CHELSEA PENSIONER, 46 SOUTHGATE STREET

Photo above:  Circa 1900s.  The sign board is  the same although window much lager than the sketch below

First recorded in local directories in 1835.

During the 1850s the Chelsea Pensioner was kept by a Mr Long, followed by William Glover, who passed the reins on to Thomas Broughton.  He relinquished the licence in February 1863, moving further along the street  to the Shakespeare’s Head.

Thomas Drew took over, then Jonathan Hubbard and later Jonathan White, circa 1873.  White was fined for allowing a drunken man on this premises:  10/- plus his licence endorsed. The Chelsea Pensioner was up for auction together with the brewhouse in 1881 with Jonathan White  still in occupation. 

In 1886, Ben Robertson was listed as victualler and brewer:  two years later, William Preston. (again JRs list)  Sharpes Brewery of Sileby ran the pub during 1890s.

Charles Cutler 1897. The Chelsea Pensioners closed in 13 July 1907 with compensation paid to brewery £1337.00, and landlord. £1087.

Image is taken from Robert Read’s Modern Leicester circa 1881. See the pictorial sign. We don’t know if the artist took licence. The sign board was certainly there in later photographs although blackened out.
Same photo as above, but a slightly different angle, showing cobbled streets 
Kelly’s Directory 1884

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