The Blue Boar, Leicester

A single square roomed alehouse with the bar counter to the rear being home to some nine handpumps, eight in operation on my visit, I had a pint of Lune Brew LB 401 Stout accompanied by a giant cheese and onion cob, both went down very well. The pub was buzzing on a friday mid-afternoon and is undoubtedly the place to be beer-wise and is right up my street. If I lived locally it would be my local. Visited Jan 2025.

I was surprised, not to say slightly alarmed, at the number of Sam Smiths beermats dotted around The Blue Boar, and that brewery's bottled ales were also displayed on the beer screen. Not only that, but my pint appeared to be short of the top in a way that Mr Humphrey might approve of. No need to worry though: this is a proper Free House which serves its beer in oversized lined glasses. 9 handpumps serve up a wide variety of ales at decent prices. Half a dozen keg taps extend the range, while they also offer what must be the full range of Sam's bottles, along with several ciders. No complaints with either of the ales I tried, and getting a seat in the busy room was easy enough, so I'd be happy to return.

Not the best time to visit - 10pm on a the first weekend night after new year - there was only one other punter - and she looked like she had been there an awful long time. A single roomed micro but with a pubby feel. Not sure about the patio door keeping the cellar separated. Maps of old leicester on the walls. An electronic scoreboard lots and lot of choice. St Barnadus and Delirium Xmas Ale detailed at £12.50 a pint. Maybe thats what my drinking partner had been on :-)