THE HIND, 49 LONDON ROAD

In 1839, an advert declared ‘TO PIGEON SHOOTERS- Double barrelled shot, apply William Smith The Hind Inn London Road.’

JR has Smith there in 1831, also a Richard Smith in 1794.  There was another Hind in Swans Mill Lane during the seventeenth cent.

Thomas Hunt seemed to be licensee c1848 after Wm Smith. Fielding Moore 1854. Charles Ore 1864. John Hurlbut 1866. Jane Hurlbut 1878. John Clarke listed as owner.

The Hind was auctioned in November 1841, complete with a four poster bed.

In 1850, it was again up for sale complete with brewhouse, piggeries, coach house and stables.

In January the following year, an annual supper got out of hand when fourteen builders drunk too much and ended up fighting outside the Hind, assaulting the police who came to quell the brawling. All were find 10/- or fourteen days.

Wm Randell licensee 1881. Robert Simpson 1883, Simpson was also the owner, The Hind was rebuilt 1892. Cecil Morely landlord 1902. Ind Coope Brewery had become the owners c1910.

This grainy c 1906 photo seems to show an early Hind with Bass sign. Alfred Robins licensee in 1910. Ernest Albert Deacon 1918. Clifford Gebhazed ?? 1921. (deceased) William Pearson 1923. Tom Smith 1924. Thomas Ladds 1933. At some point c1920s The Hind changed hands, eventually to be owned by London Midland, Scottish Railway Co, apparently leased back to Ind Coope. (taken from Licensing Register) some of the names are hardly legible. Harold Coe licensee c1938. David Goodman c1949. Archibald Crawford c 1956.
1993 picture showing the Hind looks extreemly Deco in period,l opposite the Leicester Railway Station.

The Hind Inn – now a hotel – which was rebuilt c 1893.  Part of the rebuild was apparently without permission, as the newspaper report below shows:

Leicester Mercury August 5th 1893

The Swinging Sixties (this pic 1966) saw many breweries catching on to the young who, for the first time, had money to spend, full employment and were free of the shackles of post war austerity.  Ind Coope saw the trend and opened The Cauldron, a cellar bar which became very popular.  Marijuana was in the air, Scott McKenzie was singing ‘If your going to San Francisco, wear some flowers in your hair’ Topped the charts for what seemed forever, the hippy days were upon us. But who from Leicester wants to go to San Francisco when after a night in the Cauldron you could go to the Kohinoor across the road in Conduit St for a curry, to listen to Elvis on a windup gramophone in the back, courtesy of Abdul (Billy). Ah… happy days.

By the early seventies most of the flower power children had settled down, the summer of love was over and the Cauldron went the same way.  Eventually the Hind returned to a normal pub again, still going in 2015, but with a revolving door of licensees.’

Barry Lount
The Hind like many city centre pups chased the trends Real Ale Bar, Cafe Bar, Cocktail Bar, ever changing at the Hind, c2017′ Licensee Sam Okafor took over bringing the latest revamp/ PASSION BLEND & HINDBAR.
What was once a prime spot opposite the Railway Station eventually was to suffer to the changing trends, one wonders if it had kept its traditional ‘feel’ as it is a god example of ‘deco’ architecture, Lets hope it survives and successful again

4 Comments

  1. There is a large cast iron clock, on a cast iron post, in front of the main bar.
    A staff member thinks at one time it was on the street outside the premises.
    Is there more information available regarding the clock?
    Regards, Kev.

  2. thanks for that Kev, I know the one you mean but sorry i cant help you with the history of the clock,if you go on to the facebook site Made in Leicester and ask that question I am sure someone will come up with the answer as there are people on there with great knowledge and photos of old Leicester, thanks again Kev for your input.

  3. Thanks for info Kev I know the clack you mean but have no more info on it, try facebook site ‘Made in Leicester’ ask the question ill bet there will be some one who can help as there are some great researches on there, thanks again Kev for your input, cheers Barry

  4. My Parents were the living landlords late 70s, we lived there for about 3 years, loved going down in the cellar and remember the cauldron, had at the time plastic crabs and lobsters on the ceiling, very fond memories of living there. Happy times.

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