On the bar
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The pub
Why the Blue Boar?
Leicester's original Blue Boar Inn stood on Highcross Street — a coaching inn where, by tradition, Richard III spent his last night before Bosworth in 1485. It was said to be the White Boar then, after Richard's own emblem, and the sign was repainted in some haste once the battle was lost — blue being the badge of the man who won.
We're on Millstone Lane, borrowing a good name. The full story is on Story of Leicester.
The sign
While we were still building the place, a woman stopped outside. She'd never been down Millstone Lane before, but said she'd felt drawn to it. She asked what we were doing, and what we were going to call it. We hadn't quite decided — but when we said the Blue Boar, she said that's what's brought me here. I've something for you.
We thought no more of it and carried on working. She came back the next day with an antique Blue Boar sign from her husband's brewiana collection. She said it was meant to be.
We don't know how old it is, or which Blue Boar it came from. It's got pride of place in the bar.