Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Lost Inns and Coffee Houses (A Guided Walk in Leicester)

“Lost Inns and Coffee Houses” is a Guided Walk in Leicester devised and led by Blue Badge Guide Colin Crosby, of Colin Crosby Heritage Tours.

These strolls are an enjoyable way of soaking up some Local History.

The walk starts outside the Town Hall in Leicester City Centre.

Along the way, Colin points out the sites of some of the city’s former places of refreshment, both alcoholic and otherwise.

In some cases, the building has been demolished, and in other cases it is still there but used for some other purpose.

Among the historic inns discussed are the White Boar (later Blue Boar) in High Cross Street, where Richard III spent his last night in a bed before meeting his death in battle near Market Bosworth; the Bell in Humberstone Gate, where a meeting agreed that the Leicester to Swannington Railway, one of the first in the world, should be constructed; the Three Crowns in Gallowtree Gate, where Leicester’s old Town Gates were sold at auction; and the Angel in Cheapside, where Mary Queen of Scots stayed on her way to her execution at Fotheringhay.

Among the coffee houses are several built for the coffee house movement a century ago. This movement aimed to give the working man an alternative to hard drink. Some of these impressive buildings still stand, but unfortunately none still serve their original purpose.

Another coffee house featured is the brilliant Turkey Cafe in Granby Street, which has now been restored to its original use.

Dates, costs and where to meet

A place on 'Lost Inns and Coffee Houses' costs £5.00 per person, or £4.00 if paying in advance. The guided walk begins at Town Hall, and is running on:

I'm sorry, but there are no plans to run this event at present.

If you would like to book a place on one of these dates, please telephone Colin on (0116) 2611576 or email him at colin@crosbyheritage.co.uk.

Upcoming Events

Guided Walks List

Locales