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Picture of The Bowling Green
Image posted by Graham Mason
Submitted on Wednesday, 23rd December 2009
With picture contributions to 11805 other pubs
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The Bowling Green, Leicester

44 Oxford Street
Leicester
LE1 5XW
Phone: 01162546496
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of The Bowling Green (Average Rating: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Bowling Green

The Bowling Green is a long and thin pub with armchairs in a small seating area to the left of the entrance and a pool table that is looked upon by an inglenook to the right. Through to the wooden floor bar area there is a serving counter on the right wall and a carpeted seating area to the left. Further towards the rear are some high tables and at the very rear is a raised seating area. Televisions are located throughout, FA Cup football via BBC was being shown during a recent midweek evening visit. The bar supports standard and premium keg alongside an offering from Beavertown. Only one of the four hand pumps was in operation, drawing Sharp’s Atlantic. Breakfast and lunch are served daily and on Sundays is a carvery. I found this to be a run-of-the-mill chain pub so don’t plan on returning.

On 6th March 2023 - rating: 5
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Bowling Green

Previously a student friendly Scream pub called The Polar Bear, this Grade II listed pub - one of the oldest in the city - was recently taken over by the Stonegate pub company who have made a move back to a more traditional pub format. The place looks like a fairly standard sized boozer on initial approach, but it runs a surprising way back, allowing it to comfortably cater for a sizeable crowd early on a Saturday evening. The widest part of the pub is to the front, where a lounge area of sorts can be found, offering comfortable seating options under pastel shaded walls with various local pictures on show. Two fireplaces, recently uncovered as part of the refurbishment, can be seen to either side and there were a couple of TV screens showing muted live football. The servery is in the pub's mid-section, running along the right hand wall with a dark wood counter and spiral-design pillars, plus a couple of 'Bowling Green' mirrors on the bar back. A couple of high tables and stools stand directly opposite whilst to the left there is a recessed area with some comfier seats arranged under modern floral wallpaper, another TV screen and some random breweriana. Notably, the pub's name has been spelled out in over-sized Scrabble letters across one of the ceiling beams here. Further back, the pub narrows into a long seating area with most of the options being arranged down the left hand side. High tables and benches give way to pews and standard chairs in a raised rear, carpeted section. Lots more local photos and TV screens can be found and at the very back of the room there is a pool table.
Part of the pub's new direction is based around a commitment to providing a good range of real ales and the hand pumps on this visit offered Titanic Cappuccino and Black Berry Gold, Sharp's Doom Bar, Marstons Pedigree, Magpie Hoppily Ever After and a house beer badged as Stonegate Hoof Hearted. Two real ciders rounded out the range. I enjoyed a good pint of the Black Berry Gold served to me by one of the chipper bar team.
I didn't know this pub in it's Scream days, but I can only assume this is a significant improvement on its previous incarnation. Whilst the refit certainly makes the place feel very contemporary, much has been done to try and bring back some of this old building's character and over time I suspect this will become increasingly apparent. A good option when touring the city centre and a solid gain for the Leicester drinking scene.

On 9th February 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Alice Hartley left this review about The Polar Bear

This really is the best Scream pub in Leicester, and possibly the best pub in Leicester. The prices are cheap and the atmosphere is great and has a really homely, cosy, welcoming feel to it.

What makes it the fact that it is better than the other Scream bars is the fact that this one sells real ale and usually has Tiger or something equally as tasty for a really good price.

The food is simple but cooked really well and also very cheap... especially if you go with a friend and get the 2 meals for £6 deal... or if you are feeling really hungry, get that for yourself :)

Hope you have a good time.

On 4th January 2011 - rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]


View more reviews of The Bowling Green (4)
External web links for The Bowling Green

No known official website for this pub.

Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Graham Mason
Leicester, 0.73 miles, 14 min walk (show)
South Wigston, 4.07 miles, 1 hr 18 min walk (show)
Syston, 5.42 miles, 1 hr 44 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Bowling Green, Leicester
6th Mar 2023, 12:55
Review submitted by Steve C
 
12th Aug 2019, 08:41
Picture submitted by peter ashworth deleted by owner

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Beer Garden : Yes last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • CAMRA Discount : Yes - 10% according to Leicester CAMRA website 07/02/2017 - last updated 07 February 2017 by ROB Camra
  • Car Park : No last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Darts : No last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Function Room : No last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Live Music : Yes last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Micropub : No last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Pinball : No last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Pool Table : Yes last updated 06 September 2010 by hondo .
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
  • Real Cider : Yes last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • WiFi : Yes last updated 09 February 2016 by Pub SignMan
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