Great Central magazine
Leicester is a city replete with accomplished artists, performers and entrepreneurs. But, with no central unifying force to sing the praises of these talented folk, much of their work is overlooked or restricted to niche audiences.
Created by a team of volunteers, Great Central magazine set out to challenge the status quo. We banged the drum for culture, art and entertainment in the city. We let the people of Leicester know how much fabulous stuff was going on right under their noses. Funded by sponsors and hand-picked advertisers, the mag was online and had bi-monthly print editions. We distributed 10,000 copies of each issue across the city.
Food and Drink Editor
As Great Central’s Food and Drink Editor, I organised and managed a team of a dozen volunteer writers and photographers.
I planned and commissioned content and assigned articles to my team. I also copy-edited stories before approving them for print. I’m always looking for opportunities to pass my knowledge on to others, which is why I also produced a comprehensive style guide for the magazine’s writers.
My own articles focused on bars, restaurants and shops. These are the businesses that form the fabric of Leicester’s nightlife and independent economy. From a run-down of Leicester’s best beer gardens to a deep dive into Keralan cuisine: If you could eat it, drink it or buy it, I wrote about it.
Really going to miss your mag. Thanks for a great team effort and an informative read.
In a world obsessed with online there’s still room for a paper copy mag like this and you offered an eclectic mix of coverage that was a delight.
I loved the look, feel and articles in this mag and the way it promoted music, spaces and people. A great loss to Leicester.
Great Central readers
A lasting legacy
Ultimately, we found it impossible to secure the financial support we needed to keep Great Central going. However, it remains a shining example of what can be achieved by a collective of passionate and determined creatives.