Christmas and New Year arrangements 2023

Council office closing times

Borough Council services at the Hinckley Hub will close at 4:30pm on Friday 22 December and re-open at 8.30am on Tuesday 2 January 2024. In an emergency, please call 01455 251137.

Refuse and recycling arrangements

Alternate arrangements for refuse (black bin) and recycling (blue-lid bin) collections due on Monday 25 December, Tuesday 26 December 2023 and Monday 1 January 2024 are as follows:

• Refuse due on Monday 25 December will be collected on Friday 22 December
• Recycling (blue-lid) due on Monday 25 December will be collected on Thursday 21 December
• Refuse due on Tuesday 26 December will be collected on Wednesday 27 December
• Recycling (blue-lid) due on Tuesday 26 December will be collected on Thursday 28 December
• Refuse due on Monday 1 January will be collected on Friday 29 December
• Recycling (blue-lid) due on Monday 1 January will be collected on Tuesday 2 January

For residents living in rural west areas of the borough, who usually have garden and refuse bins collected on the same day, collection arrangements are as follows:

• Refuse due on Monday 25 December will be collected on Friday 22 December
• Refuse due on Tuesday 26 December will be collected on Wednesday 27 December
• Recycling (blue-lid) due on Monday 1 January will be collected on Tuesday 2 January.

All other refuse and recycling collections will continue on their usual days during the Christmas and New Year period. 

The garden waste (brown bin) collection service will be suspended for two weeks during the Christmas and New Year period (last collection Tuesday 19 December and collections starting again Wednesday 3 January). There will be no collections of large (bulky waste) items between Monday 18 December and Monday 1 January with collections recommencing from Tuesday 2 January 2024.

Residents can find full details of collection dates

Free parking on Saturdays in Hinckley

Christmas shoppers in Hinckley will once again be able to enjoy free car parking in selected town centre car parks on Saturdays this festive season.

Shoppers can park for free from 9am in the Lower Bond Street, Trinity West and Castle car parks on Saturday 2, 9, 16 and 23 December as well as North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College car park (LE10 1QQ).

The Borough Council has agreed to repeat the popular offer again this year in order to thank shoppers for their loyalty and to increase trade for shops and businesses. Shoppers are reminded that parking is free in all council run car parks on Sundays throughout the year.

Hinckley Market at Christmas

There will be markets in Hinckley on Friday 22 December and Saturday 23 December, plus Friday 29 and Saturday 30th December. There will be no markets due to bank holidays on Monday 25 December and Monday 1 January. Markets will return to the usual Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from Friday 5 January onwards.

Carols around the tree

Wrap up warm and enjoy singing well-known carols around the tree on Friday 8 December, 4.15pm – 5.00pm. The event is in partnership with Churches Together and takes place in Hinckley town centre.

Hinckley Christmas lights tour

The annual Hinckley Christmas lights tour for elderly and disabled people will be held on Wednesday 6 December. Castle Street will be open to traffic from 6pm to 8pm to allow the public to drive down with their elderly or disabled family and friends, allowing them to view the lights. There will be festive music and street entertainment along the route.

Festive Feast and Craft Market

A Sunday food and craft market offering a selection of hot and cold food plus crafts, collectibles and gifts will be in Market Place, Hinckley, on Sunday 10 December from 10am until 4pm. 

There will be more than 45 stallholders including street foods, warming mulled wine and cider, crafts, gifts, collectibles and more plus live music, Santa on Stilts and entertainment from Fosse 107.

Hinckley BID’s Santa’s Grotto

The Borough Council and Hinckley BID will be partnering to host a Santa’s Grotto, which will be held on Saturday 16, Sunday 17 and Monday 18 December from 10am to 4pm in the Britannia Centre. Entry is £3 per child.  Each child will receive a small gift.

On the Sunday, a ‘quiet hour’ for children with additional needs will be available (subject to availability). To request a booking in the ‘quiet hour’ or for more information, email info@hinckleybid.co.uk or call 01455 698494. 

Festive Fun Run

A free festive fun run hosted by Hinckley BID and the Borough Council will be held on Sunday 3 December in Hinckley town centre.

The run, which is just under a mile long, starts with a warm-up from our resident Healthy Elf from 10.45am in Market Place, Hinckley. Participants are invited to dress up in festive costume, or just wear their Christmas jumpers.

There will be neck medals for everyone sporting festive dress. Two £50 town centre voucher prizes (one for the best dressed individual and another for the best dressed family group) will be awarded and a £25 voucher will be presented to each of two runners-up. Well-behaved dogs (on leads) in festive fancy dress are also welcome to join, and the best-dressed dog will receive a special dog treat.

The route is suitable for all abilities including wheelchairs and pushchairs - walking, toddling or ambling is encouraged for any non-runners. There will also be a sweet stop at the end of the run for all children taking part.

Entry is free and parking is free in all council town centre car parks on Sundays (Not NCP which charges). To pre-register, call 01455 698 494 or email info@hinckleybid.co.uk

Hinckley Leisure Centre

Hinckley Leisure Centre will close at 12 noon on 24 December and remain closed on 25 and 26 December. The centre’s opening hours from 27 December to 30 December will be 8.00am to 3.00pm. The centre will close at 12 noon on 31 December and remain closed on 1 January 2024. The centre will revert to normal opening hours from Tuesday 2 January. For further information, including the swim and class timetables, see the Leisure Centre’s website (placesleisure.org)

The community houses

Barwell, Earl Shilton and Wykin Community Houses close on 2.30pm Friday 15 December and re-open Wednesday 3 January 2024.