The former Boot and Shoe Operatives Union site is also marked to a ladies gym, salon, and wedding venue
The former place of worship on 3 St James St(Image: LDRS)
Plans to convert a former Hindu temple in Leicester city centre into a rooftop shisha bar have taken a step forward.
Leicester City Council approved the redevelopment of 3 St James Street in 2024, paving the way for the Grade II listed building to be brought back into use as a mixed commercial space.
The scheme outlined plans for a retail unit, ladies gym, beauty salon, wedding venue and rooftop shisha lounge.
The historical property, off Lee Circle, was built as the Boot and Shoe Operatives Union in 1902 before being taken over by the Swaminarayam Mission, a Hindu group, in 1978.
However, it has stood empty since the early 2000s and with “clear signs of neglect” is now considered a heritage asset at risk by the council.
Officers said a previous bid to convert the site into flats flopped due to the “poor state” of the building and said there has been “little interest and no investment” since.
The council’s planning portal reveals that the applicant of the 2024 scheme, Mr Patel, has recently revised his plans in an application which was approved in August 2026.
The new proposals show a scaled-back design, omitting a planned mezzanine and two-storey extension, while reinforcing the roof with steel columns to support the shisha lounge.
Mr Patel originally wanted the shisha lounge to stay open until 3am, but under revised conditions, all units must shut by 11pm.
Officers said that bringing the site back into use would help improve the “perceived safety” of the surrounding Lee Circle area, where anti-social behaviour is currently described as an issue.
The developer plans to honour the building’s roots by naming the new complex the Boot Union HQ.
Conditions state that building works must commence before January 2027 for planning permission to be valid.
