Firebug, Leicester

The Firebug is a long thin L-shaped pub with a long central bar and a raised seating area, which may double up as a stage, in the central corner. Its mostly standing room so aimed more for the weekend drinker than me on a Wednesday evening, although there was still a good crowd in and the barman that served me was both cool and nice, which is a rare combination in a city pub. I didn’t spot a television, but rock music was coming out of the speakers. Only one of the four hand pumps was in operation drawing Wychwood’s Hobgoblin. Premium keg and Carling were also available. I would have used this pub in my younger days.

Official site of Firebug with menu and event listing - www.firebugbar.co.uk

An old pub converted to a music pub by a major stripping out exercise, the decor is pretty plain comprising mainly posters for the live music which is held upstairs I believe. Furnished with traditional pub benches, there are a couple of raised areas and lots of vertical drinking space. There are four handpulls at the far end of the L shaped counter, Marstons products on three of them and not badly kept, there are of course the standard UK kegs on four banks of taps. The entrance vestibule is in stained glass and hints that the basic decor was once a bit more interesting.