| Owner(s) | Multi-Stakeholder Co-operative |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Rhys Everquill, Emma Guy, Megan Lupton |
| Membership | 109 |
| Founded | 3 January 2023 (registered), 31 March 2023 (launched, online) |
| Language | English |
| City | Leicester |
| ISSN | 2978-1493 (print) 2978-1485 (web) |
| Website | leicester |
The Leicester Gazette (formerly Great Central Gazette) is a local, independent newspaper covering Leicester and Leicestershire. [1] Launched in March 2023, [2] the Gazette publishes investigative journalism, feature stories and news reports. The publication is a co-operative, [3] owned by its workers and readers. Members pay a monthly or annual fee, similar to The Bristol Cable model.
It is a member of Co-operatives UK, IMPRESS, Independent Community News Network, Independent Media Association, the Local Democracy Reporting Service and Social Enterprise UK. [4]
The Gazette was founded by Rhys Everquill, Emma Guy and Megan Lupton after a crowdfunding campaign and a small grant from Central England Co-operative. [5] [6] It was formed in opposition to the Leicester Mercury business model, which, like other Reach plc publications, has been accused of clickbait, sensationalism, and intrusive advertising. [7]
The newspaper has further funding from De Montfort University, Scurrah Wainwright Charity, Lush, [8] Midcounties Co-operative, among others. [9]
The newspaper rebranded in September 2024, changing its name from Great Central Gazette to Leicester Gazette. It also expanded into Leicestershire. [10]
The Gazette intends to launch a print newspaper in 2025. [11] [12]
The Leicester Gazette was the first newspaper to publish details of Palantir Technologies contract with Leicestershire Police, the first contract of its kind with a UK police force. Leicestershire Police subsequently blocked any attempt by Gazette reporters to retrieve a copy of the contract via freedom of information request, citing “national security” and “law enforcement” exemptions. The investigation was cited in the House of Commons by Shockat Adam MP and in the House of Lords by Jenny Jones, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb.[ citation needed ]
In the wake of the 2025 election to Leicestershire County Council, the Leicester Gazette revealed that the newly elected deputy leader of the council, Joseph Boam, shared homophobic, sexist and Islamophobic content on previously undiscovered social media channels. The investigation was picked up by national news outlets, including Private Eye .[ citation needed ]
On 7 August 2025, the Leicester Gazette identified two far-right YouTubers involved in anti-immigration protests in Leicester.[ citation needed ]