Leicester’s main gay pub for many years – being opposite the theatre it attracted many thespians whose photos adorned the walls.
Known as the Dover Castle since the 1820s.
The Dover was listed as brewing its own beer: Needham & Crick the Leicester maltsters who supplied many of the small brew pubs seemingly sold on the pub to LBM on the 16th of February 1891.
In 1895, the Dover had its licence objected to for selling adulterated gin.
In 1930, and again in 1932, the building underwent major alterations.
1995 saw Ansells -who had taken on the LBM estate – sell the Dover Castle to Burtonwood Brewery.
Regan’s Gazetteer (JR – Joe Regan) lists more than fifty licensees since the 1820s.
In 1836, Thomas Mollison entered the Dover drunk. Thomas Spawton the landlord refused to serve him and tried to put him out and in response Mollison struck the landlord three heavy blows. A policeman was called for but he too was struck and thrown to the ground. Others joined in to help and they were struck as well. Mollison was so possessed that they eventually tied his legs together, threw him in a cart and took him to the police station. In court Mollison said he couldn’t remember a thing, he was told to make arrangements to pay compensation to Spawton.
Another landlord worth mentioning is Isaac Tarry, licensee for over twenty years from the 1860s. He was in court many times for various infringements of the licensing laws. In one incident, he was assaulted by Thomas Ball, a customer who threw him in the gutter and tried to strangle him. As well as fining Ball, the court warned Tarry about the conduct of his house.
April 1950 the Dover Castle was broken into whilst the landlord and family were out, the whole place was ransacked, contents of drawers were strewn about, mattresses and bedclothes pulled to the floor, takings from the till with some club money were stolen together with bottles of whisky, sherry and port, around the same time Millets warehouse in Dover St was also broken into.
‘Since World War Two, the Dover has always been known as Leicester’s premium Gay & Lesbian bar, although other customers were always welcome. It drew many ‘characters’ and like many pubs its hey day was the 1960s and 1970s when it was nearly always buzzing. I would call in with my wife, Liz, on occasions for its great sound system.’
Barry Lount
. 2023 photo from Jeremy Corbett collection