A lack of high-quality restaurants is holding back Leicester's efforts to attract top businesses, it has been claimed.

John Harris, director of Leicester design and marketing firm Rock Kitchen Harris, said he was "embarrassed" by the lack of choice when he takes clients out for a meal in the city.

He said these customers include a senior manager of Michelin, the French tyre giant, which also rates the quality of restaurants.

"I think if you want to take a client out in the city there's a real problem of where to take them," said Mr Harris, who said he usually takes clients to Casa Romana, in Albion Street.

"It's not a good example of a healthy business community when there's only one or two decent places to eat.

"There's three or four good quality restaurants in Nottingham and there's some good restaurants in the county. In Leicester there are millions of bars, but not enough decent restaurants.

"The problem is the city has always suffered from people leaving at 5pm or 6pm and eating elsewhere. You've just got to create an environment in the city that will allow more people to open good restaurants."

Mr Harris said he was so determined to attract quality eateries he would offer discounted design work to any new restaurant.

An upmarket Thai restaurant is due to open next to the Curve theatre in the next two months.

In recent years the city has seen the closure of the award-winning Opera House, the city centre Entropy, Watson's and the Quarter.

Martin Peters, managing director of LeicesterShire Promotions, which is charged with helping to increase visitors to the city, agreed there was a lack of good quality restaurants.

"Do I think Leicester needs one or two higher quality dining offerings? Yes I do," he said.

"For the evening economy to thrive it needs to bring in an older audience, which higher end restaurants could attract."

David Hartshorn, director of The Case Restaurant, in Hotel Street, which has been trading for 20 years, said: "There's easily room for two or three more quality restaurants. If there's more reason to come into the city, more the better."