April 2025. Leicester.
The last knockings of my Big Day Out in Hinckley, as I decide that 24 minutes is, in fact, enough time to see a bit more of Leicester,
and somehow squeeze in a pint at the Cherry Tree, which a quick look at my giant spreadsheet confirms I’ve never been to before (and I’d ticked 40 pubs in the city).
This Bass-only boozer, and in a world where click-bait media can call a Brunning & Price a “boozer” it deserves that title, was a controversial non-GBG choice for the triumphant CAMRA Discourse Pub Crawl Research Trip in January, presumably because Bass isn’t “indie” (ugh) enough.
But Paul Mudge liked it and that’s enough for me.
Blimey, what a gem this is.
You’re greeted by “You Can’t Hurry Love“, the Supremes not Phil, and a discussion about Jamie Vardy’s retirement.
And a lone handpump with the red triangle in constant use.
As you’ll soon find out in Derby, you need to give Bass a minute to clear,
and then it works its magic. A cool, chewy NBSS 3.5+, the best of a day of good Bass.
Blokey but not crude to the right, ladies with shopping and babies to the left. Is this Leicester’s Hare & Hounds ? Possibly.
I’ll have to go back and find out when I’ve got more that 8 minutes for a pint.
retiredmartin 
Yes, a good start to my January day out, the first Bass being the best Bass.
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Weren’t you on your last pint three pubs ago?
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🥴
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Had my first pint of Bass ever (I think) over the bank holiday. Certainly my first since it’s been trending on this Bass blog.
Nice pint, ok micro (Quirky Den, Whitby).
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I struggle to get drinking buddies interested in the Cherry, which is a great shame as it’s one of the best proper old fangled boozers that actually sells a beer you want to drink (The Fountain and The Standard are let down by the distress Guinness option). Probably the most ‘chatty’ pub I’ve been to in Leicester for a good few years, a problem if chat isn’t what you’re after of course…
(The Real) Mark
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Your last line is the pertinent one, Mark. Many folk like to stick to pubs and people they know, and get a bit edgy of approached by strangers.
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