Post Lockdown: Leicester Beer Gardens Guide

On the 12th April (at the earliest) we will hit Leicester beer gardens as lockdown is eased. Pubs with outdoor areas will be able to open with six people (or two households) able to mingle. I am *very excited*. As I write it is 123 days since I last went to the pub. That is obscene. I have a small baby that should be stroking pub dogs.

Therefore, as a public service (and not some sort of personal bucket list obviously) I would like to present my semi definitive guide to Leicester beer gardens as your quick reference guide. Some are bars, some are restaurants you can just head to for drinks. Some are just a couple of bistro tables out the front in the city, so that’s not really a beer garden at all. Of course just because they have an outdoor space, they may not re-open immediately, so do check in advance. You can click and read what I have written about some of these pubs in the past although as far as I am concerned, everyone should have a clean slate this year.

You can find out why #PubsMatter to me by reading this post. And you can share why they matter to you on social media by using the self same hashtag.

Those of you who have been around for a while will remember my best beer garden competition in 2015. This may indicate that I have been writing about beer gardens for quite some time. I consider myself quite the expert in fact. However, I am fallible. If I’m missing somewhere, comment below, email me or drop me a line on social media.

Leicester City

The Addies
The Black Horse, Aylestone* – beautiful pub dog, mammoth homemade burgers, great comedy
The Black Horse, Braunstone Gate* – there’s something compelling about the 1st floor terrace, people watching the Tesco car park below.
Barley Mow
Bee’s Knees
The Blackbird
Bowling Green
Bricklayer’s Arms
Bridle Lane Tavern* – not the most picturesque garden, but home to Zion Community Kitchen
Bruxelles* – Secret garden
Cherry Tree
The Clarendon
Counting House
Cradock Arms* – Lots of outdoor space here
Cricketers
Crow’s Nest
The Donkey
The Dove
Dover Castle
The Exchange
Fat Cat
Firebug
The Glen
The Globe
Good Neighbours
Heathley Park
High Cross
The Hind
Humber Stone
Keeper’s Lodge
The Kings Head* – Love the first floor terrace here, one of Leicester’s hidden gems
Knight & Garter* – Great wine list and a fantastic people watching spot by New Market Square (or Green Dragon Made Up Name Whatever It’s Called)
The Lansdowne
Lloyds No 1/Corn Exchange
Loaded Dog
Manhattan34
The Meadows
Merry Monarch
Marquis Wellington* – Another one of the best beer gardens in town, sun trap booths.
New Road Inn
Observatory
The Old Horse* – The ULTIMATE city centre beer garden. It goes on for miles and miles. They have the Blues Brothers, and owls.
O’Neill’s
Orton’s* – I really love this classy little terrace overlooking Curve, perfect for drinks.
The Parcel Yard* – Have fond memories of Burger Battles here. Rough and ready tables, but something quite inclusive about this pub
Queen of Bradgate* – Nearly the winner in 2015 and still one of my favourites in town. A peaceful oasis.
Real Ale Classroom
Revolution
Rutland & Derby* – Always packed on a sunny day, great suntrap garden. Very good menu too.
The Salmon* – Cosy, local, great football watching pub. Under new management since I was last in, can’t wait to return.
Sir Robert Peel
Soar Point* – Worth it for duckling watch at this time of year, if you can elbow the students out of the way.
Swan & Rushes
Tom Hoskins
Tonne
The Tree* – It’s not quite the same as The Orange Tree, but it is still a big, beautiful garden.
The Union
The Western* – Hopefully reopening under Everards/Sir Robert Peel owners I think. Dog friendly, community local.
West Leicester Conservative Club
The Willow
Winstanley House* – Set in its own part it’s a beautiful building, not very interesting beer, but great outdoor potential.
Wygston’s House* – Wonderful outdoor space overlooking Jubilee Square – hope they’ve taken the testing centre down which really ruins the view.

Leicestershire (within 10km of the city only)

1852 Brewery Co, Wigston
Aberdale, Knighton
Axe & Square, Countesthorpe
Badger’s Sett, Cropston* – Vintage Inns, but great outdoor space, next to a field for running
The Baker’s Arms, Blaby
Black Dog, Oadby
The Black Horse, Blaby
Blue Bell, Rothley
The Bradgate, Newton Linford* – Great stop off after Bradgate Park, loads of outdoor space
Bradgate Arms, Cropston* – Refurbished a few years ago, this has fantastic social distancing potential
The Britannia, Queniborough
The Brookside, Barkby
The Bulls Head, Blaby
The Bulls Head, Countesthorpe
The Bulls Head, LFE
The Bulls Head, Whetstone
The Castle, Kirby Muxloe* – Vintage Inns pub but lovely garden
Coach & Horses, Anstey
Copt Oak, Narborough
Cow & Plough, Oadby
The Crown, Anstey
Dog & Gun, Enderby
Dog & Gun, Keyham
Dog & Gun, Kilby
Dog & Gun, Syston
Dog & Gun, Whestone
The Dovecote, Narborough
Forest Park, LFE
The Forge, Glenfield* – High quality village local, fun quiz
The Fox, Oadby
Fox & Hounds, Syston
The Fox & Tiger, Blaby
The Fox Pond, Great Glen
The Gate Hangs Well, Syston* – Under new management, I’m looking forward to seeing how this pans out
Grange Farm, Oadby* – Super pretty pub, super pretty garden. Last time I visited, lovely menu.
The Griffin Inn, Swithland* – One of the prettiest pubs around with lots of great, socially distanced outdoor space. High on my list.
Grove, Enderby
Gynsills, Glenfield* – Playground for the nippers if you need such facilities!
The Harrow Inn, Thurmaston
Hobby Horse Farm, Syston
Hope & Anchor, Syston
The Horse & Groom, Queniborough
Horse & Trumpet, Wigston
Lime Tree, Whetstone
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Oadby
The Malt Shovel, Barkby
Mash & Press, Anstey* – Beautifully renovated beer garden during lockdown one, featuring pear and apple tree. Comfortable tap house.
Midland Railway, Syston
Mill Hill Cask & Coffee, Enderby
Nag’s Head, Enderby
Nag’s Head, Glenfield
Narborough Arms, Narborough
Nautical William, Wigston
The Navigation, Kilby Bridge
New Inn, Enderby
Oadby Owl, Oadby
Old Black Horse, Houghton on the Hill
Old Crown, Wigston
Old Hare and Hounds, Anstey
The Old Plough, Birstall
Old Vicarage, Whetstone
The Plough, Ratby
Pug & Greyhound, Great Glen
Pumping Station, Croston
Queen Victoria, Syston
The Railway, Countesthorpe
The Railway, Glenfield
The Railway, Ratby
Red Cow, LFE
Rose & Crown, Houghton on the Hill
Rose & Crown, Thurnby
Rothley Court Hotel, Rothley
Royal Oak, Cossington
Royal Oak, Great Glen
Royal Oak, Kirby Muxloe
Royal Oak, Rothley
Stadon Social Club, Anstey
Stamford Arms, Groby* – Great menu, added in lots of little socially distanced booths last year.
Star & Garter, Wigston
Top House, Thurmaston
Two Steeples, Wigston
The Wheatsheaf, Thurcaston
The Wheel, Oadby
The White House, Scraptoft
White Horse, Birstall
Woodsman’s Stroke, Rothley* – Lovely little beer terrace at this adorable pub, but little is the word – I wonder if they will open.
Yews, Great Glen* – Loads of room here outdoors

Now I’ve put this list together and realised how long it is, I’m not sure I can usefully expand on it here! I’ll put an asterisk and short description by the ones I personally know well and would like to visit on a sunny afternoon but perhaps I need to consider some more detailed features over the next month!