Towns consider bidding for UK Town of Culture title

Two towns in Leicestershire have said they are considering making bids to be named the UK's first-ever Town of Culture.

The government has invited towns to enter the new competition which will run alongside the existing UK City of Culture contest, which was won by Bradford in 2025.

Both Coalville and Ashby-de-la-Zouch have confirmed they would be interested in entering the contest to win the title in 2028.

Labour MP for North West Leicestershire Amanda Hack, who represents both towns, said she would back their bids.

The government said the contest would boost local pride and said the winner would be awarded a £3m prize, with two runners-up receiving £250,000 each.

To ensure towns of all sizes are represented, the competition's three finalists will include one small town (with under 20,000 population), one medium town (20,000 to 75,000) and one large town (over 75,000).

Towns have until 31 March to enter expressions of interest.

Ashby Town Council leader Chris Smith said: "We are definitely enthusiastic about leading a bid.

"We have an active arts festival in the town and I think there would be support for a bid.

"We're brilliantly placed in the National Forest and we have a great literary tradition.

"The author Walter Scott wrote about our castle in his novel Ivanhoe.

"And we shouldn't forget that Adrian Mole's girlfriend Pandora was MP for Ashby-de-la-Zouch."

Smith said a bid would be a "big commitment" but the council would register as a bidder before making a final decision on entering.

A spokesperson for North West Leicestershire District Council said: "Coalville and Ashby have lots to offer and would both be well deserving of the Town of Culture accolade in our opinion.

"We have a particular regeneration focus on Coalville, and often lean on its rich heritage to ensure high quality and relevant developments and improvements in the town.

"We'll look at the Town of Culture competition with interest and will speak with local partners to see if an expression of interest is an opportunity we want to take for the town."

"Coalville is named appropriately, as it is at the heart of the coalmining industry in Leicestershire," Hack said.

"However, it will have to fight off local competition from the second largest town in my constituency, Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

"There is an active business improvement district and a great town council with an annual programme of events."

Towns can start applying now and the strongest candidates will progress to a shortlist, with each shortlisted town receiving £60,000 in funding towards their final bid.

The first title will be awarded for 2028 when the winning town will start a year-long programme of cultural celebrations.

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