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 1860. Presumably the brewing had now ceased and by 1865 Bass were supplying all the cask and bottled beers
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.
It seems that the pub was owned by Whittaker of Rugby at some point during late nineteenth century, prior to Ind Coope.
By 1895, the Brighton Arms were agents for Joules & Son Stone Ales, also Robert Mander’s celebrated Dublin Stout.
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.