Built by Joseph Hansom of Hansom cab fame, 1845. A former Baptist chapel, owned by LCC, recently used as City Library and Adult Education Centre.
In 2014, £250k was spent on the building to open it up as an Arts Centre, complete with a bar for functions, weddings parties etc. Reopened in January 2015.
Hansom Hall is still very much open for business as of writing.
Isn’t this stretching the definition a “public house” a bit? Is a bar in an Arts Centre really recognised as a pub, or anywhere else that happens to require an on-license for that matter? There’s always been a problem (for me) with this mix of old-style pubs, bars, hotel bars, restaurant – bars etc and one of the reasons I stopped trying to resolve and record these problematic licensed premises.
You certainly raised a valid point here, Chris, and it is one that we may revisit in time. At the moment we’re focusing on placing online the huge stock of researched pubs and you will also be able to see that the definition of ‘public house’ has been cast pretty wide.
It means pretty much that if there was a licence to sell alcohol, then in it goes. Of course, there is a vast range of variations on that theme, whether it be an arts centre bar, an ancient inn or a mid Victorian beer house that actually operated for most of its existence as a corner off-licence.
Some places just sold beer, some could sell wine too and others could sell spirits also. I guess what we’re seeing is the way that drinking habits in Leicester have varied within the place at a given moment and changed over time. At the moment we’re just trying to get the pubs up here online for people to see. Once everything is on then that will be a moment to draw breath and consider whether to include the option of having a number of sub-categories.
An thank-you for all your helpful contributions so far 🙂 – Steve B.
I agree its not in the traditional sense that we think of public houses, but since the change to allow local authorities to administer licences, all sorts have been issued. On this occasion as the building is of historical and architectural interest to Leicester have decided to include it.
It also shows the cultural changes surrounding licensed premises as do the new café, gin cocktail bars that hold full licenses.