please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Getting better. Massive improvements on beer quality the last few times I've been. Actually tastes as it should, not of cardboard. Smells like a barn, but you get accustomed to it after a few minutes. Recommended.
|
Aimed at real ale enthusiasts this is a friendly venue serving quality beers. Went there for a friend's StagFest, as he lives in Bedford the fact he had his celebrations here says the Vaults must be doing things right.
|
Don't let the smell of wet dog as you enter put you off. Great selection of about a dozen handpumps very well served.
|
I think the photo here has a ‘wine-bar’ look to it, but the interior is nothing like that. Wood floor, sturdy wood tables, chairs, benches, long-ish L-shaped bar offering 12 handpumps, all on and in good nick Sat pm. Beer emporium that may cater for rockers, I wasn’t that keen on some of the metal soundtrack, but it did at least vary. The barman (owner?) knew his stuff, chatted about beers, sold us some homemade pickles, perfect for the subsequent dash to Melton Mowbray – I hope he enjoyed the Thompson’s pie we brought back for him. Stapleford Full Mash (5.9%), Bees Navigator, Acorn Chinook IPA, Oakham JHB, No Bully Dozer, Bishops Farewell, Doc Mortons Brainwash, Abbeydale Matins, Leeds Old Accomplice, Beowulf Dragon Smoke, Holdens Night Train, Loddon Wowzer. Impressive line-up.
|
Beer is always good. Upto twelve handpumps on but often as not just 5 or 6. LL can be a bit of a surly bugger but who can't on occasions. He knows his beer and his fest are legendary. See scoopgen on yahoo for details.
|
The decor not up to much,but the great selection of beers made up for it.
We found all the beers to be of good quality,(that we tried too many for one vist)will be back soon to try some more!
Staff friendly and helpful.
lotus - 30 Mar 2008 11:36 |
Came to Leicester for the various pub beer festivals, and enjoyed the selection of beers and the company in this pub. I had no problem with any of the beers served from the stillage, or with the staff serving the beers. Enjoyed the cheese and onion bap too.
|
I like this place, came in for my second visit on Saturday following Saints. Lots of good beer, the Potbelly Beijing Black was excellent, and the barmaid was very pleasant.
Will be back.
|
Got to concur with the opinions that this place is in decline. There's quite a bad vibe in here now, seemingly coming from the owners/staff. That would be bearable had the keeping of the ale also not degenerated. And yes, it's a filthy, filthy pit of a place.
|
Superb choice of unusual ales from all over the place, and all in superb condition. Very knowledgable staff and, despite some of the corniest jokes from the gaffer, a good bit of banter at the bar.
The decor is somewhat basic, bare wood, old church pews, and dimly lit. Ideal as most ale drinkers aren't too pretty!
|
The standards in this pub have not so much slipped of late as gone into freefall. The emphasis sadly now appears to be on quantity rather than quality; with an ever-changing range of micro brewery ales to please the tickers, but served in poor condition. Quite how they manage to make the beer have a taste somewhere between tasteless and cardboard is inexplicable.
I recently bought a pint that smelt of dirty socks and had bits floating in it. Why bother taking it back to get it changed, when the replacement would be just as bad? I left it and went elsewhere.
The wooden floor looks like it has never been cleaned, and the toilets are disgusting.
A crying shame to anyone that has fond memories of the original Vaults on King Street in Leicester. If the place was spruced up, the beer lines cleaned, and some breweriana was hung on the walls this place could get back to the “pub of the years” status it once had.
anonymous - 15 Sep 2007 15:54 |
Beer's not been that great quality of late and certain staff members are exceptionally surly! I'd rather go the Criterion for a friendly reception and clean taps!
|
Fantastic beer
range (2 dark ales to keep me happy and a Belgium fruity thing for my
non-beer drinking friends!) and a no-frills pub with a very chilled out
atmosphere for a lazy Saturday afternoon.
pinga - 19 Jun 2007 21:35 |
A fine pub well worth the drive from Kent for. had 4 of the 12 beers on offer.Very friendly place
|
the best drinking pub in the city
|
Wot a good new local for me! Interesting ales on every visit.
|
Superb ales and always a friendly welcome and good atmosphere.
|
I fear for the score of this fine, fine alehouse as soon as it hits 15 ratings. I sense a sad act sabotage on the horizon...
Vaults' Winter Beer Festival is on 8th-10th December & a great place for a first sample of new winter brews from across the land.
|
Best selection of ales in the city. Basic and to the point pub, friendly and knowledgable bar staff, a great placed to hammered on fine ale.
|
visit this pub every time I watch footie in Leicester, friendly bar staff unusual decor and furniture but the place to be for a real selection of good cask ales (over 10 on display on last visit). Well worth a visit
|
This place has REALLY grown on me. Good beer choices and often some unusual ones. Bishops Farewell is always a safe bet. Great staff too and a handy location. Second only to The Criterion in Leicester I vouch.
|
Excellent real ale outlet in a beautiful location (well at the New Walk end anyway), has a lot to choose from and the prices are very cheap too.
I prefer the Criterion for atmosphere though if I'm out for a beer early on, I think this place is better later in the day.
|
An excellent pub. A bit on the trendy side for my personal taste, although prices were very reasonable, especially as it appears to be pitched towards the young professional crowd. My pint of Oakham Harlequin was perfect.
|
am not a local to the area but on a recent outing this was easily the best place visited, excellent choice of ales plus a decent wine list.
|
Best Ale pub in Leicester by a mile, and Id be hard pushed to name a better one anywhere else in the UK (or abroad for that matter!). With up to 12 different ales, there's always something for everyone, and I've never been disappointed. Would recommend to anyone and everyone!!
|
Amazing place. Up for the most recent festival and beer coming out of my ears!. Next time i'll make sure i'm booked on a later train as i did'nt want to leave.
|
Quite simply the finest drinking hole in the land. An outstanding range of ever-changing fine, rare ales, stouts & porters from the corners of the country, almost all no more than £2 a pint. For the lager buffs among you there is an impressive selection of continental & flavoured beers.
The atmosphere at any time of the day is terrific. As enjoyable to have a quick, lunchtime pint as it is to session it up on a Friday evening. Barstaff & clientale are a cut above the rest, customers are encouraged to try samples before they purchase.
Decor is simple & traditional. Darkwood bar & church pews combined with the gothic fittings of the previous snooty wine bar. Good, affordable food available from a personable chef who will come round & ask you how your meal was when you finish. Regular in-house beer festivals with as many as 30 beers served from kegs around the bar.
The Vaults has its own computer-stored soundtrack, a real mixture of genres from 70s-90s, all relaxed & a welcome break from the mainstream. Merchandise like Tshirts & pint glasses are available & it's very easy to get sucked in & become a fanatic! Brilliant because it's so unique but makes you mad that there's not a pub like this everywhere. A perfect 10.
|
If you are not a real ale fan you might find this place somewhat 'basic' but it is undoubtedly Leicester's preimer real ale pub. Used to be a wine bar and now has one long wooden floored and tabled interior which can be entered from either King Street or New Walk. There is always available a cracking range of ales from independent breweries, often around a dozen on offer and all kept in top-notch condition. Leicester is fortunate to have a handful of very good real ale pubs but this one is the King of Kings
|
