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Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Sunday, 26^th January 2025
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The Old Horse, Leicester

198 London Road
Leicester
LE2 1ND

Phone: 01162548384

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Served areas

Leicester Central

Reviews of The Old Horse (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Quinno _ left this review about The Old Horse

Unfortunately the previous long-serving licensees moved on a few months ago which inevitably meant the Everards refurb crew turned up. It’s a fair bit different now though at least done to a good spec but ultimately it’s a blandly corporate job compared to what came before; no more coffins, skeletons and bric-a-brac. Feels more opened-out than previous as well. Down some stairs to the rear is a pleasant rear garden which is the highlight for me. Both my visits have yielded fair pints of Everards from the core range of three (2x NBSS 3) alongside the odd small batch brew, both times served by a polite and bespectacled young barman. Nearest pub to the De Montfort Hall so a bit of a default stop prior to a show.

April 2013
A ten minute walk uphill from the train station (or a much nicer stroll if you’re coming from New Walk), this Everards pub is directly opposite Victoria Park. Exterior flower baskets make the place look worthwhile and this effort has been extended into the interior, which is full of left-field nik-naks (hanging jugs, rows of toy soldiers, one of the tunics worn by Sean Bean in Sharp, as well as a full-size TRADIS in the back garden). The pub is divided into distinct areas with dark wood fittings and some nice stained glass above the bar and in some of the doors. There’s a very pleasant large bay window seating at the front, a rear conservatory and a smart small room off to the right of the bar. A large beer garden (apparently with barn owls) makes this place a hit with the families in the summer. The full range of Everards beer were available plus a seasonal and a guest in the form of Castle Rock Sheriffs Tipple. My Beacon and Original and were both in good order. Plenty of food is served and on my Sunday visit it was chock-full with people eating the obligatory roast, plus what looked like a budget wedding reception (or divorce party?). We managed to find a seat (a chez lounge, actually) with a mock coffin doubling-up as a table; maybe a bit much for some tastes. Darts and pool were also available. This is an impressive place and a model of how to run a ‘welcome to all’ pub without compromising on beer and charisma. Rated 8

On 21^st May 2025 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5589 recommendations about 5570 pubs]

Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Old Horse

A coaching inn in days gone by also once serving the former racecourse (now Victoria Park) on the opposite side of the road. Significantly opened out inside at some stage, but the various seating and dining areas are still distinct so it doesn't feel as large as it really is. All parts have been refurbished in a smart semi-traditional style, with those around the main counter being lighter than the smaller bar on the right-hand side of the entrance and another room beyond. For a city pub (even if not exactly in the centre), a surprisingly large beer garden is available at the back. As an Everards house, it was no surprise to find Tiger, Sunchaser and Old Original (£4.80) being served from the eight handpumps, along with Lincoln Green's Archer as a guest beer and four ciders. Several of the brewery's regular and small-batch craft keg beers are also available.

On 23^rd January 2025 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8733 recommendations about 8733 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Old Horse

Reasonably large Everard's pub about a 10-minute walk uphill from the train station and overlooking Victoria Park. The first thing that caught my eye when approaching the pub was the large black sign to the right-hand side of the entrance advertising a Beer & Cider Room. Sure enough, the room to the right of the entrance has access to the bar and had a large number of handpulls all sporting different ciders. The last time I visited here in 2012, they only sold Black Dragon cider. The presence of 8 different ciders certainly seems an improvement since then. Ciders on were Aston Manor King's Apple & Friel's, Weston's Old Rosie, Broadoak Moonshine & Perry, Lilley's Gladiator & Thatcher's Stan's Big Apple.

Off to the left is a much larger sub-divided room also with access to what is an L-shaped bar. Where the real cider range has expanded, the real ale range has reduced. There were 6 ales for my visit in 2012. This time, the regular beers from Everard's (Tiger, Sunchaser & Old Original) only had one guest beer to supplement them. This was Lister's Best Bitter. A CAMRA discount is offered on the ales and the cider.

The main bar area has a rather unusual feature, having a coffin for the table, as mentioned by Steve C below. Beyond this room, steps lead down to an outdoor courtyard area where the toilets can be located, along with table football and an air hockey table. There is a large pirate peering over the yard from the roof above, whilst a couple of skeletons can also be spotted.

Beyond the courtyard, there is a very long garden which had a couple of fake rugby posts erected. The garden wasn't quite large enough for a pitch and the posts weren't full height. I guess they were vestiges of their Six Nations promotions earlier in the spring.

Back inside, there was food available including cobs and rotisserie chicken in a heated cabinet at one end of the bar.

I quite like this place and am likely to return again in several more years time. Although there are not too many other decent pubs nearby, making the uphill walk from the station less worthwhile.

On 4^th May 2023 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3111 recommendations about 3109 pubs]

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