The Marquis Wellington, Leicester

Very attractive Everards pub that looks quite an age although it has a date of 1907 high up on the frontage. Having said that, the interior has been heavily remodelled and refurbished in an upmarket semi-traditional style. The bar and general seating area is on the right-hand side as you enter, with the main dining areas up a couple of steps to the left. Mostly covered rear patio garden, with some 'beach huts' on one side. Tiger, Sunchaser, Old Original (normally £5.40 but 30% off due to a pending temporary closure) and a couple of ciders available from the two banks of four handpumps.

Another pub in Leicester that I hadn't been to for over 10 years. The pub still has a very impressive exterior with some very nice decorative panels. Inside is a much plainer affair with a single, large room. There is a garden at the rear. Everard's Tiger & Golden Hop are the regular ales. In addition, there was a seasonal beer from Everard's called Symposium Session IPA, as well as Sunchaser. Thistly Cross Whisky Cask cider was also available on handpull. I quite enjoyed my Symposium and the Sunchaser was reasonable too. Although one of my drinking partners proclaimed the Sunchaser in the Old Horse to have been in better condition.

Located in an interesting building, the Marquis Wellington is an Everards pub with a flagstone floor and a bar counter along the right wall to the right of the entrance. I counted nine hand pumps that were drawing Tiger, Golden Hop, Old Original and Tighthead alongside Snails Bank Rhubarb & Winter Spices and Thistly Cross Whiskey Cask ciders. Premium keg was also available alongside Carling and an offering from Beavertown. There a couple of high tables in the centre of the pub and at the rear is some seating and a fireplace. The raised left-hand side has three booths against the front windows and seating all the way back to the rear of the pub. I didn’t spot a television, but Six Nations rugby was advertised. Food is served, the burgers are top end priced at £15. That’s one way to keep the students out! Out the back is a well-tended enclosed split-level beer garden with picnic tables and covered booths along the rear wall. I didn’t find the service to be that friendly, but I liked the surroundings so would pop back in again if passing.

A few minutes up the hill from the train station. A richly decorated facade with lots of gold gilding and picked-out symbols. Reading over reviews indicates that this place has been refurbished more often than the average town centre pub. Nowadays it is a large space, opened-out inside though there are still some discrete drinking areas. Leicester City blue colours and some newish wood panelling, with some nice patterned tiling at the bar front. Decent enough, but a bit boring and it lacks any real character. In the rear garden are some beach hut style seating areas. A plethora of ales on the bar made me slightly nervous (an alehouse this ain’t!); 4x Everards, Milestone Azacca, Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Nethergate Old Growler and two ciders (interesting ones too in Orchard Pig Ginger & Chilli and Friels) alongside Titanic Stout on keg. Drank the Tiger (good), Everards Old (very good), Azacca (excellent) as well as the chilli cider and Titanic stout which were also fine – so someone is taking care of the beer (it wasn’t exactly flying out). Sampled the food and got a decent return for our money, no complaints with my falafel and hummus burger. Whilst it’s a bit large and corporate, there’s a good reason to put this on your secondary list of Leicester pubs to tick off.