Completely unrecognisable today. The old Rainbow & Dove can be seen with the Eagle Brewery at the rear. The Brighton Arms is marked D on the map (see above). Northampton Street ran across Upper Charles Street to Granby Street.
The Brewery History society lists Carver & Bates at the Eagle Brewery Northampton Square, originally a brewhouse owned by the Hannam family. Became Frederick Bates, by 1890 Bates Son & Bishell acquired to form LBM Leicester Brewing & Malting together with Needham & Crick Maltings. The Eagle logo transferred to the new Charnwood St building, the old brewery in Northampton Square was up for sale 1893.
Northampton Street from Fox Street. Brighton Arms would be on the other side to the left, demolished for the Charles Street widening by the time this picture was taken (see above).
Built circa 1840, Mr Draycott brewer and victualler, put up for sale in February 1849:
Desirable Pub with Brewery at the rear, adjoining Leicester Railway Station in occupation of Ann Draycott together with two tenements, immediately contiguous to the Railway Station and vey eligible situation for business.
In August of that year, the licence passed from Mrs Draycott to John Beeson, which started a revolving door of licensees over the next two years: January 1850, John Beeson to Thomas Rowlett. July 1850, Thomas Rowlett to John Atkin. May 1851, John Atkin to Charles Brewin. Nov 1852, Charles Brewin to Edward Ashwell.
The Brighton Arms, had a large clubroom to accommodate almost 100 people and being close to Leicester Station, was used for many meetings and by various lodges. The railwaymen, guards, fireman, signalmen, railway servants, draymen and others, all had their own societies and would meet at the Brighton Arms.
Even casual railway workers met there to call for a strike if they didn’t get an extra 1/- per week in line with regular employees who received 18/- per week for their sixty hours, including alternate weeks on nights. Their demands weren’t met so a strike was called, but as casual workers they had no representation and the strike only lasted a few hours as all vacant places were soon filled by dinner time due to the clamber for jobs by the unemployed.
Advert for William Weare’s portfolio of ales 1857. (below) Weare also ran the London & Dublin Porter stores 20 Gallowtree Gate, supplying Brunt & Bucknells ales, Robert Manders & Co Dublin Stout, Joules Stone Ales among others, 1866 he opened further store next to Temperance Hall Granby St. As William Weare owned the Brighton Arms its quite feasible to say it was a free house in every sense of the word
William Weare ran the Brighton Arms for over fifteen years until 1876, when the pub was once more up for sale, consisting of large vaults, bar, parlour, smoke room, two kitchens, large club room, eight beds, cellarage, large yard, stabling, gateway & passageway to Northampton Street. Thomas Duxbury (builder of 17-19 Northampton St) purchased the pub. Samuel Parker was installed as licensee.
1893 James Beskill became landlord. 1899 Samuel Lucas.
It seems that the pub was supplied by Whittaker of Rugby at some point during late nineteenth century, prior to Ind Coope c1895
By 1895, the Brighton Arms were agents for Joules & Son Stone Ales, also Robert Mander’s celebrated Dublin Stout.
George Goodwin licensee 1903. Fred Grain 1907. William Reed 1912. William Thomas 1913. Arthur Tipton 1920. George Dexter 1923. Walter Chambers Attenborough 1930.
From Ind Coope the licensing Register suggests the Brighton Arms passed through a few hands, notably Whittaker Bros of Rugby. George Dexter, Bass Ratcliffe & Gretton, Bucknell & Brunt (sic) although they are all listed as owners, maybe they supplied the beers?
What we do know is at the end it was listed as owned by “The Lord Mayor, Alderman & Citizens of Leicester” I have no idea what that means?
The Brighton Arms closed and its licence transferred to the new Diamond Jubilee on Belgrave Gate. The pub was demolished for the Charles Street widening and redevelopment in the 1930s.