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Today takes me to Leicester, famous for its hosiery and footwear industries, and being where Richard III is buried. Here I visited a number of local Micropubs as well as Real Ale and Craft Beer pubs and bars. Check out this blog to explore some of the best Real Ale and Craft Beer pubs that Leicester City Centre has to offer.
Real Ale Classroom
My first call of the day is to the “Real Ale Classroom”, this opened in November 2023, after the original Manhattan 34 Cafe Bar closed in 2022, and being a retail shop before that. A Grade II listed building that was built in 1888 by local architect Stockdale Harrison. A great pub split into a number of smaller rooms as well as a downstairs room also. Linking back to the name, a school/classroom theme throughout with the beer board being on a school blackboard and classroom desks as tables. Some great thought has gone into this place. Really warm welcome in here today.
A great beer line up for my first visit in the city. 4 cask beers and 10 keg beers for me to choose from in here. I went with “Modern Art Type” from Derbyshire based Shiny Brewery. A fantastic hazy New England IPA hopped with Galaxy, Simcoe and Mosaic.
The Ale Wagon
A short walk brings me to “The Ale Wagon”, a lovely 1930s style pub run by the Hoskins family. Originally the Queens Hotel and owned by the Leicester Brewing & Malting company before they were taken over by Ansells Brewery in the 1950s. It was taken over by Hoskins & Oldfield in 1999 being their first tied house, later changed to Hoskins Brothers in March 2022 and being contracted brewed at a number of breweries. A local brewery now brew the breweries beers for the pub.
A great line up of 8 cask beers in here, alongside a number of keg beers and ciders to choose from. I went with their IPA, a really easy drinking and light pale ale.
The Kings Head
Next call is to “The Kings Head”. This pub was acquired by Black Country Ales in 2012 and was fully refurbished in 2017 to its current standard. A great traditional style pub with a couple of rooms inside leading to a back outdoor area and a roof terrace (closed for refurbishment). Nice warm welcome in here.
A great line up of 11 cask ales to choose from in here, including 3 from Black Country Ales. I went with “Wow from Birmingham based Silhill Brewery. One of their core range beers. A delicious well balanced pale ale.
The Blue Boar
Onto “The Blue Boar” next, a Micropub that opened in 2016 in what used to be offices. A fantastic place with a one roomed seating area as you enter with the bar at the rear. Repurposed casks act as seats and love the part wooden walls. Some fantastic maps on the wall showing historic layouts of Leicester in different periods of time. Some food offerings here with large filled cobs and a fantastic cheeseboard (pictured below). A great warm welcome from Jo in here.
A great range of beers on the bar starting with 10 cask beers, alongside a range of keg beers to choose from. I started with “Tree Planter” from West Sussex based Fauna Brewing (a new brewery for me). A great light pale ale, really refreshing and packed full of flavour. I went onto “Cherry Matador” from Nottingham based Bang the Elephant Brewing Co. A fab sour beer flavoured with Tequila, Lime, Pineapple and Cherry, an explosion of different flavours in here.
The Two Tailed Lion
A couple of doors down takes me into “The Two Tailed Lion”. This is a small beer bar that was originally built as a house in the 1890s. The name is a nod to the coat of arms of Simon De Montfort (6th Earl of Leicester), the coat shows “gules, a lion with a forked tail, argent”. Upon entering a small room with the bar to the left. A couple of smaller rooms upstairs.
A choice of 3 cask beers on the bar in here, alongside a line up of keg beers to compliment the cask selection. I went with “Biscuit Mild” from a brewery local to me at home, Anthology Brewing Company based in Leeds. A lovely traditional Mild Ale, creamy and light.
Sommar
Sommar in Leicester opened in July 2022, after formerly being a Spirits Bar which opened in 2018 and a bag shop before that which had operated for over a century. Sommar Brewery are based in the canalside area of Birmingham, and started up in 2019. Lots of different lights around on entering with some comfy seating. A small outdoor seating area as well.
A great line up of Sommar Brewing Co beers on keg alongside a number of guest beers to choose from. I went with “Mango POP”, a tart and citrus sour beer packed full of Mango flavours. Really enjoyed this beer, nice and refreshing.
Wygston’s House
My next call is a short walk away to “Wygston’s House”, also known as Wyggeston House, is a fantastic Grade II listed building originally built as a house but later was a costume museum. Known as “the oldest house in Leicester”. (More information can be found HERE). A great interesting feel to this pub that opened in 2017, with stone floors and exposed ceilings as you enter. Seating outside overlooks Jubilee Square.
A choice of 3 cask beers available on the bar in here alongside a number of keg beers to choose from. I went with “Wranglers XPA” from Market Harborough based Round Corner Brewing. A light golden beer with some great hop taste and aromas.
The Globe
Another short walk brings to me to “The Globe”, run by local brewery Everard’s. Some history about The Globe shows that it used to be a Market House used by farmers to hire their workers, and ales used to be brewed in the pub using water from the well underneath the pub. This pub is an 18th Century Georgian Building and has been owned by Everard’s Brewery since the early 18th Century. A very traditional and cosy pub.
5 cask beers on the bar here, 4 of their own alongside a guest beer. Some keg beers also available to compliment the cask beer selection. I went with one of their own beers “Chasing Rainbows”, a tasty and refreshing hoppy pale ale.
The Salmon
Onto my next pub of the evening “The Salmon”. a small corner local pub close to St Margaret’s Bus Station, which was built in 1854. It has had several owners including City Brewery (Lichfield), Banks Beers, and then in 2016 by Black Country Ales, who in 2023 refurbished the pub. A single room inside with a very traditional style, and a fantastic outdoor beer garden with both covered and uncovered areas.
A line up of around 12 cask beers here on including a number from Black Country Ales alongside guest beers. I went with “Brewhouse Pale” from Ilkeston based Muirhouse Brewery. A very traditional, light pale ale. Really enjoyed this beer sat outside on a warm summers evening.
The Castle
My final call in Leicester City Centre was to “The Castle”, close to the site of Leicester Castle, a Grade II listed building that was formerly a pair of mid 18th Century cottages which have been converted into this Micropub. The original “Old Castle Inn”, is located next door but closed many years ago. The building had been unused for some time since it was an antiques shop in the 1990s. A really great old fashioned feel to the pub with the décor inside.
A choice of 3 cask ales on the bar today, alongside 4 keg beers to choose from ranging in styles and strengths. I went with “Salvation” from Loughborough based Charnwood Brewery. A fab crisp and clean blonde ale.
Micropub Adventures 