The Salmon, Leicester

I called in here twice during our Leicester jaunt. Once after the beer festival and again on the PuG crawl. On the first visit I had a couple of halves from their festival bar which I thought were in pretty good nick and a pint from one of the handpumps. The day after I just had a pint from the normal bar as the festival bar was crowded with familiar faces. I'd like to visit again when it's a bit quieter, but I thoroughly enjoyed the place. It will also become a brewpub in the very near future when it will be home to Dem Bones brewery.

Deciding to make an inaugural visit to The Salmon during the Leicester CAMRA Beer festival week when the pub was hosting its own mini festival with an additional eight barrels on stillage taking up a fair chunk of the available space on the right hand side of the bar probably wasn’t conducive to seeing how this place functions normally. But I saw enough to know this must now be added for a further visit when next in town. The traditional pub décor is well described below and the collection of Leicester centred rugby memorabilia was interesting to a Saracens supporter. Ignoring the festival options the pub offers 6 regularly changing ales, mainly from microbreweries, which usually includes a mild, and have real cider on draught too. Similarly to the reviewer below the half I tried from one of the barrels wasn’t too good, but the one from the pumps was very well kept. And if I had been able to write at this late stage of our crawl I would have been able to tell you what they were as well !

Had to be included on our Leicester tour, given the good reports and the Salmon didn't disappoint. The ales come from far and wide - even Croydon! I could have had any of 8 or so ales but went for the Cronx Kotchin - an unexpected sight on the bar and in good shape. Past lunchtime, the bar snacks are limited but undeniably cheap. We didn't stay long, but perhaps we should have done. Maybe next time.

First time in this pub. Excellent! loads of great brews on the bar and a nice welcoming feel to the place. Lots of Rugby memorabilia on the walls and many Tigers fans drowning thier sorrows after defeat at the hands of Quins in the playoff final. Really clean toilets and a suntrap of a back yard, great for drying your shorts off after your mate deposited a pint in your lap! Will call again, one of the best in Leicester.

A gem of a pub this one and well worth a visit. The pub consists of a central bar with good settling areas to enjoy your beers and not be disturbed by any loud music and gaming machines. Five ales on offer, I went for the Dark Star Partridge and Raw Brewery Equinox. Good food served and staff friendly.