Stood on the opposite corner to the Shamrock, Orchard Street/Royal East Street.
The Red White & Blue was an interesting name – perhaps a riposte to the Shamrock and the many Irish in the area, although there was a Red White & Blue society prominent in Leicester at the time. Recorded in directories from 1870 until 1885, when landlord William Bassford’s wife, Elizabeth, died there.
Some interesting court cases stem from the pub. In June 1870, Esther Williams – who lived behind the beerhouse – was charged with stealing money from a man whilst drinking in the Red White & Blue. The case was eventually dismissed, but a couple of months later she was imprisoned for seven daysfor ‘frequenting the thoroughfare with intent to commit a felony’, an unusual conviction.
In the late 1870s, William Redfern was victualler when James Potts was fined 10/- for refusing to quit the pub. John & William Bassford were to run the beerhouse some time after William Redfern.
In January 1880 Elizabeth Hack was charged with assaulting Jane Holyland after a quarrel in the Red White & Blue, resulting in Hack dragging Holyland along Orchard Street.
Later that year in December, Joseph Taylor a navy, was charged with cruelty to dogs. A sergeant and PC were patrolling the area, when they heard a great noise coming from inside the pub. On entering the Red White & Blue tap room they found Taylor urging his dog on to fight with another surrounded by about ten other people. The police parted the dogs and Taylor was duly charged with cruelty. He was fined 5/- or five days.
The exact location of the Red White & Blue is a little uncertain. It is always recorded as 15 Orchard St, and we know William Bassford was victualler until 1875. Edward Mason is recorded as victualler on 6 April 1882 when two men were charged and fined 5/- for being drunk at the bar counter. Edward Mason was then charged at the same court for allowing drunkenness in his beer house. Edward was fined £1 or 14 days.
Later that year Edward Mason had his Red White & Blue licence refused at the General License Meeting. The following year, William Bassford was again recorded as victualler and shopkeeper of the Red White & Blue at 15 Orchard Street. Next door at no. 13 was William and Hannah Poultney, grocers, so the beer house is shown in both pictures.
In 1891, William Bassford was still at no. 15 Orchard Street but now trading as a poultry and fish dealer. There is no mention of the Red White & Blue. The Poultneys were still at no. 13 as grocers, and again in 1900 but there is no listing for no. 15. We can thus surmise that the Red White & Blue lost or surrendered its licence circa 1885.
