HORSE & GROOM – HARE & PHEASANT – PACK HORSE – DUSTY’S – CASK & BOTTLE, 51 HUMBERSTONE GATE

The Horse & Groom in Huberstone Gate is recorded from 1790s but the original Horse & Groom stood next to the Bell Hotel, when it changed its name circa 1820. This pub assumed the name. (See Craven Arms)

This property may date from the Georgian period

c1843 Wm Johnson landlord, was approached by a PC after 11-30pm as 20 people were still in his beerhouse with Johnson still pulling ale, he was fined £1 1858 William Keites was licencee. William was on the Vestry board of St Margaret’s Church, William Keites who’s address was given 103 London Rd Leicester also owned the Horse & Groom. The ownership would pass to William Shilling Granby St-Stephen Henry Shilling, through to William Hubbard Glenfield Rd, to Leicester Brewing & Malting. Finally LBM bought out by Ansells.

1907 Robert George Minter (deceased aged 56) to Elizabeth Ann Minter 1917. (Elizabeth too would join her husband the following year in 1918 aged 63) John Samuel Hardy 1918, Arthur Edward Brown 1919. Thomas Underwood c1934. Clifford Poole 1947. Clifford was slashed with a broken glass by John Daly of Shady Lane Camp, Oadby in 1951, Daly received 3 years imprisonment. During Clifford Pools time also living at the pub was Gordon Roll one of the countries, he even once owned a racehorse. best known post war ‘Gentleman of the Turf’ grandson of Sir James Roll Baronet, London Mayor 1920, Gordon inherited a fortune from his grandfather, even whilst a prisoner of was it was reported that bookies still took bets from him, Landlord Pool recounted Roll once winning £10,000 on the Derby only to lose the lot on the St Leger. (That’s one way to spend your inheritance !) Clifford Poole would move to the Imperial the Telegraph pubs in Leicester. Below Artur Edward Brown licensee c1919-c1930s.

Horace Blackwell 1956 licensee, 1959 William Hurst, that year a thief broke in through a window stealing about £5, some tins of steak & kidney pudding and some soup!

The Horse & Groom often known to locals as ‘The Round Bar’

By c1967 it change its name to the Hare & Pheasant. .

1968 photo of the Hare & Pheasant showing the proximity to Charles Street. This name would last until circa 1974, when another change was made, now to the Pack Horse.

From Leicester Memories Facebook Jayne Wills/Gary Freestone

Pack Horse, circa 1974-1987.
Chris Pyrah’s photo of Pack Horse

A brief incarnation as Dusty’s, circa 1988, before changing again, to Cask & Bottle.

1989 photo.
Good view of Humberstone Gate with Cask & Bottle right (photo credit Chris Palmer)
Closed circa 1998.  Here a new facade is being prepared to turn it into a retail unit.

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