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ONE PUB ONLY?
Swan and Rushes
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Globe, Kings and then Out of The Vaults before a taxi or 20 minute walk
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Ale Wagon
CHANGES FROM GUIDE
Closed - Leicester Gateway
Moved Out of the Vaults to The Pub
|  |  Ale Wagon
27 Rutland St LE1 1RE Telephone 01162 623330
W www.alewagon.co.uk
G Stephen Hoskins and family
F Traditional pub menu TBA
MP BM D
O 11 to 11, 12 to 3, 7 to 10.30 Sun
The concept of a family run pub is stretched to fantastic lengths at the Ale Wagon. Steve owns the pub, Phil is the cellar man and Daphne, their sister, is doubtless the organising brains behind the brothers’ brawn. Hoskins Brothers brews are new to me and the Ale Wagon is a keen recommendation for the style and atmosphere to be found in this great street corner town pub. The beers are brewed at present by Tower brewery. There are plans to brew on the site and when that happens no doubt the pub will become even more popular.
The Ale Wagon has two separate bars. The first room is to the right, decked with photos and without a view of the full beer range. I, along with the regulars, preferred the longer left hand bar that is impressive in its simplicity. The samples are provided and the beer described by knowledgeable staff, then you can be left to enjoy the ale without distraction, or as in my case, join in a discussion with the locals who were willing to engage this weary traveller. The clientele include the usual local office workers but also many of Leicester’s more artistic and literary folk. The comedy nights attracted my eye. I was amused to earwig on a booking by the local TUC; beer and sandwiches are very appropriate here. All this and regular beer festivals, make this a pub I will revisit when the opportunity next arises.
BWV 5.4.06: Archers Spring Blonde, Hoskins Brothers ,EXS, Gaggle and Titter, HOB, HOB Best Mild, Little Matty, Tom Kelly’s Stout, White Dolphin Wheat Beer Tower Bitter | |  Globe
43 Silver St LE1 5EU Telephone 01162 629819 W website
G Hugh Kerr
F Good value traditional meals 12 to 7
MP BM P D
O 11 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun
The Globe has a central bar and several drinking rooms of differing size, thus making this town boozer a welcome relief from the city centre bustle. This could be in a village, or in the biggest city. It has the essential design features to make it both intimate and a great meeting place. The wooden floors and simple furniture made this user concentrate on the beer and good conversation. “The Globe is an oasis of calm in the city streets well known for their theme bars.” The food was typical accompaniment to good real ale, simple and hearty. The conversation in early afternoon was also of the type often found in a central pub frequented by professionals and local residents alike. While the crowds head for nearby boys pubs I would always find myself gravitating to the Globe, it offers so much more to me in terms of real pub atmosphere and service with a smile.
UPDATE: Nothing much has changed. This year I visited this pub in a more sober state and found more hidden gems. Sunchaser is now a regular beer in the list.
BWV 15.11.04: Everards Beacon. Equinox, Original, Tiger.
BWV 5.4.06 Courage: Directors, Everards All Black, Beacon, Buddings, Original, Sunchaser, Tiger | |  Kings
30 King St LE1 6RL Telephone 0777 394172
G Shanti Odedra
F Reasonably priced good quality traditional menu 12 to 2. No food Sun
SP SK JB P
O 11 to 11, 12 to 10.30 Sun
When reading my guide it became evident to me that the large influence of the Tigers on real ale pubs in town. Therefore my hunt this year wanted to find a genuine real ale pub that offers essential football factors found in most other cities. The Kings offers this and more. The ales are always rotating from a national selection with no regular ale. The TVs are supplemented by a large pull down screen and the greeting at all times is both friendly and welcoming.
The pub is basically one long room, separated into two areas by a set of steps and extended beyond in summer when the courtyard traps the sun. The football attractions continue with the sight of football shirts hanging from the ceiling and in the evenings when City players are known to use this as their local in town. Don’t be fooled into thinking it is youngsters bar. It is a great pub in its normal mode. It is a place where couples meet up for a date over lunch, where business meetings are clinched and where friends meet pre and post shopping. The enthusiasm for real ale among the young staff is infectious and no doubt the reputation will be made in time through the quality of the ale rather than any football connections. Shanti, Carl and James make a great team and the Kings has certainly proven to be a satisfying find.
BWV 5.4.06: Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Fuller’s London Pride, Shepherd Neame Spitfire | | Out of the Vaults NOW NAMED VIN IV and reported to become
THE PUB
12a New Walk, Leciester, LE1 6TF www.thepubleicester.co.uk
Monday - Thursday: 12.00 - 23.00
Friday - Saturday: 12.00- 00.00
Sunday: 12.00 - 18.00
G Paul Summers
LOCAL CAMRA POTY 2010
| |  Swan and Rushes
19 Infirmary Square, Leicester, LE1 5WR, Tel: 0116 233 9167 www.swanandrushes.co.uk
G Grant Cook
O 12 -2.45, 5 – 11 Mon – Wed, 12 – 12 Thu – Sat, 12 – 11.30 Sun
I love rugby as well as football and frequently visit both Leicester Tigers and Birmingham City. The Swan and Rushes in Infirmary Square is an easy walk from the Walkers Stadium (Welford Road and the Walkers are pretty close to each other) and it's my absolute favourite matchday boozer. They have at least 6 real ales on at any one time with the local Oakham ales featuring heavily. These are invariably well kept and if they're not to your taste there's a couple of well stocked fridges with 60 different bottled beers from everywhere from Belgium to the USA. I really can't recommend the place highly enough.
BWV Bateman XB XXXB, Oakham Bishops Farewell, JHB + Guests
Paddy Corden
| | | LEICESTER CAMRA | | 
THE WALKERS STADIUM | | WETHERSPOONS
The Last Plantagenet 107 Granby Street Leicester LE1 6FD Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
The Corn Exchange 1 Corn Exchange Market Place Leicester LE1 5GG Opening Times: Mon-Sun 9am-2am
The High Cross 103-105 High Street Leicester LE1 4JB Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
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