William Arnold certainly ran a beerhouse called the Woodman’s Stroke, in 1840 with his wife, Elizabeth, until circa 1870.
Elizabeth Arnold is listed as owner c1870
The borough firemen held their annual meet here 1855.
Valentine Harris took on the licence from the Elizabeth Arnold circa 1870, but was soon in trouble with the authorities, being fined a massive £50 for violating the excise laws by not entering the malt used in his brewing. The magistrates recommended this be reduced to £10.
Valentine Harris proved not to be a successful victualler as he filed for liquidation in June 1872. It seems Edward Griffiths followed Harris, then Joseph Gilbert until 1879.
This is where all records of the Woodmans Stroke end.
The following year – 1880 – 1819, 19 Wellington Street was recorded as the De Montfort Hotel.
Another Valentine, this time Valentine Cockshaw, was first licensee of the De Montfort, circa 1880. He advertised it for sale two years later as an old established inn.
1886 JR Tailby licensee, there followed a quick succession of licensees, Alfred Buckley, John Newton, George Grant, Hannah George and Walter Spriggs until 1890. Robert Minter 1893, Thomas Underwood 1907, Wm Brown 1913, Arthur Richardson 1914 (deceased) 1925 Harry Ellis and Archbald Johnson 1928.
The pub was altered in 1930.
The De Montfort Hotel, one of only two Warwick and Richardson pubs in Leicester – the other being the Granby, Morton Rd. Warwick Brewery was acquired by John Smiths in 1962. John Smith has already acquired Barnsley Brewery a year previous, therefore for a period the Wellington sold Barnsley Bitter.
John Smiths in turn was acquired by Courage in 1972. They embarked on a celebrity advertising campaign, here Emlyn Hughes, Dave Watson and Kevin Keegan of England on John Smiths ‘Think before you drink and drive’ advert.
A music and singing licence was granted in 1950, but in 1955, landlord Fred Curtis was cautioned for allowing dancing in the wrong room, namely the lounge, in contravention of his music and singing licence.
After Warwick Ales, who supplied the De Montfort, it was the only outlet in town to serve ‘Barnsley Bitter’, a great pint until John Smiths closed the brewery.
The pub started to attract undesirables in 1993, which saw a police raid in March where a dozen people were charged with drug offences and the De Montfort was closed.
It reopened six months later in November 1993, with a refurb, and also a new name – the Wig & Pen.
The brewery was to open the rear to form a more attractive entrance in New Walk. The penchant for changing names if things didn’t go to plan continued at a pace during the 2000s the Wig & Pen successively became the Courthouse, Pause and the Pub. All these can be found under New Walk as that now was the main entrance.
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