TOPPS-RICKSHAWS-RED ROOM-CRYPT-TOWER GATE-ZUES-NICHE-ICE
This George was erected circa 1799. There was also a George which was first documented some time in 1580, and was to grow into a major coaching inn.
1790s -c1808 was ran by John then Thomas Robinson. c1808 James Briggs would host the George followed by John George Briggs, the ownership of the George would eventually be in Susanna Briggs. A Miss Finch would hold the licence c1850. S Carter 1862 and John Brown 1864.
During the 1840s John Briggs would house The Railway Parcel dept for Midland Counties Railway, he advertised the collection and delivery of parcels as well as an Omnibus & Fly to convey passengers to and fro the Railway Station.
A George was also recorded in 1458, one in Market Place and one in Swinesmarket, but it is hard to define its position.
During the 1830s, the Defiance horse drawn coach would leave daily early morning to reach London the same day – at the time a major feat.
Below early c1860s photo of the George on right in Haymarket.
It had a wooden turntable through the passageway to turn the coaches, due to the narrowness of the yard.
1875 Ann Marion Marston would hold the licence. 1891 William Lewis Fuller, 1898 George Rowland Roberts. The George was now owned or leased by Ind Coope Brewery who incidentally had their agency next door.
1898 Thomas Cannon was licensee. William John Lee 1910. Sidney Keeble 1912. Alfred Bowling 1914.
During WW I, the George was fined for selling during prohibited hours, as well as under the Defence of the Realm Act for not having a bedroom light shaded at 1am. It was fined £10, or fifty one days, and ordered to be registered under the Aliens Restrictions Order.
James Bell licensee 1923. Frank Hardy Ashmore 1930. (1931 The George Vaults was raided by police, men caught betting were arrested Herbert Biddles barman was also charged with permitting gambling Biddles was fined £50 and the licensee Frank Ashmore £30 for allowing betting on his premises) 1931 Alexander Charles Seaton Bust? temporally took on the licence before Frank William Warton the same year. 1932. Bernard Joseph Rice 1934. Around now Bass Ratcliffe & Gretton Brewery would own the business, from here on in mainly managers ran the George.
I also like this colourised picture adapted by Ron Hubble, fashionable late 1950s crowds pass by the George corner of Haymarket and Humberstone Gate.
In 1960s, the George went from above to below to make way for the new shopping centre. The old Georgians had complained about their loss of building, but it was nothing compared to the 1960s replacement of the Victorian ‘Gothic’ George.
The New George 1974. This Leicester Chronicle page explains perfectly the changing scene in Leicester pubs. Jackie Adcock is playing the Jukebox in the New George.
Various names followed, including Topps, Rickshaws (1980s), Red Room, Crypt, Tower Gate (in 1998), Zues (2001), Niche (2007), Ice (2013). The names seemed to change like the weather but none had much of an impact on the Leicester pub scene.
