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.
Described as the ‘notorious radical electioneering agent’ Stones exposed election corruption by the Conservatives, only to use similar tactics to galvanise support for the Radical Liberala. 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 materialise until after 1851. The license passed to 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.
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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