Hinckley is rarely classed as a shopping destination. To be honest with the shopping meccas of Coalville, Nuneaton and Shepshed nearby it is up against it…but it has got The Crescent
A £60m complex that appeared around three years ago with a big fanfare and has managed to retain a cinema, gym along with a couple of chain restaurants to attract in the punters.
It’s all very gleaming and shiny in stark contrast to a lot of other buildings you’d find in this town but, undoubtedly the jewel in the crown, is 351 – Elbow Room Ale & Cider House LE10 1AW
On my recent trip to Hinckley this was the busiest of all the boozers with a good passing trade and has already bagged a couple of awards for its beer.
The good news is that if it carries on advertising its success on the signage then hopefully it will snap up all the empty units in Hinckley around ten years’ time!
(looking for more units!)
I know Martin uncovered the definitive definition of a Micropub in his most recent blog post, which describes all Micros as discerning and attended by ‘likeminded people.’
I’m not sure that is like any pub I’d want to go into and thankfully The Elbow Room is nothing like that as there is lots of wine being drunk as well as beer with a good mix of ages and business types along with professional drinkers, which make for a good atmosphere.
The pictures don’t really do it justice inside but take my word for it the beer was absolutely fantastic. My half of Effortless (Red Willow) was as good as it looks and packed a real punch.
There are plenty of modern high chairs and funky stuff on the walls whilst the mix of suits/locals/wine drinkers/beer drinkers/beermats and friendly bar staff made this place work.
I’m looking forward to vising next year when I reckon the signage will be even bigger!
Great post. The contrast between the rundown High Street and that shiny new Crescent is quite something, isn’t it ? As you say, it’s no Coalville.
I liked Elbow Room but struggled with photos to capture it.
https://retiredmartin.com/2017/11/16/hinckley-mallinsons-mohicans-mobility-scooters/
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A top piece…you undersell yourself! Yes it stands out but apart from gym cinema and elbow room not sure how much else will survive…
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My favourite for beer in Hinckley, I have other favourites for other reasons. Hinckley has gone from ‘meh!’ to a jolly good afternoon crawl in just a few short years. Regarded as a ‘World Heritage Site’ for charity shops…
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That made me chuckle out loud!! 😀 Like most town centres re shops…yes looks like it’s got some cracking boozers beyond the ones I’ve seen…
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If I am correct ‘Elbow Room’ was a chain bar. The one in Leeds closed down a couple of years ago. Is this part of the same outfit, or did they go bust?
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The Hinckley Elbow Room is an indie micropub.
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Cheers Mark that will stop Rich boycotting it as anything resembling big business is on his hit list 😉
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No they are a stand alone indie as far as I’m aware?
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Original chain probably gone bust then or they’d have been chasing them about the name!
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“and has managed to retain a cinema, gym along with a couple of chain restaurants to attract in the punters.”
It already sounds better than Stockport’s Redrock. 🙂
“undoubtedly the jewel in the crown, is 351 – Elbow Room Ale & Cider House LE10 1AW”
With a mobility shop right next door!
“I’m not sure that is like any pub I’d want to go into and thankfully The Elbow Room is nothing like that”
I agree (didn’t say so on Martin’s post). A hodge podge of minds is preferable, but maybe not a hodge podge of ambiance (i.e. TV, sports, and loud music all in the same room). 🙂
“My half of Effortless (Red Willow) was as good as it looks and packed a real punch.”
Looks murky, but magnificent.
(and was ‘punch’ a play on words? — i.e. since it’s tropical with a hint of mango) 🙂
“I’m looking forward to vising next year when I reckon the signage will be even bigger!”
But not too many pumps or some folks will complain! 🙂
( PS – mostly ignoring the odd grammar/spelling for the weekend – the reason is below)
Cheers
Looking forward to catching up on earlier posts by you lot this (long) weekend here. Couldn’t go out of town today due to yet more bloody snow, plus I’d rather be home getting photo updates from our eldest after the birth of our first ever grandchild* on Valentine’s Day!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/VnGweQwWCfm158mM6
* – a boy, of course, in order to keep the Smith name alive! 🙂
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Oops. Forgot to mention, that photo at the top, my wife has the same one on the inside of her lunch truck:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SrJbHrQrtMNtYcVA8
Cheers
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What a great picture 👍 many congratulations Russ and I imagine you’ll have plenty of sleepless nights to catch up on reading 🙄🙄👍
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