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A number of pubs visited on the outskirts of Leicester over a couple of days. The first day started off in Syston at “The Pharmacie Arms”, onto Mountsorrel to “The Sorrel Fox”, “The Swan Inn” and “William Pincent & Grandson Ltd”, before finishing at “Mash & Press” in Anstey. The second day starts at “Everard’s”, onto Enderby to “Mill Hill Cask & Coffee”, Aylestone for “The Ale Stone”, Wigston to “The Tap & Barrel”, onto “Queens Road Tap” and “Martin Bros Micro Pizzeria” before finishing in Stoneygate at the “Real Ale Classroom”.
The Pharmacie Arms
Located in Syston is “The Pharmacie Arms”, which opened in December 2018 in a former charity shop. A great warm welcome in here from Dave and Liv in here. A fantastic quirky pub with a 1950s pharmacy theme with lots of instruments, adverts and equipment around the place including a skeleton in a dentists chair. A small outdoor area to the rear. Great chatting to a few locals here and thanks to Oliver for a lift to the next pub.
A great choice of cask and keg beers available here, with a great range of styles and strengths. Started with a sour beer from Edinburgh based Vault City Brewery, “Raspberry Cream Soda” before moving onto “High & Rye” from Norwich based Woodforde’s Brewery, a red coloured rye IPA. I finished with “Mild” from Nottingham based Shipstone’s Beer Co.
The Sorrel Fox
After a lift to nearby Mountsorrel I went into “The Sorrel Fox”, a small Micropub run by Charnwood Brewery which opened in November 2018. A really cosy homely feel in this one roomed pub, along with a log burner for the colder months. Charnwood Brewery was founded in Loughborough in 2014 by the Reed family.
A choice of 4 cask ales from Charnwood Brewery as well as a number of keg options to choose from. I started with “Vixen”, a tasty traditional English Bitter, before moving onto “Blue Fox”, a light and refreshing golden ale that was brewed to celebrate the achievements of Leicester City FC.
The Swan Inn
A short walk brings me to “The Swan Inn”, a beautiful and well kept traditional 17th Century, Grade II Listed Coaching house. The entrance to this is via a narrow arch into a courtyard. The interior is lovely and warming with open fires and stone floors. A huge beer garden extending down to the riverside with ample seating. Great chatting to a few of the locals in here, and a discussion about Corned Beef Hash.
An on site brewery “Soar” operates here and was set up in 2022 by Helen and Danny (Landlady and Landlord). Tried one of their beers “Four”, that was on the bar today. A 4% Lager.
A choice of 5 cask ales on the bar to choose from today, I went with “The Usual” from Derby based Brunswick Brewing Company. A tasty copper coloured English Bitter.
William Pincent & Grandson Ltd
A short walk a few doors down after a recommendation brings me to “William Pincent & Grandson Ltd”. What was formerly an Off Licence has been converted to allow on sales as well. A really warm welcome into this cosy venue.
A choice of 4 keg beers, alongside a huge selection of bottles and cans both from the UK and Worldwide so lots to choose from in here and something to suit everyone. Occasionally a cask beer will feature as well. I went with “King Queen Knave” from London based Pressure Drop Brewing. A fab tasty hazy pale ale.
Mash & Press
Over to Anstey next to visit the “Mash & Press”. This was established in 2015, formerly being Anstey Ale Brewery) and is located in a lovely two storey former Bakery not far from the town centre. The brewery used a 3 barrel plant on the ground floor and became MonsteX Brewery, later moving to Loughborough and closing. A great warm welcome here today from Alistair.
A great selection of beers on the bar to choose from, including two of the original MonsteX beers “Hellfire” and “Nitro 23” which are brewed for them by Mill Hill Brew Co. I went with “Plum n Bass” by Leicester based Mill Hill Brew Co. This was brewed in collaboration with the Needle & Pin Micropub in Loughborough. A delicious, tasty and fruity dark mild made with plums.
Everard’s Brewery
My next day around the outskirts of Leicester was on Saturday. The first call of the day is to “Everard’s Brewery”. This opened at its current site in June 2021, this incorporates a beer hall, shop, brewery and restaurant. It is part of the “Everards Meadows” complex which includes a coffee shop and bike hire shop. The brewery celebrates 175 years this year. A great warm welcome here and a fantastic venue.
A fantastic line up of beers here both cask and keg. I started off with a tasting tray of 3 1/3s. “Momentum” a delicious red ale, “Infinity” a tasty session IPA and “Hour Glass”, an easy drinking and refreshing pale ale. I went onto one of their tank beers from behind the bar. “Peach Sour” was a light, fruity and tart sour beer packed full of flavour.
Mill Hill Cask & Coffee
My next stop is in nearby Enderby and was to “Mill Hill Cask & Coffee”. A great one roomed Micropub with a fantastic modern decor and ample seating, including a small outdoor area to the rear. A really warm welcome from Jay in here, and was great chatting to him. The premises used to be the village corner shop dating back to 1900. They also own “Mill Hill Brew Co”, located further down in the village.
A great choice of cask beers, served from temperature controlled cabinets behind the bar. A large selection of keg beers was also available. I started with “Thomas Lift” from Market Harborough based Langton Brewery., a delicious traditional English Bitter. I went onto “Its a Lesta Thing” from their own brewery, Mill Hill Brew Co. A fantastic tasty and refreshing hazy pale ale packed full of flavour.
The Ale Stone
My next call is in Aylestone which was a bus ride and a 29 minute walk away. “The Ale Stone” opened in July 2017 in a former shop. A lovely traditional feel to this Micropub with wooden benches, tables and floor. A lovely warm welcome from Leighton in here, was great chatting.
A line up of 5 cask ales, alongside ciders and keg options to choose from in here. I decided to go with “Rutland Beast” from Oakham based Grainstore Brewery. A strong balanced mild ale, Some great flavours from this beer.
The Tap & Barrel
Another short bus journey, this time into the Wigston area of Leicester. Here I visited “The Tap & Barrel”, which opened in January 2017 in a shop occupied by Wigston Bargain Store. A great look to this place with wooden floorboards, exposed ceiling joists and atone walls. A small seating area to the front of the pub as well. A great warm welcome from Rob in here today.
A line up today of 5 cask beers alongside 8 keg beers. On top of this 9 different ciders to choose from. I started with “Schluss” from Nottingham based Hollow Stone Brewing Company, a Munich style bitter, hopped using 3 different hops. I went onto a sour beer from Cambridgeshire based Pastore Brewing and Blending. “Il Crumble”, a fantastic pear, orange, hazelnut and vanilla sour, packed full of flavours.
Queens Road Tap
My next call was to the “Queens Road Tap”. This was opened in December 2017 by Derbyshire based Tollgate Brewery. The brewery opened in 2005, and in 2012 moved to the National Trust Calke Abbey Estate where it operates as a 6-barrel brewery using traditional methods reminiscent of the 1800s. The Queens Road Tap is a one roomed Micropub with a great atmosphere and feel to it, with seating to one side and high seating to the left and looking out of the window.
A line up of 4 cask beers, 6 keg beers and a couple of ciders for me to choose from in here. Most from their own brewery alongside some guests. I went with “Billy’s Best Bitter”, a traditional English bitter. The brewerys description being “Billy was a well know ‘character’ locally and took part in many ploughing competitions. This is Billy on his tractor in a ploughing match. This beer is brewed to celebrate hard work and the rewards of the harvest”
Martin Bros Micro Pizzeria
Just around the corner from Queens Road Tap is “Martin Bros Micro Pizzeria”. A great small pizzeria which also served an awesome range of keg beers. Seating inside as well as a great outdoor seating area at the front in the sun. A really warm welcome in here today.
A great line up of 8 keg options today (out of 10 keg lines) to choose from. I opted to go with 2 different sour beers. The first being “Paaaound a Paaaound” by local brewery Mill Hill Brew Co. A tasty fruity sour using raspberries and strawberries sourced from Leicester Market. My second choice was “Winter Affair Gossip – Sudden Death” a collaboration between a German and Czech Republic brewery. A great fruity sour.
Real Ale Classroom
My final call is in Stoneygate to the “Real Ale Classroom”. A fantastic classroom themed Micropub which is housed in a former shop. Run by ex teachers this Micropub has school desks as well as a beer board thats wrote on a blackboard. A stunning back garden area which is long and has several covered and undercover areas.
A line up of 3 cask beers and 4 keg beers were available on the bar today. 2 ciders also on top of these. I went with “Lonely Snake” from Cambridgeshire based Three Blind Mice Brewery. This is a Mosaic and Simcoe edition of the beer. A lovely tasty hazy pale ale.
Micropub Adventures 
Scott, your reports get better & better, keep it up. It makes brilliant, interesting reading. Anxious to travel!
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