For many years the mainstay of student social life at the University, in the Bars and concert hall. I first met Percy for a Lindisfarne concert in Queens hall late 1978 - and then I came to work at the University in 1980. In house days The Percy Gee had a Nat West bank, Travel Agent, a general shop for stationery etc - A book shop & a record shop. a snooker room !! - A Laundry, & later, for a while an opticians, and much more
Most of these photos are somewhat later. -Didn't usually take a camera with me, but if I find anything else, I'll update
2008-2021
2008 - with crowds waiting to see the Queen & Prince Philip
That would be these two ---
This merge shows front and rear 2020, with the new frontage nearing completion
These few from April 2021
The Redfearn Bar was so much part of my early experiences in Leicester. Very typical of SU bars in those days - Beer, fags Beer, and a bit more beer. Always a range of hand pulled real ales. Open all year round. In the 80s the Uni had far fewer students, and a tiny population over the summer. Sometime only two or three customers all evening -but was rammed during term. The pics below from 1983 ish
The Bar
Eric the Barman
Phil Callan
(I think) - mostly Engineers
--and these two, much later ---2009
The Queens Hall was a fantastic venue. (It's gone) Lots of really good bands. First I saw was Lindisfarne in 1978, and the last -- "Bars & Melody" in 2016. - With many others in between e.g.
Lindisfarne
Boomtown Rats
Ian Dury
Robert Plant
Nils Lofgren
Bars and Melody
The hall was used for many other events - Freshers', Markets, Exams- -and Medics Revues
Craft market etc- late 90s/2000
Food, glorious food - also 2000 ish - When there was decent food at a sensible price,
and not a Pumpkin spiced Latte in sight.
and not a Pumpkin spiced Latte in sight.
Before social distancing was a thing
Revue 2005
Following pics from a walk around he building in 2009, before that refurb --
Phone kiosks a legacy of the time before mobiles
Snooker room had long closed, but the sign remained
Before an earlier refurb the Bank was on the right through those glass doors. with e bookshop beyond, a record shop on the left, and the main shop further on
just the one shop
The Pit/Mandella bar
2021 Refurb
No doubt it looks bright & modern, but perhaps rather too much
in "Costly Coffee & Corporate Catering" sort of way.
But if that's what the students want ----
