The Criterion, Leicester - pub details
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Address: 44 Millstone Lane, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 5JN [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 917 0007 (ref 21088)
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NB: Information may be incomplete or out of date as this pub is not currently registered.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: 6.9/10 (rated by 48 users)
> Local guide: Leicester pub guide
other pubs nearby:
Rutland and Derby, Leicester (0.0 miles), Firebug, Leicester (0.0 miles), Charlotte, Leicester (0.1 miles), New Town Arms, Leicester (0.1 miles), Square, 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 35 shown - see all reviews
| Visited Leicester for the day and was furious to find this place closed during the afternoon. No explanations. Sharp - 13 Nov 2008 22:46 |
| From the outside, this is a typical ugly 1970's style building, with a little beer patio, (unfortunately often frequented by some unsavoury characters). The decor on the inside is not much better; however don't let this put you off! "A Mecca for real ale lovers" - (a quote used to describe the old vaults). Today the criterion is probably the only real ale pub in Leicester that comes close to this discription. If you’re a real ale lover like me, u will love the variety & quality of beers available (especially at beer festivals) This venue offers a fantastic range of drinks, from real ale, continental bottled beer, and for the non drinkers an extensive range of soft drinks. On the food side they specialize in traditional Italian pizza at very reasonable prices. Usually of very high quality, however I have been disappointed on 1 occasion when the pizza base was so thin, it was almost non-existent. The inside is split into 2 separate bars: - the front bar often used for live music, darts matches, and private functions, the rest of the time it has quite a student feel to it. The back bar is the main hub of activity, and can get very busy especially at the weekends, and quiz nights, often with a good vibe to go with it. The down side to this venue is the service - waiting to be served can be very frustrating, especially at quieter times when the bar staff all hide in the kitchen/glass wash area seemingly having their own private party and totally oblivious to the numerous customers waiting to be served. Once you do get served, most of the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Unfortunately, however 1 or 2 of the staff can be quite rude and unprofessional - this is such a shame, as otherwise a fantastic little boozer with great potential. Hot_Stuff - 17 Oct 2008 15:07 |
| 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. london_drunker - 24 Sep 2008 18:47 |
| 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. alemonkey - 12 Aug 2008 20:42 |
| 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 |
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