Loughborough doesn't make the top 50 in "Crap towns" book - thankfully!

The art deco cinema on Cattle Market.

As you may know, one of the reasons I started this blog was in protest against the idea that Loughborough is a "rubbish" town.

You see, there's this book, originally published in 2003, called "Crap towns" which humiliates those towns that are seen as less-than-perfect, and in which "the concrete slab in the garden of England" is lifted and the authors "dish the dirt on the latest planning disasters, urban blight and the posh blighters disfiguring our nation". [1]

So popular did the 2003 edition prove to be that those chaps over at the Idler decided it was worth publishing a 2nd edition, and today was the day that all was revealed - apart from all those leaks in the newspapers and on Twitter.






The Carillon in Queen's Park.

In an earlier blogpost you will remember me saying that we'd made it into the top 100 of "rubbish" towns, so I have been blogging about all things Loughborough, and what a great town it is to help make sure that we didn't make it into the top 50. They do say that any publicity is worth it, but I'm not so sure. Anyway, I'm sure you will understand that I am delighted to announce that we did not make it into the top 50!

I know this book classes as humour, but I can't say as it's my kind of humour. In fact, I'd go as far as to say I am even offended by some of the inclusions in the top 50, and am left wondering what exactly makes for a good town. But then, of course, we all know that we can't please all of the people all of the time, and that one man's meat is another man's poison, so what makes a good town for one person will not be what makes a good town for someone else.



Now, I'm sure the authors will be really pleased that one more blogger/tweeter/facebooker/and general internet user is giving their book a bit of a marketing boost, but, hey, if it means that more people have heard of our wonderful town with all it has to offer, then it's probably worth it.

If you're interested to find out more about what's going on in Loughborough, and how Leicestershire in general is trying to tap into the tourist market, have a look at the GoLeicestershire website.

Outside the university swimming pool.

See you again on Sunday!








[1]
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crap-Towns-Returns-Unpopular-Demand/dp/184866222X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381419550&sr=8-1&keywords=crap+towns