Photo above: Original Cricketers Rest. c 1900
This pub started life as the Robin Hood before 1818 sometime listed as The Old Original Robin Hood before changing its name to the Cricketers Rest by 1850s, presumably to avoid confusion with another pub called the Old Robin Hood around the corner in Woodgate. The former landlord of the Abbey Gate Robin Hood John Abram left to take over a pub in Woodgate taking the Robin Hood name with him.
John Abram was named as licensee as early as 1818 until c 1845
1833 A gardener named Robinson after drinking in the Robin Hood decided to try and swim to and from Abbey Meadows, he almost made it but just before reaching the pub yard, sunk and drowned
The landlord of the Cricketers Rest keen to take advantage of its position with the river Soar as its boundary posted notices advertising ‘Pleasure Boats for Hire’
The original pub was later demolished along with two adjoining cottages, and a new larger pub was erected on the site. Owned by Beeston Brewery, Nottingham (BHS)
Licensees included after John Abrams;
1845 Wm Swain 1845 Wm Cartwright 1846 Walter Wilford, he was bought before the court for keeping an unruly house, the offences occurred from his hirering boats from the pub on the adjoining river soar causing grate annoyance to his neighbours due to the character of the persons hiring it.
1848 Fred Masson, 1848 James Russell , he auctioned off adjoining properties and land fronting the river before in 1849 he auctioned the whole pub.
1854 Henry Thompson (around this time name changes from Robin Hood to Cricketers Rest) 1861 George Chambers 1862 William Mills 1867 Michael Hawksworth 1869 William Billson (some newspapers say Wm Tebutt)
1874 William or Walter Eaton, he was severely assaulted by George Cosgrove and Wm Masters when refused a drink they knocked Eaton downstairs, after they had been ejected by landlord and his brother they kicked down the locked door and trapped the landlords head between door and post, they both received 2 months hard labour.
During the 1870s and 80s many inquests were held here, tragically children being drowned was quite common. The current could swell and carry the young away, in fact it happened to 16 year old Fred Warburton who was swept down river when attempting to retrieve some wood, PC smart took a boat from the Cricketers eventually to find the body.
1889 Shirley Dams 1895 Walter Bramwell 1896 George Chambers 1906 Charles Chambers 1907 Harry —– 1908 Edward Brown, in 1918 Recently married Lillie Wardle 24 who’s husband was in France in the World War became so depressed, she wrote letters to her mother and husband about how despondent she had become and considered suicide. A bakery van man on his rounds saw a women on the parapet of a bridge over the river, he ran towards her shouting, but before he could get there she discarded her hat and coat and jumped into the water. Edward Brown landlord of the Cricketers on hearing took out a punt and dragged the water until he recovered the body. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict on poor Lillie ‘suicide whilst temperately insane;
1927 George Goodwin, Sept 1928 Agricultural show held here, flowers, fruit and veg, all sold off to the highest bidder with the proceeds going to to the Leicester Royal Infirmary,
1931 Charles Horace Wright, landlord, the brother of Lawrence Wright the Leicester composer (‘That Old fashioned mother of mine’ and ‘Dont go down the mine Dad’ amongst many others) although the Leicester Mercury reported the licensee as Lawrence Wright.
1935 Harry or Horace Wm Talbot, landlord,he made a journey of 250 miles by canal taking him several days to win a principle trophy.
1936 Mens Skittle teams,
1954 Wm Allen 1957 Wm Gamble.
1963 Albert Mee who had been awarded the B E M whilst on service in the Royal Engineers died whilst landlord of the Cricketers Rest.
These names taken from early Directories and official Licensing Court lists some times miss spelling or writing almost illegible so we can perhaps be forgiven for any mistakes that may occur.
Leicester Brewing and Maltingcompany Ltd of Charnwood St, Leicester purchased the new Cricketers Rest on the 20th August 1920.
The property transferred on the 1st October 1956 to Ansells Brewery following the takeover of LBM in 1952.
This ad from 1987.
The pub finally closed its doors around 1990, whereupon the building was used as a design consultant’s showroom.
