A Fountain was recorded in 1747 poss in Humberstone Gate licensee Thomas Drake (JR)
The opening of the pub we know today was advertised in the local press in March 1838:
‘All that newly erected public house The fountain, situated in Humberstone Gate, containing Parlour, Tap Room, Kitchen, Brewhouse, Bedrooms, cellarage, large yard, extensive workshops, 3 pumps, in the occupation of Mr Collingbourne.’
c1840 John Wells was licensee, 1865 Joseph Tailby, 1867 William Ramsden, who was listed as owner. Malster Richard Broomhead was awarded £15. 2/6 in a court case for malt delivered to Ramsden in 1874 he disputed the delivery Ramsden lost the case where the Malster was also awarded costs. August 1874 the landlord Tailby was fined £10 for allowing prostitutes to use the pub, in defense the owner presumably Ramsden said it was difficult for the landlord as to conduct the house as Hill St (known as Sand Pit Lane) that ran by the side of the Fountain was well known for housing of prostitutes, it was then agreed a temporary licence to be granted from Joseph Tailby to George Turner.
Hill St running down side of Fountain which had an entrance from the st to the side of the pub, at the time Hill St a notorious haunt of prostitutes and criminal activity.
1876 George Jarvis licensee, 1877 Joseph Jarvis, 1878 James Wheatly would become the owner, Mary Wheatley licensee 1879 she is also listed in the ownership as well as Charles Wheatley. Oct !880 The Fountain was up for sale. John Grimes landlord 1881. March 1884 William Warren. May 1884 George Williams. Joseph Bass 1886, (Joseph died age 63 May 1887) Beatrice Bass had the licence transferred to her later that month in 1887. Beatrice was summons for selling gin below proof in the July, the case was adjourned for a sample to be sent off for annalist at Somerset House.
Mark Bateman Feb 1888, Hannah Jane Bateman July 1888, James Kirkpatrick 1889, in July 1892 James Kirkpatrick was fined for knocking her to the ground and beating his wife Sarah Jane with a stick, he was fined £1 or 14 days.
Kirkpatrick left the pub immediately, William Shelton took over by the end of the month. Thomas Bollard came in 1901 as landlord. Oct 1907 The pub was raided by the police, in a long case which Bolland admitted to being a street ‘bookie’ for 5 years, but would not take bets in the pub, so risking his licence. The trial lasting over two days, trial by jury found Bolland guilty, he was fined £25 plus costs or 3 months. Bolland left the pub soon after. The matter didn’t end there the Fountains licence was objected to at the Brewster Sessions by the ‘ladies of Leicester temperance’ on the betting grounds,
On appeal, eventually Tom Harry Applebee was allowed to take over, until James Rosevear in 1911.
Photo credit: Nick Miller Collection.
During James Rosevear’s time in 1913 a boy named Fred Morris aged 11 was fined 5/- at the children’s court for trading in the Fountain. 1918 John Ignatius Cunningham was licensee, Joseph Smith Hallam 1923, Stanley Hyman Mauger (Some directories have it as Manger) later the same year. Stanley was there until 1957 completing almost 35 years.
1944 The Leicester Weavers and Braid Hands of the Elastic Web trade held their general meeting here.
1973 Peter Williams fined £50 for hitting someone over the head with a beer bottle. c1976 Willam Bealby licensee.
1985 Peter Degnan fell down the cellar when draymen were delivering beer in Hill St, left the the drop open, the owners Imperial Inns & Taverns were fined £1000 plus costs for not supplying warnings against the Health & Safety Act.. 1986 The Leicester Mercury reported that Roger & Val Whitmore had left the pub to take on the Noel Arms Rutland. 1987 In a raid on the pub £4000 worth of jewelry was stolen.
Post World War II the Fountain was one of the pubs mainly used by Irish and local townies alike, always busy, bustling and full of ‘characters.’ In that time there was never a dull moment in the Fountain. It lost its way somewhat after a refurbishment, as traditional pubs in Leicester were now becoming fewer and fewer, locals had long moved out, and the old building trade workers that one time congregated in Humberstone Gate had mostly passed on. The newer ‘trendy’ bars were competing for trade – the ‘basic boozer’- was well on the decline, so efforts were made to change its image.
The Fountain changed its name to Gaz’s Bar in 2003, followed by the 80’s Bar in 2004, and No 52. in 2006, before reverting to its original name.
‘It was a pub that I always liked, always a good welcome and atmosphere, as long as you minded your own business you were generally ok. It did have its share of undesirables, although usually well contained.’ Now in 2024 one of the very few ‘old fashioned boozers’ still in Leicester, always a good night in there.
Barry Lount
In 2011 the following headline hit the local paper:
‘Man jailed for chilling revenge attack on pub customer’
‘Thug used 2ft machete to chop off his victim’s hand’
After a fight in the Fountain, Carl Peters, who was said to be high on cocaine, went to fetch the weapon to take revenge on those who he previously had a fight with. He was jailed for ten years.
For many years the Fountain a Holes Brewery House until acquired by Courage in 1967. Later Imperial Inns & Taverns Ltd London were listed as owners. Below James Hole office on opposite side of road to the Fountain with weighing m/c for lorry’s & transport in (where cars are in pic ) used up to c1970’s building still standing today recently as a taxi office
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