Photo above: The man standing outside is believed to be landlord Edward Clayton, which would date the photo c.1890. Sign over the window on the right of the main entrance, reads ‘Dressing rooms of the Leicester Football Club’, which refers to the Tigers rugby team.
c.1840, rebuilt some three decades later as a hotel, advertising in the Leicester and Rutland Directory in 1875 ‘First class accommodation for farmers, cattle dealers and others’: ‘FIRST CLASS ALES, DUFFEY’S STOUTS’.
Originally brewed its own ale, seen here as an L.B.M. house, who bought the pub from Tapley, Wiggins and Clayton on 31 March 192,1 as with the other L.B.M houses, acquired by Ansells 1952.
John Clewes owned the Freemen’s in 1874, followed by Edward Clayton, who sold it to L.B.M.
PHYSIO & FIRKIN
July 1994, the Freemen’s became the Physio and Firkin after a major refurbishment. Tigers and England Rugby star, Graham Rowntree opened the pub, (Leices Mercury)
Licensees (J.R.):
1840 George Flint 1843 Thomas Collins. 1850 Edward Collin 1855 Thomas Bull. 1874 John Clewes licensee and owner.Clews purchased the pub that year, advertising he had been for the past 7 years at the Victoria Grounds-Storks Head, now offered at the Freemans stabling for 20 horses, Hay , Corn and Grass provided, also Chops and steaks at 10 minutes notice.
. 1891 John Coleman 1893 Edward Clayton life governor of the Leicester Infirmary died 1912 leaving shares to his children Albert & Emily Clayton, Kate Tapley, Matilda Starbuck and executor Fred Wiggins the licence of the pub passed to his son in law William Starbuck, Eventually Tapley Wiggins and Starbucks sold to LBM Brewery.
1914 George Dalby 1921 Ernest Haynes 1930 Charles Baker 1932 Fielding Lyner 1939 Harold Riddington
1948 Frederick Hil 1961 Ronald Summerton 1966 Raymond Beane 1980 Malcom Thompson
1983 Peter Clewlow 1985 Stephen Jackson 1986 Peter Hughes 1988 Andrew Gibbins
1990 Jacqueline Gibbins 1994 Fiona Lyons 1997 Chris Smith.
THE PHIZZ
Leicester Gaol can be seen in the background on the right.
The Phizz, followed the Physio & Firkin c.2002. It was mainly a gay bar and was short-lived over a year, before changing it again to the Pride of Leicester.
PRIDE OF LEICESTER
June 2005, the Pride of Leicester was put up for auction by the owners Punch Taverns with a clause that it was to be sold with a covenant that it could not be used in future as licensed premises. This paved the way for the nearby Hospital Trust to make a successful offer, demolishing the building to be made into a parking lot for the hospital.