The Criterion, Leicester - pub details
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Address: 44 Millstone Lane, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 5JN [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0116 262 5418
Leicester (0.6 miles), South Wigston (3.6 miles), Syston (5.1 miles)
Pub facilities/features:
- Jukebox
- Dartboard
- Real ale
Pub suggested by thequaffer on 17 Mar 2005
NB: Information may be incomplete or out of date as this pub is not currently registered.
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> Current user rating: 7.1/10 (rated by 45 users)
> Local guide: Leicester pub guide
other pubs nearby:
Rutland and Derby, Leicester (0.0 miles), Firebug, Leicester (0.0 miles), New Town Arms, Leicester (0.1 miles), Square, Leicester (0.1 miles), Durham Ox, Leicester (0.1 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the Criterion, Leicester
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 31 shown - see all reviews
| 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. MikiStrange - 26 May 2008 12:18 |
| 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! Young_Camra_LE3_Crew - 9 May 2008 10:40 |
| 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. Tigerdrinker - 5 May 2008 18:05 |
| 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. trainman - 5 May 2008 12:38 |
| 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. Ordinary - 29 Mar 2008 22:36 |
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