In 1881, Joseph Hallam, a Mere Road property developer, was granted a licence under a promise to spend £5000 on a handsome building with a clock.
Designed by Arthur Wakerley, the beer was supplied by Thomas Salt of Burton, becoming a LBM house, circa 1922. Acquired by Ansells Brewery, circa 1952, the Imperial was altered circa 1926 and again in 1939. The cupola was apparently an observation post lookout for enemy planes during WWII.
Under the Music & Singing Act 1891, the Imperial was given a music licence ‘for as long as the house had a licence’. During both World Wars singing was frowned upon in public houses, but due to its licence the Imperial was one of the very few allowed to carry on.
In his Inns of Leicester Eric Swift writes that the locals believed that when the clock stopped, the music would too.
The pub closed not long after the death of much respected licensee Jarnail Deal in 1991 He had previously been at the Bakers Arms & Martin Inn before moving to the Imperial c1981. Jarnail became the first Asian landlord to become President of the LVA (Licensed Victulars Association)
Photo above and below (Jeremy Corbett collection) 2023
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