CRICKET PLAYERS – LONG STOP – PINCH OF SNUFF – GATEHOUSE – CHURCH GATE TAVERN, SYNERGY- CHURCH GATE

A Georgian pub originally, but rebuilt early part of the twentieth century. (c1912) The origin of the name supposedly stems from it being the cricketers’ haunt when returning from their game at St. Margaret’s pastures where most of the local cricket was played. The Mechanics Temple of Peace a branch of the Ancient order of Druids met here regularly in the 1840s (CP) Reputedly haunted by Harry Staines a landlord in the late 1800s. (strange as he was a licensee for a very short time 1885-6 ans died very young aged only 28) The name Has had a few abbreviations of the Cricket theme such as Cricket Players Arms, Cricket Players Inn. and the Long Stop c1980s A change to the Pinch of Snuff mid 1980s

Landlords includes John Glover c1815, (died 1829) Sarah Glover 1830, Joseph Hadden 1834, Arthur Walker 1842, John Bruce 1846, Joseph Knight 1860-fined 10/- for opening early on a Sunday (died 1870) Elizabeth Knight 1871. James Ballard 1874, John Tomkins 1878, Henry Charles Albino 1880, Henry Ratcliffe Feb 1882, (became insolvent) Charles Wheatley Oct 1882, Ann Wheatley May 1886, John Frederick Ireland? Oct 1886, Harry Staines 1885, Annie Staines 1886, Bell & Co Brewery were owners having purchased the pub from George Harrison. Walter Chamberlain landlord 1897, Henry Baldwin 1904, Amelia Baldwin(widow) 1907, Jeffrey Wilkinson 1908, John Whittles 1910, Frank Burton 1915 Frank was fined £5 for having a light on at midnight against Wartime restrictions.

George Edwin Green licensee 1928, Alfred Garner 1934, Arthur Richardson 1939, Percy Jefferson 1946, Clifford Harrison 1950.

Above from Chris Pyrah collection

Looking down Church Gate past the Pinch of Snuff

The Pinch of snuff c 1987 attracted quite a few problems, one of the city pubs used by the notorious ‘Baby Squad’ originally the Leicester city ‘hooligan’ branch of fans, the period during the 1980s-90s most high profile clubs had their own branch and nicknames.

Two headlines from the period the first involving the ‘baby squad’, the second a brawl spilling out from the Pinch of Snuff into the street, Needles to say the pub name was soon changed again.

Circa 2011, the pub again changed to become the Churchgate.  This was so short-lived that a proper sign hadn’t been erected before, by the end of 2012, it had changed again to Synergy.

After a period of uncertainty being open and closed, The Churchgate Tavern closed its doors for good post Covid with intentions of opening as an Ethiopian & Eritrean Restaurant June 2022