A mini Leicester Pub Guide
To balance out my previously unenthusiastic post, I must say that although Leicester is kinda average in many respects, it's decent boozer level is exponentially high.
My faves in no particular order:
The Black Horse - Last remaining traditional pub on Braunstone Gate. Has regular live music which ranges from the wonderful to hilariously dire. Always a few good guest ales on. Friendly place, mercifully wanker free.
The Criterion - awful 60's building that looks like a second division football clubhouse, but has the most amazing list of imported beers (a menu running to several pages, no less), fantastic draught lagers (Budvar Dark and another Czech lager I can't remember
), about 6 lines of real Ale, and a couple of Cider lines. Cheap and good food, great jukebox (punk, ska, indie, 60's/70's - nothing past about 1989). Live music in the bar. Nice staff.
The Globe - used to be home of the goth in the late 80's, and to extent it still is. Although, it's always been a mixed crowd, having said that, so it's never too one dimensional. Good beers, nice enough staff, central location.
The Landsdown - retro theme, which normally I hate, but works quite well. Sister bar to the Orange Tree, so good tunes, good food and some beautiful people. Better ranage of beers than the OT. Nice cocktails.
The Looking Glass - About the only one of the 'swanky' bars I can really bear on Braunstone Gate. Excellent range of spirits, some decent imported lagers. Occassionally good live acts downstairs.
The Orange Tree - A bizarre oasis of taste on the High Street of hell. Generally good tunes, nearly always busy, decent food, booze range average. Staff are ok. The place where the beautiful indie kids hang out. Wicked beer garden.
Out of the Vaults - Basic spit & sawdust joint, decent music (sometimes) - but famously, the best real Ale pub in town. Bewildering array of draught ale - must be at least 8 lines. Good belgian lagers on draught too. The twice yearly beer festivals are not to be missed - the stillage, with around 25 types of ales at £2 a pint, is genius. Yeah, love this place.
Swan & Rushes - used to be the sister pub of the Criterion, but now gone separate ways. Older Victorian pub on a busy road, that is somehow quiet and laid back. Again, excellent range of imported beers and constantly changing guest Ales. Staff are ok.
To balance out my previously unenthusiastic post, I must say that although Leicester is kinda average in many respects, it's decent boozer level is exponentially high.
My faves in no particular order:
The Black Horse - Last remaining traditional pub on Braunstone Gate. Has regular live music which ranges from the wonderful to hilariously dire. Always a few good guest ales on. Friendly place, mercifully wanker free.
The Criterion - awful 60's building that looks like a second division football clubhouse, but has the most amazing list of imported beers (a menu running to several pages, no less), fantastic draught lagers (Budvar Dark and another Czech lager I can't remember
), about 6 lines of real Ale, and a couple of Cider lines. Cheap and good food, great jukebox (punk, ska, indie, 60's/70's - nothing past about 1989). Live music in the bar. Nice staff.The Globe - used to be home of the goth in the late 80's, and to extent it still is. Although, it's always been a mixed crowd, having said that, so it's never too one dimensional. Good beers, nice enough staff, central location.
The Landsdown - retro theme, which normally I hate, but works quite well. Sister bar to the Orange Tree, so good tunes, good food and some beautiful people. Better ranage of beers than the OT. Nice cocktails.
The Looking Glass - About the only one of the 'swanky' bars I can really bear on Braunstone Gate. Excellent range of spirits, some decent imported lagers. Occassionally good live acts downstairs.
The Orange Tree - A bizarre oasis of taste on the High Street of hell. Generally good tunes, nearly always busy, decent food, booze range average. Staff are ok. The place where the beautiful indie kids hang out. Wicked beer garden.
Out of the Vaults - Basic spit & sawdust joint, decent music (sometimes) - but famously, the best real Ale pub in town. Bewildering array of draught ale - must be at least 8 lines. Good belgian lagers on draught too. The twice yearly beer festivals are not to be missed - the stillage, with around 25 types of ales at £2 a pint, is genius. Yeah, love this place.
Swan & Rushes - used to be the sister pub of the Criterion, but now gone separate ways. Older Victorian pub on a busy road, that is somehow quiet and laid back. Again, excellent range of imported beers and constantly changing guest Ales. Staff are ok.
