The Sharmilee Story: Over 50 Years of Authentic Indian Sweets in Leicester
For over five decades, Sharmilee has been proudly serving authentic Indian sweets, Gujarati snacks, and freshly prepared vegetarian food from the heart of Belgrave Road, Leicester.
Since opening in 1973, our family business has remained committed to traditional recipes, premium ingredients, and handcrafted quality. Today, we continue to welcome customers from across Leicester and throughout the UK who are looking for genuine Indian flavours.
Whether you're searching for Indian sweets in Leicester, Gujarati farsan, or traditional mithai delivered across the UK, you'll find them here.
From Tanzania to Leicester: Our Family's Journey
Every family business has a beginning.
Before founding Sharmilee, Mr. L. V. Gosai spent more than 30 years operating the renowned Dar-Es-Salaam Hotel in Tanzania, serving the East African Indian community with authentic Indian cuisine.
After settling in Leicester, he discovered that many traditional Indian sweets simply weren't available in the UK. Instead of compromising on quality, he recreated the recipes himself using family traditions that had been passed down through generations.
This passion led to the opening of Sharmilee Sweetmart in 1973.
Serving Leicester's Famous Golden Mile Since 1973
Located at 71–73 Belgrave Road, Sharmilee has been part of Leicester's vibrant Golden Mile for more than 50 years.
Belgrave Road is recognised throughout the UK for its Indian culture, temples, restaurants, specialist food shops and spectacular Diwali celebrations.
From the very beginning, every sweet was handmade using traditional techniques.
Today, despite changing times, our philosophy remains exactly the same:
Handmade every day
Traditional family recipes
Premium quality ingredients
Fresh preparation
No mass production
Family-owned and operated
Expanding into Authentic Vegetarian Dining
In 1988, the Gosai family expanded into the neighbouring property to open the Sharmilee Vegetarian Restaurant.
Our restaurant serves freshly prepared vegetarian Indian cuisine inspired by Gujarat and regions across India, alongside unique East African Indian influences.
Every dish is cooked fresh to order, maintaining the same commitment to quality that built our reputation.
Handmade Indian Mithai Made Fresh
If you're looking for authentic Indian sweets in Leicester, you'll discover a wide range prepared in-house.
Popular favourites include:
Kaju Katri
Motichoor Ladoo
Gulab Jamun
Rasgulla
Barfi
Penda
Ghari
Habshi Halwa
Festival Specials
Every sweet is made using carefully selected ingredients and traditional methods.
Traditional Gujarati Farsan & Kenyan Chevdo
Alongside our sweets, we're equally well known for our savoury snacks.
Our range includes:
Sev
Gathia
Papdi
Chakri
Banana Chips
Bhusu
Ganthiya
Traditional Gujarati farsan
One of our most famous products is our Kenyan Chevdo, an East African-inspired spiced snack mix loved by generations of customers.
Many people travel to Leicester specifically to purchase our Chevdo.
Everything is made by our own team—we never simply repackage products from other manufacturers.
Why Customers Choose Sharmilee
For more than 50 years, customers have trusted Sharmilee because we believe in doing things properly.
✔ Family-owned since 1973
✔ Handmade sweets
✔ Authentic recipes
✔ Fresh vegetarian food
✔ Traditional Gujarati snacks
✔ Premium ingredients
✔ UK-wide delivery available
✔ Located on Leicester's famous Golden Mile
Order Indian Sweets Online Across the UK
Can't visit Leicester?
We carefully prepare and dispatch selected sweets and savoury snacks for delivery across the UK.
Whether you're celebrating Diwali, Raksha Bandhan, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries or simply treating yourself, Sharmilee brings authentic Indian flavours straight to your doorstep.
Visit Sharmilee
Sharmilee Sweetmart & Vegetarian Restaurant
71–73 Belgrave Road
Leicester
LE4 6AS
Open Tuesday to Sunday.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing over 50 years of family tradition, authentic recipes, and handcrafted Indian sweets.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sharmilee established?
Sharmilee was founded in Leicester in 1973 by Mr. L. V. Gosai and has remained a family-run business ever since.
Are your Indian sweets handmade?
Yes. Our sweets are prepared in-house using traditional family recipes and premium ingredients.
Do you make Gujarati farsan?
Yes. We produce a wide range of traditional Gujarati snacks including sev, gathia, papdi, chakri, banana chips and our famous Kenyan Chevdo.
Do you offer UK delivery?
Yes. We offer UK-wide delivery on selected sweets and savoury products.
Where is Sharmilee located?
You'll find us at 71–73 Belgrave Road, Leicester LE4 6AS, on Leicester's famous Golden Mile.
Do you have a vegetarian restaurant?
Yes. Our restaurant serves freshly prepared vegetarian Indian dishes made to order.