Bass originally applied for a licence, circa 1997, but eventually opened the property next door to the Loaded Dog.
Wolverhampton & Dudley Brewers (Banks), then licensed the property into one of their ‘Varsity’ Pubs, all called The Varsity, strangely their second in Leicester (the other in Friar Lane). At one time there was over thirty Varsity pubs. Above picture, refurbishing the property in 1999.
By 2003, Banks had sold most of their Varsity pubs to the Barracuda Group, who in turn passed them on a few years later. Again aimed at the students, this Varsity stood alongside the now established Loaded Dog, with six other large bars on this part of London Road. The student trade never really materialised and it was always going to be mainly term time trade. The university also had its own bars to keep students on campus
It never really found its identity, changing from a sport orientated student bar to a cheap drinks venue. By 2013, an application was made to turn it into a Supermarket. Sainsbury’s duly obliged and another Sainsbury’s was opened.