Photo credit above: Nick Miller Collection
Supposedly named after a nearby spring claimed to have medicinal properties. Circa 1850, Robert Bird ran a beerhouse from here. In 1854, Bird successfully applied to have the licence changed from a beerhouse to a full licence. He would relinquish his licence in 1859 to Sam Flewitt.
A couple more licensees would briefly reign before William Eames who was here for almost a decade. During his time, many associations met here including the Ancient Order of Foresters (Little John Lodge), Nottingham Oddfellows (Loyal Hope Lodge), and the Conservative Association pre-elections.
Eames was taken to court once when he refused to admit a Police Officer. The case was dismissed when Mrs Eames, who was in the bar at the time claimed she was deaf so couldn’t hear him knocking.
1872 George Hannam, of the Hannam family brewers of 15 Northampton St, (rear of Rainbow & Dove eventually became LBM) transferred to Sarah Elizabeth Hannam 1882 after George died, Sarah when she died the Spar was put up for sale in 1885 Edward Sheldon, became licensee. George Hannam had previously kept the 3 Cranes and Talbot.
1887 Arthur Andrews, 1893 Shirley Davis, 1895 John Geary, 1897 Wm Walter Starbuck, 1831 George Gibson.
In 1887, during the Midland Railway strike, the Spa was used as the meeting place for the striking engine drivers and firemen. As many as seventy would meet here at any one time.
Prior to being a Bass house, it was owned until circa 1927 by Thomas Salts Brewery, Burton on Trent. Thomas Salt had acquired the Spa and around another dozen Leicester pubs in 1919 from Brunt Bucknall & Co.
The Spa Tavern closed sometime in 1963. This picture (above) in 1964, by Denis Callow shows all signage removed.
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