Photo above: Built by Everards c 1958.
Dominion Road comes under the parish of Glenfield but is within the City boundary.
Strangely for a new pub, the Dominion was reputed to have a ghost. Reports of a dark swarthy figure – named ‘Bert’ by the staff – was observed mainly in the cellar (they often are). The pub dog – a large Alsatian – was claimed would never go down the cellar.
“I was often dismissive about these stories and was sceptical about these things, until I bought an old 17th century pub, I then found out that haunted buildings do exist. It causes a shiver to even think of it”.
Barry Lount
2008, saw a horrendous incident when three customers were randomly stabbed whilst having a smoke outside the pub. A forty-nine-year old man was left fighting for his life.
Stephen Jelly, thirty-four, was said to be high on drink and drugs at the time was given a minimum of five years in jail for the unprovoked attack.
As so often with these newer pubs situated in large grounds the Dominion suffered for no particular one reason. The size of the site meant it was valuable real estate and when Tesco came calling Everards sold the site to the supermarket chain.
The Dominion closed in 2013.
Worked at the ‘Dommy’ 1984-1988. Before refurb there was bar (darts/pool/jukebox/wood floor), small lounge (small) and big lounge (dominoes/on occasion piano). Side door for off-sales. Thanks for pre-refurb pic, thats the pub I remember.