The plan for this day included a micro pub or two, a bit more Everards beer and a revisit to the craft beer fest, all topped off with a fine curry.
For starters we were heading out of the centre so that we could take in a couple of Beer Guide pubs in the suburb of Aylestone.
Here's the route...
Late morning, we trekked down the riverside path along the Soar, the King Power Stadium across the other side of the water...
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| Nope - I preferred Filbert Street |
The path took us past graffitied light industrial buildings, before we reached a peaceful, leafy nature reserve.
Leaving the river at the point Braunstone Road East crosses it, a five minute walk took us to the thriving (well, they've got a chip shop and a Tesco Express) centre of Aylestone.
Leaving the river at the point Braunstone Road East crosses it, a five minute walk took us to the thriving (well, they've got a chip shop and a Tesco Express) centre of Aylestone.
This micro pub, converted from a shop in 2017, is owned by the same folks as the Blue Boar in the city centre.
We arrived just after noon on a Sunday, with a couple of tables of regulars already settled in and giving us a cheery welcome.
There were five cask ales on hand pumps, with another half dozen pump clips stuck to the upraised bar hatch, which the barman told us was part of bank holiday beer festival.
Ooof - too much choice for the first pub of the day.
The festival beers were poured straight from the barrel in the temperature controlled room through a glass door behind the bar.
And with a great choice and beer in good condition, I figured I should make the most of it and popped back to the bar later for a chocolate orange stout by Ossett Brewery (a nice stout, but strangely devoid of both chocolate and orange flavours).
The Black Horse (65 Narrow Lane, Aylestone, LE2 8NA - web)
The pub was looking great, even with the ominous grey clouds above it.
Other than the usual Everard's ales there was a Castle Rock 'Elsie Mo', which was my pick having not had this beer for some time.
As with the Ale Stone earlier - this micro also opened in 2017 after conversion from a former shop unit.
In this case it's owned by Derbyshire brewer Tollgate, who have a small chain of outlets handily shown on a painted map on the pub's wall.
We're in proper micro territory here: one small WC to the side of the bar in which you could probably carry on your conversation with those outside; a single basic room with half a dozen tables and no TV or other distractions.
Parcel Yard (48a London Road, Leicester, LE2 0QB - web)
At a glance, this appears to be another micro pub, with it's unassuming single shop unit frontage right outside Leicester train station.
But pass through that first room and a quite magnificent interior reveals itself.
This was formerly the sorting office and parcel yard for British Rail. With high ceiling and skylight to the rear, the main bar room is a pretty spectacular place to have a drink. There's a range of different decor with booth-seating to the side, tall tables at one end and the odd bit of quirky rescued furniture dotted about.
This venue belongs to the Steamin' Billy pub co who have a number of outlets in the East Midlands. As one of the founders is Bill Allingham (the youngest brewer in the country when he was at Leatherbritches in the early nineties) they've complimented the pubs with their own Steamin' Billy beer range. This was once brewed in the back of one of the pubs but is now contract brewed at Belvior.
As such, I figured I'd have on of their own beers whilst here.
The previous day we'd discovered the craft beer festival that was happening in the market square and, never ones to turn down a beer fest, we headed back to Brew Beat for a second visit.
The choice of beers had changed a fair bit since the previous day, with the numbering system becoming increasingly complicated.
I'd sensibly turned down the strong beers so far on this trip, so it was time to put an end to all that and order the strongest on the list: Clocking Off brewed by Grimsby's Docks Beers.
They actually had this labelled at 11% but further investigation (and taste, and the fact that I was still walking straight at the end of the night) revealed this to be an 8% chocolate stout.
A DJ encouraged a rather entertaining bout of dancing before Liverpudlian/Mancunian band SuperGiant took to the stage with some decent funky sounds.
Good enough to encourage me to stay for another - this time local brewery Round Corner and their 'Hopping Spree' American IPA.
Enough craft beer - we made our way to Welford Road and a curry house recommendation.
And with a great choice and beer in good condition, I figured I should make the most of it and popped back to the bar later for a chocolate orange stout by Ossett Brewery (a nice stout, but strangely devoid of both chocolate and orange flavours).
We back-tracked towards the river again, then down a side street to the Black Horse, nicely visible from a distance thanks to some fine painted signage on the brickwork.
The pub was looking great, even with the ominous grey clouds above it.
Other than the usual Everard's ales there was a Castle Rock 'Elsie Mo', which was my pick having not had this beer for some time.
A bit of Sunday lunch later we were ready to move on, but not before a visit to the facilities provided a bit more un-PC artwork for the blog...
Queens Road Tap (109 Queens Road, Clarendon Park, LE2 1TT - web) |
| Mild smut in the Gents, no.47 in an ongoing series |
Leaving the Black Horse we had a fair bit of walking ahead of us, through streets of suburban Leicester that don't see many tourists.
Some 45-minutes or so later we found our second micro pub of the day...
Some 45-minutes or so later we found our second micro pub of the day...
As with the Ale Stone earlier - this micro also opened in 2017 after conversion from a former shop unit.
In this case it's owned by Derbyshire brewer Tollgate, who have a small chain of outlets handily shown on a painted map on the pub's wall.
We're in proper micro territory here: one small WC to the side of the bar in which you could probably carry on your conversation with those outside; a single basic room with half a dozen tables and no TV or other distractions.
It was a straight-forward walk from here, up through Victoria Park and past the De Montford Hall.
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| A youthful PropUptheBar squeezed down the front to see Iron Maiden and Motorhead in here. |
There are a couple more beer guide pubs in the vicinity of Victoria Park, but we decided to leave these Everards pubs for another time.
Instead, I fancied the Parcel Yard...
Instead, I fancied the Parcel Yard...
At a glance, this appears to be another micro pub, with it's unassuming single shop unit frontage right outside Leicester train station.
But pass through that first room and a quite magnificent interior reveals itself.
This was formerly the sorting office and parcel yard for British Rail. With high ceiling and skylight to the rear, the main bar room is a pretty spectacular place to have a drink. There's a range of different decor with booth-seating to the side, tall tables at one end and the odd bit of quirky rescued furniture dotted about.
As such, I figured I'd have on of their own beers whilst here.
The previous day we'd discovered the craft beer festival that was happening in the market square and, never ones to turn down a beer fest, we headed back to Brew Beat for a second visit.
I'd sensibly turned down the strong beers so far on this trip, so it was time to put an end to all that and order the strongest on the list: Clocking Off brewed by Grimsby's Docks Beers.
They actually had this labelled at 11% but further investigation (and taste, and the fact that I was still walking straight at the end of the night) revealed this to be an 8% chocolate stout.
A DJ encouraged a rather entertaining bout of dancing before Liverpudlian/Mancunian band SuperGiant took to the stage with some decent funky sounds.
Good enough to encourage me to stay for another - this time local brewery Round Corner and their 'Hopping Spree' American IPA.
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| The arrival of a wedding party brought some stylish dress sense which put my old clobber to shame |
It's unusual that I ever make it for a curry - the contents of this blog may give a clue that I generally tend to fill myself up with beer.
I was glad I left just enough room to made it to Shivalli.
We ordered a fine spread of food which was all thoroughly delicious and satisfying.
I was glad I left just enough room to made it to Shivalli.
We ordered a fine spread of food which was all thoroughly delicious and satisfying.
So, still space for one last pint?
Kings Head (36 King Street, Leicester, LE1 6RL - web)
Another Black Country Ales pub.
They've appeared in the past three posts and they'll appear in the next one too.
I should get a loyalty card.
The Kings Head was the kind of comfortable, laid-back pub in which you could sink into the cushioned corner seating and take your time with your pint.
Because you're full of curry.
There was a Sunday evening poker game taking place on the other side of the room and a good number of other customers, some making use of the roof terrace.
Sipping my Black Country Ales 'Chain Ale', I figured this was a fine pub in which to finish our Leicester weekend. We'd ticked off 11 of the cities 16 current Good Beer Guide entries - just enough left to necessitate a return visit. I'd fully re-evaluated my grumpy teenage assessment of the city - it's turned into a pretty fine place with plenty to keep the weekend visitor entertained. We'd had two days of varied venues and great beer, making for a rollicking bank holiday weekend success.
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