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Disappointment of the week with trainman
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Shakespeare's House, Leicester
Leicester
LE1 5SH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Shakespeare's House
Having never visited this place when it was the Shakespeare's Head, I tried to visit it on Sunday evening, only to find it still closed after lockdown.
A massive pile of letters and leaflets in the front doorway suggests that nobody has even been inside. Although, social media suggests that they were at least serving takeaway food as recently as June.
As such, it is not clear whether this place is still trading. With the nearby Criterion having closed and with the Blue Boar and Two-Tailed Lion also seemingly now closed on a Sunday, this area was pretty much a ghost town.
On 2nd September 2020
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Shakespeares Head
Built in the mid 1960’s for the Shipstone’s Brewery, the Shakespeare’s Head has remained pretty much untouched ever since. The building has an unusual wedge shape, and is thought to have been designed this way because there was supposed to be a roundabout built on the busy road that runs alongside it, although the council eventually opted for an underpass instead. The entrance is through a large glass doorway, past two dubious busts of Shakespeare that look like they were sculpted by the blind girl from that Lionel Ritchie video. You emerge into a lobby with a small serving hatch and the two main bars either side. To the right is the lounge, which is carpeted with banquette and low stool seating formed into semi partitioned bays with some rather nice copper topped tables. The public bar on the left side of the lobby has a linoleum floor and is dominated by a centrally positioned pool table, around which run a few banquettes, with a dartboard at the rear and a TV set which was turned off. Throughout the pub there is plenty of original panelling and most of the windows have etched glasswork. The time warp effect was clinched when the barman slipped some Pink Floyd onto the sound system, which sent most of the PuG crowd into a youthful reverie.
Three ales were on at the bar, all from the Oakwell Brewery – Barnsley Bitter, Dark Mild and Senior, with the Mild turning out to be in pretty good nick. Some of the clientele looked like they’d been in situ since the mid 1960’s as well, but they seemed like a friendly bunch and the barman was full of good natured banter.
This was certainly an interesting pub to have a look around and is well worth a stop-off if you’re interested in well preserved post-war pub architecture. The pub is just over the road from the Criterion, and it would be a shame to do one without the other.
On 29th April 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Shakespeares Head
A real throwback, both the pub and the clientele. A 1960's lump of what looks like an estate pub, but in Leicester city centre. Lounge to the right as you enter and a proper tap room to the left with a dartboard and a pool table, ROBCamra 2 - Trainman 0 :-)). Three beers from Oakwell on the bar and my pint of Senior was in very good nick. The PuG crawl was met with a friendly welcome (especially Real Ale Ray) and soon we were chatting to the locals. I quite liked this pub although I can see why it wouldn't be to other peoples taste.
On 28th April 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3223 recommendations about 3134 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Shakespeares Head
A proper bit of 60’s architecture that fits in nicely with the ring road if you like your urban topography. After noting the concrete Shakespeare bust by the glass doors, enter via the lobby to find that the inside has also been left fairly unmolested and is worth a visit for that alone, with the original banquettes and dividers still in place. Spread over two rooms (lounge to left, public bar with pool and darts to right) this is a true survivor, even the signage on the toilet doors looks original. The pub is currently up for sale, having been owned most lately by Oakwell brewery whose ales (three of) predominate the bar. As mentioned elsewhere, prices are rock-bottom and frankly this knocks all of the Leicester JDW’s into a cocked hat. On my latest visit the Mild was £1.05 a half and in very good nick. The clientele are local and well-established (yes, that’s a euphemism) however they are very friendly and welcoming of strangers. Service behind the bar is always friendly and prompt. Plenty of things to read, including an old Viz annual. Worth your time for many reasons, let’s hope a buyer can be found who wants to preserve this place and the ethos that comes with it.
On 21st April 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Shakespeares Head
First visit to this Leicester pub and despite being informed beforehand I still had to pinch myself to make sure I hadn’t passed through some unseen time portal and wouldn’t have been surprised if DCI Hunt had come through the main door at some stage during our visit.
And I remain undecided about this one. A fine example of what pubs used to be like in the 60’s , but would I want to drink here regularily ?. And perhaps a cold late Friday afternoon may not have been the best time to visit for ambience. I believe I significantly contributed, on entering, to lowering the average age of the punters, and that’s from someone who can boast more years than David Gowers Test Match batting average.
But what was good were the Oakwell beers with Senior, Bitter and Dark Mild available. And the Dark Mild was a very well kept pint, especially at £2.10 which easily made it the cheapest pint of the day.
On 2nd April 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Shakespeares Head
A very fine example of 1960's styling,the interior is unchanged since then and that alone demands a visit.The glass front doors open onto a lobby bar while to the left is the public bar with a pool table and darts board but unused on our trip.The lounge to the right is where the regulars gather and has a graceful curve to the crittall windows.The interior wood panelling is intact as are the bench seating deviders.The polished brass table tops are also impressive.
There was a friendly and jocular welcome from the barman,although one of the regulars began to show a little too much interest in the PuG crawlers.
The three handpumps feature Oakwell beers with Senior,Bitter and Dark Mild(great value at £2.10 and in top nick).An unexpected gem and very well worth a visit to step back half a century and enjoy an early 60's experience.
On 23rd March 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Shakespeares Head
Unusual three-storey 1960s building with a curved façade on one side. Inside, having passed the spooky eponymous busts in glass cases by the main doors, one finds an old-fashioned pub retaining separate lounge and public bars (the latter with the expected pool table and darts board). Whilst it has been refurbished at some stage, it has kept what one imagines must have been its original character. Mostly older clientele, but a source of friendly banter. Three Oakwell ales on handpump: Barnsley Bitter, Senior and Dark Mild (very keenly priced at £2.10). Worth a visit if in the area.
On 22nd March 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8092 recommendations about 8092 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about The Shakespeares Head
The Shakespears Head is a slightly strange place. It really is like drinking in the lobby of a 1950s or 60s hotel. The staff are excellent as is the limited beer selection. This is my second outing to the Shakespear but this time, we discovered the pool table and dart board in the empty bar on the left. The bar maid was only too happy to sort us out with cues and arrows and we spent an excellent hour drinking and playing bar sports. Would reccomment the experience.
On 28th May 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Shakespeares Head
Originally this pub was built to become a hotel in the 1960's. A change of plan was quickly put into place for a pub, when the Holiday Inn chain built a larger hotel close by. The deco inside is 60's and the pub was redecorated recently. We received a fab welcome from both staff and regulars. They didn't mind turning the music down for us. A good move really as we were talking to one another and having a bit of a laugh.
Their Oakwell Brewery beers went down a real treat. I went for the Barnsley Bitter, 1960's, Oakwell Dark Mild and Oakwell Senior, which were all fab. The prices were also brill at £1.70 a pint, you can't go wrong with that for such well kept ales! Will defo call again.
On 18th March 2012
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Darren Hird left this review about The Shakespeares Head
Great off the beaten track pub. Great beers from Oakwell and very cheap prices. Very friendly atmosphere and made to feel welcome.
On 31st August 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 4 recommendations about 4 pubs]