A beerhouse from the 1830s, when Lawrence Staines was victualler. Stains was a political agitator for the Reform Society, scourge of the Tories – hence the name. A full licence granted 1845
Described as the ‘notorious radical electioneering agent’ Stains exposed election corruption by the Conservatives, only to use similar tactics to galvanise support for the Radical Liberals. For example, in April 1853, on a return from petitioning in London, witnesses from Oadby, Belrave as well as Leicester were met at the Railway Station and conveyed by two omnibus to the British Lion, where they were all regaled with drink until they were all ‘highly pleased.’ An expert in voting registration laws, he exposed any irregularity whilst bending the rules for his party.
Lawrence Stains was at the Queen & Rights of People – British Lion from 1830s until 1870, although it seems the name British Lion didn’t materialize until after 1851. !862 brewer Wm Horobin was finishing the brew, sat down on a tub and promptly died, he was placed in the bar and surgeon was called where he declared him ‘quite dead’ The license passed to Catherine Staines 1864. 1869 Hiram Richards, a well known publican in the town and often on the wrong side of the courts. Once, in the British Lion, he was convicted (together with his wife, Sarah Anne), of assault on a customer. Hiram kicked Abraham Stevens, and his wife pulled his hair and slapped his face. Both were fined 21/-, had their licence objected to at the next sessions, but fortunately allowed to carry on at the pub. Hiram died at the British Lion in 1877. Thomas Lant would be there, also listed as brewer, in 1875, Lant was also fined for allowing drunken and fighting in the pub, at one point the police claimed there was 14 men in the tap room all drunk and swearing. 1876 a string smell of gas was perceived in the British Lion, a light was procured along the gas pipes to see where the smell came from, that’s when the explosion took place bringing down the ceiling in the tap room, and demolition of a private room. The debris was quickly cleared and business carried on as normal. William Lenton entered as licensee 1877.
Frederick Bates later (Bates Son & Bishell) owned the British Lion 1875, later c1890 became Leicester Brewing & Malting-LBM.
From 1877 there was a revolving door of licesees; 1878 Walter Ball, who died that year. 1878 Emma Ball. 1880 John Thomas Addison. 1882 John Thomas Clarke. 1883 John Wm Rose. 1883 James Grimes?. 1884 James Clarke. Wm Henry Dent 1891. Wm Stretton 1891. James Barratt 1893. Joseph Cox 1894. Jack Wm Meek 1898. Mary Abigail Meek 1905. Wm Henry Dean 1906. George Pinsent 1917. Elisabeth Pinsent 1932.
The British Lion finally closed its doors in June 1933. The Compensation Authority told the pub was in a dirty and untidy state, with the brewery claiming they had tried to get tenant Thomas Anstey out several times.
The British Lion was owned at one time by members of the Bates family, later part of LBM. This advert, 1883.
It was stated that from 1917-1932 the tenant in the British Lion was George Pincent, and for a short period by his widow, but she died a few months later leaving Thomas Anstey as her heir in her will. On agreement that the pub would close, Anstey was awarded £100 in compensation plus further to LBM.
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