The Bell Tap is a proper conundrum.
In 1861, George Birch aged 31 is a general servant at the Bell Hotel.
Under Hotels and Inns of 1870 George Birch is victualler of the Bell Tap in Bell Yard (Bell Yard is at the rear of the Jewry Wall) this could have meant Bell Hotel.
In the same year of 1870, Post Office directory gives George Birch aged 41 as victualler of the Bell Tap in 98 Syston Street.
1871, census gives George Birch victualler aged 41 at 98 Syston Street.
1881, George Birch is now listed as innkeeper of the Unicorn Carrington Street.
1891, George retired beerhouse keeper aged 60 lived in a shop at 14 Upper Conduit.
Deeds of 98 Syston Street mentions George Birch as landlord of the Bell Hotel in Humberstone Gate.
Was there a Bell Tap in Syston Street as recorded in the directories?
Next door to 98 Syston Street was a Maltings run by Needham & Crick, later LBM who sold to what was to become Midlands Club Brewery which closed in 1969.
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To add to the conundrum, the 1871 census gives George Birch’s address as 92 Syston St; a framework knitter’s family lived at number 98. Perhaps George worked at the BELL TAP (BELL HOTEL) but lived with his family on Syston St . He’d certainly moved to Carrington St as a beer retailer by 1876.