The Fountain, Leicester

Grey, long and scruffy Irish pub which was less raucous than the Hansom Cab over the road. Friendly matriarch barmaid who did tasks when quiet, so a mark there – someone cares. Some locals telling pugalistic tales of questionable provenance over a blaring jukebox and of course there’s karaoke here. No cask, so a half of ‘Fountain lager’ which was rank; barmaid said it was a GK brew and too late did I realise that my tick was just a rebadge for the pub. Cobs available, mildly surprising perhaps. Once was enough but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. 3.5

Quite a rough pub with all the locals singing along to Joe Dolce. How that kept Ultravox of the number one slot I will never understand. Keg only.