please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I had a couple of hours to kill in Leicester after a meeting at the nearby university, and this pub filled the void marvellously. Several Oakham beers on - the JHB was in fine form despite being near the end of the barrel, and the Inferno was excellent - and despite being a fussy bugger they did me a rather excellent plate of cheese for £2. It almost tempts me to go to Leicester more often.
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I do find the ‘blogging’ of our customers’ visits most helpful and entertaining. I am most grateful to the many guests that compliment the team in their efforts and I am more than happy to sit down with any disgruntled customer(s) in an attempt to rectify any grievances.
However, I do draw the line at both underhand competitors within the trade berating our venue on-line rather than enjoying the ‘friendly rivalry’ that makes Leicester stand out in the real ale world and professional businessmen walking behind the bar to air their complaints- as if they have authorisation- as to do this is neither professional or any of their business. Where else but in the pub trade do you find customers walking behind the counter into the staff area? Chip shops? Service stations? Banks? Pizza Express?…
We must have discipline, or after a strong Belgian beer the lunatics will be running the asylum (as well as the government). It isn’t even as if all the staff hide in the kitchen and corridor (team discussions take place out of customers aural range) in fear of a ‘ticker’!
Perhaps a self-service option could be arranged to relieve me of some of my hours (currently averaging 55 per week), which is why I do not have a fake plastic smile on my face all week. So if I’m grumpy, it’s because I haven’t had my fix of delicious pizza washed down with a refreshing pint.
Unfortunately, people tend to focus on the negative aspects of a visit and, may I add, it certainly can be upsetting to staff alike to be patronised, abused and disrespected in our place of work- all at the start of a 12 hour shift. We are not robots, but have a range of human emotions- and we have friends and lives to lead that exclude us from catering until 1 am for the people that get out of bed at 10:30 pm.
The majority thoroughly enjoy the banter of the staff, the suntrap beer patio, the range of competitively priced (house) beers, traditional Italian pizza, pub games, a multitude of live acts, private parties, quiz nights and real ale festivals.
I hope you find this information helpful. If you have any concerns with these issues please make an appointment with the management to help us make changes to the benefit of all in both personal and professional matters.
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It's difficult to be too negative about this pub but at times that's how I feel about the place.
It's a great little boozer and considering the range of beers and the fact that it's a city centre pub it's one of the few places I drink in in the centre of Leicester.
When the bar is quietly ticking over everything is fine but things take a dramatic turn for the worse when it get's a bit busy. Getting to the bar is difficult because of the amount of bar stools that are occupied by folk who find it a chore to give you enough space to order a beer. This means you're standing behind these people and the chances of the bar staff spotting you are slim especially if they're anywhere near the kitchen end of the bar.
Last week I waited 5 minutes at the crowded bar while a chap (apparently the gaffer) chatted to friends while collecteing glasses. He then went down to the kitchen area, dropped off the glasses and stood at the end of the bar chatting to someone else despite there being three people including myself waiting to be served. Eventually a female member of staff appeared and saved the day but it was all too late for the group of six people who couldn't be bothered to wait as long as me and walked out again.
Like I've said, this is a great little boozer but it just needs an injection of life behind the bar. If the service is improved by certain members of staff this place would work much better.
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Once upon a time this was my favourite Real Ale watering hole in Leicester; sadly however the Criterion seems to have been suffering of late.
Repeated recent visits have yielded cloudy, poorly conditioned ales, while the range has gone down hill significantly following the buy out of the pub by the Rugby Brewing Co.
I have it on good authority that the decline in beer range and general poor quality of the selection is due to Rugby encouraging a policy of "swapsies" between their estate and other smaller brewers - essentially they palm off some of there less popular casks for similarly unpopular selections from other brewers.
On my most recent visit (Thursday May 8th) I sampled 2 ales - Dishy Debbie from Hart and Itchen Valley's Hampshire Rose. Both were in far from tip top condition (both rather hazy, with a pronounced musty quality to the flavour).
In the main bar I found a middle aged chap in shirt and tie sat on a stool and slumped unconscious on the bar beside a half empty glass of Trappiste Rochefort 10, while outside in the tiny beer garden by the road a talentless duo with a guitar and dog sang and played at the top of their voices - unlicinsed and unwanted by the customers, ignored by the staff.
Couple this with the ridiculously slow service consistently provided - expect to wait a goodly length of time, even if the pub is empty due to the staff standing in the kitchen paying no heed to the bar - and you have an establishment which has lost a lot of its appeal.
I will be keeping a close eye on this pub, but it looks as though it's going to the dogs; thank goodness the Queen Victoria has re-opened and is catering for Leicesters Real Ale Connoisseur community!
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When living in Leicester a couple of years ago, never went in this place as it a) looks like a cross between a prison and a public urinal and b) looks like you might get stabbed. However went in as part of a crawl and it has a great range of well served beers. If you like top ales, dont let the look put you off.
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Agree that the building promises little from the outside and the front bar is equally basic and boxy with a large area to left for the dartboard (£5 refundable deposit on 2 good sets darts), very studenty vibe. The rear bar is much more pubby with some dark wood & booth seating. Regardless, it is certainly a beer pub, with barrels replaced within minutes of running out. Slaters Top Totty & Premium, Oakham Bishops Farewell, Spire Dark Side of The Moon (mild), Rugby Web Ellis & 1823 (mild), Sadlers Worcester Sorcerer, Old Rosie.
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From the outside this pub doesn’t promise very much but inside it is usually a hive of activity and very popular. A couple of Saturdays back there were people dancing spontaneously in one bar while in the other I and a few friends enjoyed well-kept ales and a pizza to soak them all up. I only manage to get here once a year and I always look forward to my visits.
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On a recent visit beer excellent as usual. Be careful when wanting food if there is a function on, they don't seem to cater for both a function and the general public.
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Pizzas have been awful recently. Paper thin and dry.
Slake - 12 Feb 2008 20:17 |
Called in for the beer festival, but found the staff very confused by what beers were available. Although the festival was advertised as 14-16 Dec a lot of the beers were not coming on until the following Thursday, and every time someone asked for a beer she had to check if it was on or not. The quality of the beer I had was great though.
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I must say in response to the comments by VJL, that I generally find the staff very friendly. However I must say that the mood of the licencee can vary greatly. On more than one occasion I have witnessed him being grumpy and even very rude to customers. The attitude of this man really does mar what is otherwise a very nice pub.
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Having used this pub for a number of years without a problem, however I had cause to return a pizza recently and the way the complaint was handled and the manner in which I was spoken to be nothing short of a disgrace. I wrote a letter of complaint to the Company Director to make him aware of the manner in which this establishment was being operated, yet to date no reply has been received. The Criterion holds the title of CAMERA Pub of the year 2007 but surely the award should be renamed “Beer of Year” as it has a varied selection which is well kept, but the service in my opinion, is well below one’s expectations of a pub which holds this misleading title. The Criterion management would be well advised to complete a course in customer relations. I will certainly not be returning whilst the current management is in place.
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Still the best pub in Leicester. Great range of real ales and the best selection of bottled German and Belgian bottled beers I have seen anywhere, period. I'm told the pizzas are something special and there's a great juxebox too, especially if you're a bit of a goth. Which I'm not. Really.
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Popped in recently, very pleasant. Decent range of ales and bar snacks, although the decor is a little sterile....very bright and shiny!
A good component of the Leicester beer circuit.
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didnt like the the pub preticualy the pink night.
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Great pub well worth the time.
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Leicester CAMRA pub of the year for the past two years. Well deserved. The beer quality is always excellent. Usually 8 to 10 real ales on at one time with Oakham JHB and Bishops Farewell being the regulars. The ales are served in lined glasses, so you are guaranteed a full pint. At least two real ciders available, and a big selection of bottled beers from around the world on the menu. The homemade pizzas are superb value. Appeals to customers of all ages and types. The staff are young and polite. If you're visiting Leicester this would make an ideal stopping off point.
Slake - 10 Sep 2007 18:56 |
We found the usual selection of draught lagers, but a wide variety of traditional ales to gladden the heart!
There was live Blues Music in the lounge, and the ales were beatifully kept..
The whole pub is in one level, and apart from one step, should be fine for disabled visitors.
The decor is simple, and kept clean, what more do you want?
Only downside we can find is that they shut at 11.30 on the weekend!
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Excellent pub, often with more than eight real ales available at any one time. The variety is quick to change, with some beers lasting only two days. Oakham ales are regular, other beers are from non-industrial brewers!
Frequent beer festivals, occasional cider festivals.
Pizzas are superb, baked from fresh dough and ingredients on a stone base.
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Excellent range of beers, friendly welcome and good service. A nice, cosy pub - not a drinking factory.
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Still the best in town, tried 10 cracking brews last Wednesday and had a go at the fiendishly difficult quiz.
Very close to the Swan & Rushes (not yet listed on BITE, it's on 19 Infirmary Square, LE1 5WR) which is also a great ale pub.
Leicestershire CAMRA pub of the year and deservedly so. Any serious alehead must visit the Criterion at least once!
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The standard set by the original owner lives on. A variety of excellent beers is supplemented by their famous pizzas. With the Shakespeare’s Head, Swan & Rushes, Gateway and Out of the Vaults close by, this area is Leicester’s answer to Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
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Unbelievable range of imported lagers, good selection of ale. Pizzas are great value, staff are cool, great atmosphere too. All too easy to drink the day away in.
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Despite the dated interior, Leicester's best range of Belgian and German beers awaits inside. Good guest ales from the British Isles as well. Pleasant and friendly crowd and an enjoyable place to sink a few, especially during daytime.
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This is a fabulous pub for real ale, has a good selection of handpumps and a bulging fridge full of bottled imports in great condition.
It does indeed look like the inside of a non-league football clubs function room but it is clean, airy and bright so that's really not a bother once you're in.
You really could stay in here all day, and with it being 2 minutes from the town centre, the stagger towards Leicester's excellent public transport system is straightforward.
Also serves food and plays host to regular live music. Fabulous.
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1960's buiding that feels more like a sports club bar then a real pub with a lot of empty floorspace in the front bar and a darts area, but you can't argue with the range and quality of ales. I was delighted to find Hook Norton Double Stout, a personal favourite.
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Cracking beer, great stone baked pizzas, friendly locals and staff. Excellent. Sister pub to the also excellent Swan and Rushes.
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What a proper pub's all about.
Who cares what it looks like outside - this is a real case of inner-beauty.
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Certainly not a pretty place - and that's the building, the decor and the people in it some of the time - but the selection of obscure European beers and ales is just superb. Handy for the rugby and footie stadia, off the beaten track a little for the town visitor, but worth it. Recommended.
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More customers of late. Still a great pub, enhanced by the fact that the regulars are quite, quite mad.
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Fantastic range of beer, inc cider & perry. Good punky & rock jukebox. Big darts area in front public bar.
anonymous - 3 Feb 2006 12:03 |
Surely the best pub in Leicester? Top quality bar staff (you're invariable greeted with a nod and "evening lads"), handy for a pre-gig pint due to proximity to The Princess Charlotte (though mostly frequently by middle-aged men and couples), brilliant beer (try working your way through the wheat beer selection...staff are knowledgable too) and very nice food to boot. If it wasn't for the aesthetic drawback of the location and exterior, this would be a 10. Hell yeah!
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A one floor boxy building that dates from 1960 and was built around the time the area was modernised and the underpass constructed. It used to be called the Nags Head. Now with its change of name, it is one of Leicester's excellent real ale pubs, serving a range of beers from independent breweries and all in good condition. Good Beer Guide listed
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