The Ale Wagon, Leicester

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.

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.

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.