Photo above: The Horn Of Plenty looking down Garden Street from Belgrave Gate, the address was sometime recorded as Lower Garden Street, sometimes Royal East Street.
William Groves seemed to be one of the first licensees in the late 1850s, entering the following advert in the Leicester Chronicle in 1866:
William Groves of the Horn of Plenty Garden St offers good accommodation for travellers, good yard and stabling for 50 horses, carriers Market Gardeners and all travellers favouring him with their patronage will have every convenience and accommodation.
By 1871, Harry Simpson was landlord, his father, William, living next door. One evening William was found slumped on the causeway against the gates of the pub. He was carried into the Horn of Plenty where he expired. Mrs. Simpson said he had been in drink the past seven years, and in the previous few months he took little food, just spirits. An inquest was held where the verdict was ‘death by syncope because of excessive drinking.’
In 1884, a smoking licence was granted but a singing and music was refused.
Looking through the court records, the Horn of Plenty was rarely out of the news for one misdemeanour or other.
During the 1890s the beerhouse – with Charles Deacon as licensee – was put up for sale, complete with brewhouse, cottage at rear plus two further cottages adjoining Royal East Street. The whole lot was eventually knocked down for £1000 in 1899.
1907 saw the last ale sold when compensation was agreed on its closure.
