OLD BOWLING GREEN – FULL BACK & FIRKIN – POLAR BEAR – THE BOWLING GREEN, 46 OXFORD STREET

Next door to the Coach & Horses but seemingly much older. Recorded as the Bowling Green in 1733, but claims to be much older – possibly 16th century.

An almost deserted Oxford Street, circa 1960, shows contrasting period buildings.

It was a rendezvous for early 19th century ‘reformers’, when their original meeting place, the Anchor in Charles Street, became too ‘hot.’  The Bowling Green offered what was thought a safer haven, but in 1817 Radical Leicester informs us of a spy engaged by the Corporation hiding in a barrel covered with a sack over the top. His mission was to report back with the reformer’s plans.

Often used by staunch reformers, the Bowling Green became one of Leicester’s leading radical inns, overseen by Samuel & Sarah Stretton victuallers.

The first record of a landlord is c1812 Francis Barron, by c1827 Samuel Stretton is listed, followed by Sarah Stretton.

During the Stretton’s tenure in 1844, Harriet Loseby (aged twenty-five), after drinking gin in the Bowling Green, proceeded to go down the lane, fell into the dyke – which was up to two feet of water – and drowned.  Although recorded as an accident, the jury with recommended that the corporation erect a fence either side of the dyke which runs along the lane.

1865 William Kirby was victular, Cock and Langmore the owners. Thomas Orton 1892 was license, Thomas Luck 1904 also Charles Luck same year (but since deceased) Ernest Luck followed 1915. Arthur Curtis 1916 (also deceased) so Julia Ann Curtis took over 1925. By now Cock and Langmore had morphed into All Saints Brewery.

1932 Benjamin Lee was landlord, In May 1935 an ad appeared in LC for the sale of one Cart Mare, one Van Mare, shafts chain and harnesses, reason for sale ‘Replacing by Motors’ apply Horsekeeper Old Bowling Green Stables Oxford St.

c1938 Roland Page was landlord, c1945 Wilfred Smith, 1950 Charles Davies, 1954 George Smart. 1955 Leonard Smith, 1956 Alan Pepper.

Below 1940s Mr & Mrs Smith in front of the Old Bowling Green.

Another 1960s picture of the Old Bowling Green.

Below adverts an description of the 1970s

By the 1980s it was called Ye Old Bowling Green.  An intriguing aspect was a staircase that leads to nowhere – a blank wall.  A complete list of licensees from 1950s can be found in JR’s research.

By 1996 saw the Old Bowling Green gutted and renamed the Full Back & Firkin, one of a chain of pubs under the Firkin brand throughout the Midlands and the South.

One of the old features was the tree that held centre stage in the bar.

Apart from the façade, it was total destruction for the Old Bowling Green. The fashion for the Firkin chain however grew thin – too many ‘firkins’ were opened, over cooking the novelty brand with Leicester alone having three within a few hundred yards –  the Physio & Firkin and Fuzzock & Firkin, as well as the Fullback & Firkin.  By 2001, it was all changed again, this time to the Polar Bear.

Why would anyone call a pub in the middle of Leicester the Polar Bear? The clue was in the adjoining building – for many years ‘Fox’s Glacier Mints’, with their Polar Bear logo seen here in the photo below.

All signage of the Firkin gone by 2001, ready for refurb to the Polar Bear.  This was aimed mainly at students from the nearby university.
2001: The Polar Bear next to the new student’s flats replacing the old Fox’s mints building.  This was to last until 2015, when, much to the delight of traditionalists and many old Leicester folk, the original name was resurrected.
2015 – back to basics. The Bowling Green.

As of writing, the pub is still very much open for business.

2 Comments

  1. I worked here for a number of years. The staircase actually leads to the upper floor of the building (you can see the 1st floor windows in the exterior images) containing the landlords flat and office

    1. Many thanks Chris, when I went up the stairs it had all been blocked off, that was in the Firkin era.

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