The Old Horse, Leicester

Located just over the road from Victoria Park and within easy walking distance from Leicester station, the Old Horse is a fantastic rambling old coaching in, currently under Everards ownership. A huge central servery acts as a focal point for the pub's multiple room layout, with the main bar area to the left on entering. This room is partly bare boarded and partly carpeted and has the dark wood bar counter running down the right hand wall under a stained glass canopy decorated with a stuffed fox, US flag, pump clips and all manner of mugs, bottles, tins and the like. There is a raised seating area in the front window bay, masked slightly by some pleasant stained glass partitioning screens, with a tap and spile display to one side. Opposite the bar is one of the most memorable pub sights I've encountered over the years - a table made from a coffin under a 'Charge of the Light Brigade Union' flag, some pitchforks, a witches broom, a bat, a violin and a set of bull horns. To the rear there is a triangular space set up for diners with a carvery in full flow at the far end of the servery where some more stained glass can be seen, this time with a Belgian theme (one panel reads 'Smeets', for example). There is a lot of standard chair and banquette seating back here under fake brick wallpaper and a massive collection of tankards, jugs, teapots and mugs hung from the ceiling beams. To the front left there is a much blander second dining area with pastel shaded walls and a TV screen showing muted sports coverage whilst pop music played over the top. To the right of the main entrance there is a second bar which has two distinctly separate areas, presumably operating as individual rooms back in the day. The first area has a few standard tables and chairs under the front windows with horse and coach themed pictures on the walls. The bar here is notable for having eight ciders on handpull, but for ales you will need to go through to the main bar area. Further to the right there is a second area with a modern looking, unmanned servery to the rear. High banquettes fill the window bay with standard seating elsewhere. Both areas are bare boarded and a couple of large upturned barrels fill the dead space between seating and bar, offering punters somewhere to rest their pint. There is a nice fireplace with a modern stove in it on the far wall and some rugby themed items are prominently displayed including some framed shirts, a trophy cabinet and an Aylestone Athletic RFC sign painted on the front wall. To the rear of the pub there is a nice old courtyard and former stable block. The courtyard has a fun pirate theme which includes a Jack Sparrow statue and various skeletons and skull and crossbones, which made it a good place to let kids loose. An archway leads on into a huge beer garden with plenty of picnic benches in a good spot to enjoy the sun's rays. Everards beers unsurprisingly dominate the handpulls, with Tiger, Original, Sunchaser, Beacon Hill and Midland Red all available along with two guests in the form of Burton Bridge Mystery Mild and Hydes Provenance Prohibition Pale. Allied with the eight real ciders in the second bar, this is a substantial range and I was keen to try the Tiger, which has always been a personal favourite. I was pleased to find it was in excellent condition and most worthy of the pub's regular appearance in the Good Beer Guide. This is a great pub with so much going on that it positively demands repeat visits. I thought the pub worked as a great showcase for Everards beers and their and pub estate, but judging by other customers, it also works well for diners, children, al fresco drinkers and those just wanting a quiet pint. Leicester's pub scene seems to be in constant flux, but this place looks like a reliable venue that I will very much be keen to revisit when I'm next in town.

The longest walk away from the general direction of the crawl, but pleasant enough via the pedestrianised New Walk, rather than London Rd. An Everards house, Tiger, Beacon, Sunchaser, Original, also Old Rosie on handpump, a friendly welcome at the bar. Bright conservatory to left, dark wood bar, plenty of seating, banquettes in big bay windows at front, pool table, dartboard & plasma in separate room to rt which is beyond a smaller, interim bar. Check out the life-size Blues Brothers – Jake & Elwood are reclining in the courtyard to rear, beyond this a large well tended lawn with picnic sets. Not sure about the table formed of a coffin opposite the bar – quite out of keeping with the pub & slightly disconcerting.