One of only three NBC pubs in Leicester.
In May 1828, John Smeeton the landlord was warned about him ‘suffering tippling’ during divine service, the consequence of a number of dirty individuals. drunk with their aprons on, walking in the road whilst the well disposed part of the community was coming out of church.
John Smeeton licensee died 1832, his wife Ann Smeeton would take over, she soon put the house up for auction together with brewhouse and malt rooms, Thomas Walden would follow as licensee, Mary Harrison 1840, George Bailey 1849, William Cheney 1850, George Garratt 1852, William Henry Harris c1855, Mary Glover listed as owner around this time, Charles Sawbridge 1861 Charles was fined 10/- or 7 days for selling ale after hours on a Sunday, a year later he transferred his licence to Samuel Barrs in 1867, William Wildbore 1875, Frederick Pollard 1877, Edwin Carter 1878, Francis Alfred Heath 1894
NBC now became the owners. 1900 Francis Amos Cooper, 1905 Henry Toone -since deceased-1912 Margaret Toone -since remarried, George Wilson 1912, George Veasey 1915-since deceased-Lizzie Veasey 1919, Georges licence was objected to in 1916 as his house was ill conducted, fortunately he kept his licence. Robert Constable 1919, Samuel Strawson 1930. Chas H Bush 1938, Henry Ellicock 1944, Henry was fined £100 for purchasing coal in excess of wartime ration. Thomas Bowers 1950.
1930s photo Hare and Hounds
Some court cases involving Hare & Hounds In 1832, when landlord John Smeeton died, his wife Ann took on the licence until a buyer could be found. The pub was then put up for auction.
On the 1st of February 1851, William Cheney the landlord charged with permitting drunkenness on the premises.
On the 22nd of January 1859, the pub was found to be open after hours, when the police entered between 3-5pm. Six people were drinking in the parlour: two train drivers, two guards and two firemen. The case was eventually dismissed.
On 26 October 1877 Frederick Pollard the landlord of the Hare & Hounds was again charged with serving after hours, this time he was fined 1guinea or ten days imprisonment.
In 1915, the new regulations came into place to help the war effort. Closing time would be 9pm, Sergeant Ballentyne, placed outside the Hare & Hounds saw a boy go in at 9.05 pm and come out with a jug of ale at two minutes later. Landlord George Wilson was fined £5.
Between the wars the pub was used mainly by the workers from the nearby railway station and works. A sign on the building read ‘4d Hot RUM & MILK’ for the railway men who started early in the morning.
In 1967, the Hare & Hounds was compulsory purchased in 1967 by the council.
