old museum this Easter.
Newarke Houses Museum, located between the city’s old town wall and castle, has already seen its opening hours slashed. Since last year, the site has been open once a week between May and August, and twice weekly during school holidays.
Now, the city council, which owns the museum, has said that staffing vacancies mean it will not open at all this Easter.
The news comes after the city’s mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, faced questions over the museum’s future at an Overview Select Committee meeting last Wednesday (March 18).
During the meeting, Lib Dem councillor Nigel Porter urged the mayor to consider redirecting council funds to support the museum.
He argued that underspending in the council’s budget could be used to extend opening hours, saying even a fraction of the nearly £4 million surplus would be enough to make a difference.
'A step backwards'
Sir Peter replied he was “not unsympathetic” to the suggestion and would keep the situation “under review”.
Despite this, the council has since confirmed the museum will stay closed over Easter – a move which Cllr Porter described as “a step backwards”.
He said: “Not long after the museum was first closed, the council said it would still open during school holidays. This gave many families reassurance.
A petition has been launched...
“However, we’re now being told that this will not be possible due to a lack of staff. This is very disappointing. Less than a year on, it feels like the council is already reneging on its promises.
“Closing the museum, or keeping it mostly shut, is a step backwards. The council often talks about attracting people into Leicester and places like Newarke Houses Museum are what draw people into the city.”
Campaigners are now urging the council to reconsider. A petition launched by Cllr Porter opposing the Easter closure has gathered more than 3,500 signatures.
What can you see at Newarke Houses Museum?
The museum itself features a recreated 1950s street scene, an immersive World War II trench, and explores South Asian migration to the city.
Historians say exhibitions like these are the ones which bring the city together.
Jim Butler, honorary secretary of Leicester Archaeological and Historical Society and former education manager for Leicester’s museums, worked at the site back when it was open daily.
'Sense of identity'
He says it is a “huge shame” to see the site “mothball”.
He said: “The museums are custodians of the stories that make cities, towns and communities stick together. Museums are the places where we come and find out these stories and form a sense of identity – the place we are living and how we fit into that.
“It is a really difficult place for local authority run services to be, but I can’t help but feel we are losing something about our collective story.
'Sense of place'
“If you want to build strong communities that work together then museums are the places where those begin because you give people the sense of place and belonging.”
Leicester City Council said efforts are being made to improve opening hours later in the year.
A spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, due to some staff vacancies we will not be able to open the museum at Easter. However, we will take the opportunity to look at team rotas to see if it’s possible to open it during the October half term and next Easter.
“Since May 2025, Newarke Houses Museum has been open to the public on each Wednesday of the school holidays between May and August. The museum is also open on Saturdays between May and August.
What else is on in the Easter holidays?
“This means that the next opportunity for people to visit Newarke Houses is on Saturday, May 2.
“Families will be able to visit Leicester’s other museums during the Easter holidays, with special events taking place at the Abbey Pumping Station, the Guildhall and at Leicester Museum, while there will be lots of free activities taking place across the city centre and at our libraries.”
The spokesperson added ideas for free and low-cost family days out in Leicester this Easter are listed on their website.