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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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The Ale Wagon, Leicester
Leicester
LE1 1RE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The Ale Wagon
A red brick corner pub with a curved but angled frontage that catches the eye, inside are two rooms with a bar that services both. Nine handles on the bar serving up beer and cider that being the last pub of the day I failed to make a note of apart from my choice of the Shipstones Mild.
It's a decent pub that I'd give another visit if the opportunity arises.
Visited Jan 2025.
On 15th April 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Ale Wagon
Somehow never managed to visit this well-known alehouse before, but the unfussy traditional interior was pretty much as I was expecting from previous reports (although I didn't manage to visit the second room beyond the right-hand end of the counter). I counted a total of nine handpumps and three keg taps, but some of these had more than one clip and several of these being for ciders. Went for the Hopkins Bros Mosaic (£2.00, half) in the end, due to its connections with the pub owners.
On 9th February 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Ale Wagon
Only open 5 days a week with afternoon closing during the week, I've often struggled to find an opportune moment to make a return to the Ale Wagon, but on a Saturday there are good opening times. So after an 8 year hiatus, I returned to find the pub pretty much unchanged.
There are 2 rooms, with the bar connecting both. There is a very traditional feel. In fact, it looks quite worn, not necessarily a bad thing. There were a fair few customers early on a Saturday afternoon. All but one (and the barmaid) were male, which seems to echo Ian Mapp's experience.
The pub still stocks Hoskin's beers, with HOB Bitter & IPA being the regular cask ales. In addition, other beers on handpull were Hoskin's Mosaic Pale, Holden's Black Country Mild, Exmoor Beast, Shipstone's India Pale Ale & Mallinson's Hop In The City. Ciders were Abrahall's Slack Alice & Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon.
I tried each of the Hoskin's beers (for whom the brewer was sat on a stool at the bar) and the Mallinson's beer too. They were all in good condition. I must say that I always enjoy a visit here. Hopefully I'll be back a little sooner.
On 22nd September 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
paulof horsham left this review about The Ale Wagon
The Ale Wagon doesn't roll on a midweek afternoon, so I occupied myself elsewhere ahead of the 4:30 opening time. Having boarded the wagon, I encountered 9 handpumps on the bar and a limited set of keg taps, this being a traditionally-based ale house. The guv'nor seemed inclined to reserve his chat for the regulars, which encompassed the other half dozen or so customers. The soundtrack was at the punk and new wave end of things on the whole.
I opted for a Rye-PA from the 6 cask on offer (there was also a cider, with 2 pumps spare on this occasion), but the choice didn't really work for me.
It's probably worth spending a bit of time on the ale range, as well as having a look around the 2-roomed interior, but I didn't feel compelled to stay unfortunately.
On 3rd September 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 554 recommendations about 516 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Ale Wagon
1930s, unspoiled two room drinking pub.
Several cask on - from Hoskins Brewery (associated with the site) and others. I tried a Hob and it was a decent session bitter.
Eclectic crowd of real ale loving (mainly men) on a friday night - from those in work clothes, to studious chaps reading books.
On 8th January 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Ale Wagon
The Ale Wagon has a room with seating and a fireplace through some doors to the right of the entrance. This area was empty with the locals preferring to sit in the bar area which is straight ahead. Parquet flooring is found throughout and the serving counter runs up the right and banquettes run up the left wall under the windows. At the rear are a few tables around a fireplace and log fire. I counted nine hand pumps, seven of which were in operation drawing Anstey Ale’s Old John and Neddy’s, North Star Smooth Porter and Charnwood Cider along with three offering from Hoskin’s Brothers. I preferred the Hob to the IPA and I didn’t try the Green and Gold. The service was friendly and there was a bit of background music playing, but the locals in attendance were more interested in having a natter. The toilets were interesting. For some reason the right hand urinal is very high up the wall. I’m six foot and the rim was tickling my bollocks as I had a wee so I moved along to the next one. The hand dryer is also very high up on the wall, I know a couple of people who would have to be on tippy toes to turn it on. Maybe the toilet was refurbished by a giant. I found this pub to be friendly so will certainly pop back in again when next in the area.
On 10th March 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Ale Wagon
Was it really 16 years ago?? Anyway a friendlier reception this time - positively smiley from the barmaid - though some of the customers remain mute and surly. A good line up on cask and keg. My Hoskins HOB was excellent (NBSS 4) whilst Mrs Quinno enjoyed a tidy cider from Simply Cider called Liberty Press. The interior is rattly with some odd colour choices; I'll never love the place but the range and quality mean I'll be back a bit sooner. GBG’22 listed.
July 2006
Two big rooms with a smattering of old men looking at the Racing Post and waiting for something to happen, like tumble weed to blow past perhaps, it's that devoid of atmosphere. Not helped by the large open spaces, high ceilings and poor décor. Has an alright Real Ale range (Hoskins) and the Dolphin wheat beer was nice. A regular comedy evening was advertised too. It'd have to be bloody good to get the residents to chuckle though. Rated 5
On 12th November 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Ale Wagon
I don't know why I'd never been here before, as it's quite handy for the station. It was my last pub of a trip to Atherstone and I'd got a slightly early train back from Nuneaton which gave me a chance to pop in here for a swift half. There are nine hand pumps on the main bar counter, with a couple of extra pump clips which seemed to signal more beers available. There was one real cider, and of the beers seven were from Hoskins Brothers (though apparently one of them is sadly no longer with us, and the Hoskins beers are brewed at Anstey these days). My half of Hob Best, a mild, was superb. As is this pub, though a little rough around the edges, much like the best of us. With those high ceilings it must cost a fortune to keep warm in winter; I'll have to come back some time.
On 23rd May 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Ale Wagon
Hoskins is a name I remember from early CAMRA days but sadly their beers are now all brewed by Belvoir.
This is very much an old school well worn boozer. I don't know if it's been done up since some of the reviews below but currently it has yellow walls and an only slightly restrained lime green ceiling. There were no TV screens turned on.
It was quiet on my Thursday early afternoon visit. The landlord was reading his paper when I entered and that's fine by me, I'd prefer that or even someone like Jack Dee serve me rather than a Michael McIntyre clone.
The main bar has nine hand pumps and I didn't look further. There were two unused, Hoskins Green And Gold, Hob, IPA & Old, Portobello Star, a cider and Maldon Farmer's Steel Cow.
I went for the Green And Gold (£3.25) which was a decent enough pint in good condition.
I quite liked this pub especially as most of the others on the day had the Eurobore 2016 blasting out.
On 29th June 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Ale Wagon
Slightly run down drinking den. L-shaped room with high ceilings, wood parque floor, bench seating around the outer walls & space filled with rectangular tables with wood chairs. An aged male dominated pub, there was not a female in sight, the pub has a large selection of real ales, including 3 from Hoskins (Belvoir?). The ceiling is bright green. The landlord not very welcoming. Beer quality is good, luckily.
On 28th July 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1542 recommendations about 1519 pubs]