SALUTATION – STELLA’S, VICTORIA ROAD EAST

A classic Art Deco building, one of only eleven Tennants pubs in Leicester.  All gone now, apart from the Bakers Arms (now Musician) but even that is no longer owned by Tennants.  For the record, the others were: Daniel Lambert – Albion Hill, later Gemel Road. Duke of Cambridge, Grape Street. Foresters Arms, Dryden Street. Freemans Arms, Harding Street. George & Dragon, Freehold Street. Rutland Arms – Belgrave Gate. Stag & Hounds, Providence Place. Moat Hotel, later Monks Rest – Netherhall Road.

Built circa, 1936 as quite a ‘swish’ public house with waiters, grill chefs and a ‘house’ boy. In 1957, landlord George Marlow saw a boon in trade when he engaged his cousin Vicki Darnell a famous ‘Windmill’ girl and actress to do a stint behind the bar.

Vicki Darnell by Kenneth Bandy the backstage photographer at the Windmill
Circa 1988, Stella’s -short lived

Suffered a fire during late 1960s. Fred Rowlett was landlord he and his family and dog had to be rescued by the fire brigade. The Salutation during the 1980s gained a somewhat undesirable reputation, a complete contrast to its rather sedate beginnings. Closed circa 1989 and after a short time was known as Stella’s.  Vandalized and fell into disrepair. Finally closed circa 1990.

After a few different uses locals backed by Keith Vaz (who else) launched a campaign to turn the disused Salutation into a Community centre (Lleices Merc March 2nd 1994). That campaign proved unsuccessful, Keith Vaz then turned tack pushing for the once classic art-deco building to be demolished to be replaced by block of flats.

photo from Ryan Dalster Dalby (Facebook)

This by Steve Anderson shows the fall of the Salutation and new development that replaced it.

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3 Comments

  1. I had my first pint in the Sally with my mates from Mundella Boys Sec.Mod.
    We used our dinner money and Mick Roberts was pissed when we returned to school.

  2. Love it!! not many schools had dinner time in the local boozer on their curriculum

  3. Spent many a time either in the bit where we took the empties back for a few pennies , or waiting for my dad & gramps to stagger out lol , we would sometimes wait on the Cravens at the back of the sally , was a fabulous pub in the 70’s have very many happy memories

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