Elizabeth Watson’s husband obviously stayed on at the Shoulder of Mutton as his death was reported on the 5th of April 1838, as being sudden. It would seem that the name change had taken place as George Bunting, the landlord in 1840, was in charge of the now named Haunch of Venison. He was advertising ‘Good Stabling For 9 Horses at a Trifling Expense.’
MANSLAUGHTER AT LEICESTER ran the Leices Merc headline June 1837. The inquest on 12 year old William Townley was held at the Haunch or Venison, High St the body of young William had been found in Hames Yard which was a yard near the rear of the Haunch of Venison (now Shires Lane) William had been playing with some friends in Free School Lane near Thomas Bonnetts yard when Bonnett and John Ottey called the boys in for a game of skittles, Bonnett bought a jug of gin & water for the boys to drink, Bonnett followed this with jugs of Rum & water, enticed by Ottey ten jugs in all were drunk, by which time Wm Townley with another boy Charles Chamberlain aged 9 were rolling and tumbling about, Wm Townley kept falling down. Bonnett and Ottey stood laughing at the boys trying to get up. The boy Chamberlain said Ottey forced him to drink the gin by holding it to his mouth.
William Townley later died, following his demise Bonnett 19 and Ottey 24 were charged with causing Williams death, the jury found them guilty of manslaughter and committed to the Assizes at Leicester Castle. The judge then surprising acquitted the two men as a charge of manslaughter could not be sustained. Bonnett and Ottey walked free with a warning that they refrain from drunkenness and to discountenance it in others
The Haunch of Venison was perhaps best known when Joe Jacobs ran the pub for around twenty years, from circa 1932. Joe promoted boxing around Leicester at the Granby Halls, Cossington St and even the Tigers ground. His training ring at the pub bought many boxing celebrities of the day to his premises. During and post World War Two, Joe would arrange bouts between locals and American servicemen stationed here, to take the heat out of any rivalry and mistrust that existed between them.
In 1997, the Haunch of Venison which had been closed and for sale was bought, internally extensively altered and re-named the Orange Tree. Friendly, with a good music and beer selection, it was a perfect pub for the early 2000s.
Charles Wells purchased the Orange Tree in 2019, with intention to turn it into a pizza pots and pints pub to be known as the Tree, thus ending 20 years of a very popular outlet.
The refurbishment complete, The Tree opened circa August 2019. One wonders if it can recapture the ambience of the previous 20 years of the Orange Tree, which was always buzzing with a cross section of people.
