We were visiting The Globe on our beer bloggers three way collaborative visit to Leicester so that Martin Taylor could ‘tick’ it off his list, as the pub is a new entry to the GBG2018. Apparently it’s been a pub long before Pucurmudgeon last visited in 1978, and dates back to the early eighteenth century, having diverse uses prior to that. The exterior is commensurate with a long proud heritage and it commands the corner of Silver Street and Carts Lane. It’s reputedly haunted, thankfully we didn’t see no ghosts.
Inside it’s a mixture of old and new. The main bar and small snug have a very original feel and there is some wonderful tiling in the corridor. There’s a smaller bar to the rear in a bigger room with some interesting nooks and crannies, which has a more contemporary feel to it, and a small but well presented ground floor dining room. I’m told the gas lights actually work and at times they do have them lit, maybe they encourage the ghosts to appear?
It was neither totally quiet nor very busy, mid afternoon Tuesday. A couple around the bars, a few people sat down, singles, couples and small groups. The barmaid was wonderful, so friendly and helpful, she fair brightened up my day. She never battered an eyelid when Pucurmudgeon pointed out his Everards Old Original was on the turn (gone actually), replacing it instantly, without quibble. I’d gone for a paddle of thirds, at £3.90 and as soon as I sniffed my own glass of this beer, Mudgies observations were confirmed. I thank him for having saved my palate.
I ended up with Oakham JHB, Everard’s Tiger, and Dancing Dragon Fly Golden Ale. I’m not going to comment on my preference of the beers other than to say JHB isn’t my favourite Oakham beer, and I had to have Everard’s Tiger in an Everard’s pub in their home town, and the Dancing Dragon Fly beer was a replacement for the other Everard’s ale, ditto original reason for choice. In terms of quality I had the Tiger at near 3.5 and the others at 3 on NBSS which is the minimum I’d expect in a GBG pub in a city full of pubs.
The only gripe I have, is not with the pub, but with the brewery. I’ve no problem with contract brewing, but if it’s happening I’d like to know. I understand Everard’s have closed their brewery for redevelopment, and their ales are being brewed here there and everywhere. I would ask whether your average punter knows this? My view is, if it’s contract brewed it should say ‘Blogs Beer brewed by a.n.other at some other place’ on the pump clip. I mean, if you bought a case of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild you would expect it to have been grown and produced solely on that estate, and not to have been farmed out to the local wine cooperative. Maybe the example is a bit extreme, because this sort of thing is so important in the wine trade and would never happen with quality wines, but I think you’ll get what I mean?
Toilets were fine and everywhere was clean, tidy and well maintained. It was a nice pub, that would suit all sorts of people from lone drinkers to business people, a proper nice city centre pub. I would happily take my mother in The Globe for a pint and a bite to eat from the mid-range priced menu; pub classics, burgers and steaks. Not that she drinks pints of course, but I’m sure the Amontillado would be up to her usual standards.
Verdict: Characterful city centre public house with a bit of history that does food and would suit all types. Decent Everard’s ales, plus guests.