STAR, 3 BELGRAVE GATE

A Starre recorded as being in Haymarket 1560 (JR)

A Star in Belgrave Gate is recorded in 1564, (Batesons), also in 1564-5 the Queens Receiver was recoded as visiting the Star. (Billsons). There was another Star on the Public Wharf, further down Belgrave Gate, so some confusion is found when researching.

The Star, behind the bus, with the pointed gable, facing towards the Clock Tower (photo Jack Graves)

Owned by John Cart, circa 1860, before passing to Brunt Bucknell & Co Ltd circa 1880, and on to Salts of Burton until 1927 when Bass when they took over the former.

8 May 1842 ,the Star was auctioned, being advertised as having stabling for thirty horses

Licensees included: 1845 W. H. Robinson to William  Coltman. H. Charlesworth, 1855.  Henry Bray, 1863.

1867 Joseph Taylor a habitual drunk and wife beater was in the Star quite inebriated, when his wife tried to entice out of the Star, Taylor refused to leave, so she waited outside until he emerged where he berated her until they arrived home, there he threw her on the floor knocking her insensible, She ran scared for her life, Taylor then fastened the door shut with a nail, Mrs Taylor with no where to go went back to the Star where the landlord allowed her refuge by taking her in. Although Joseph Taylor had been before the magistrates many time before for similar offences they fined him £2 or 1 month.

1 March1879, auctioned again, by W. Wade.  The full description this time described the brew house. 

William York, 1879.  Charles Wright, 1889. John Oswin, 1891.  Henry Skinner, 1900.  Alf  Barrow, 1908. Arthur Oswin, 1914.  Anne Oswin,  1916.  Arthur Oswin, 1919. Harry Harding, 1922. Herbert Sheppard, 1932.

Feb 1915 Brewers Brunt Brucknall & Co applied and was granted a licence with the intention of re building the Star as to effect a St improvement scheme, the pub would be in practically on the site of the old alehouse with 30 yds to the side.

Harry Harding host of the Star during 1920’s would collect for the Leicester Royal Infirmary with a most ingenious idea called the ‘Lucy family’ Lucy a dummy leg was installed to collect all the odd change, after Lucy 1st was broken Lucy 2nd took over, by the time Lucy 3rd which was described as ‘a shapely young member of her species’ the ‘Lucy family’ had collected in £123-10/- the newspaper report stated that the Star was the most popular pub in Leicester. (leices evening mail jan 1929)

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