Hundreds say goodbye to Pump and Tap at Bridgestock festival

Live music rang out as hundreds of people gathered to say an emotional farewell to a pub that has stood for more than 180 years.

The Pump and Tap, whose building dates back to at least 1828, is to be demolished soon to enable De Montfort University to build a sports centre.

Past and current regulars gathered on Saturday night for a music festival called Bridgestock, held to celebrate the pub in Duns Lane, in Leicester's West End, and the neighbouring Bowstring Bridge which is also being demolished.

Singers played on an indoor acoustic stage, while bands kept people entertained in the pub's beer garden, built into one of the Bowstring Bridge's arches. Short films about the bridge's history were also shown.

Organiser Sue Barton, of the West End, said: "I was crying before the festival started and I cried again afterwards.

"I was looking forward to the event because we had a chance to celebrate the pub and the bridge, but at the same time it's just horrible that the Pump and Tap is going.

"It's such a fantastic pub and there is nothing like it at all in the city. It's a huge loss to the West End community."

She said all 12 bands who performed were regulars which "just shows what a great and unique place it is".

The Nags had the privilege of being the final band to take to the stage, which member Colin Bennett, of the city's Saffron Lane Estate, described as a "very sad honour".

He said: "There is nowhere else like this in Leicester. It's the last decent pub in the city and now it's gone. It's such a shame.

"The people make it what it is and there's a great mix here that you won't find anywhere else."

The pub, which opened as the Pump and Tap in 1988, has been ordered to shut by November 27.

Landlord Gaz Hunt said: "Bridgestock was a great way of celebrating what the pub was and commiserating what it's going to become."

Jason Roberts, from Aylestone, and Mark Smith, of Narborough Road, sat by the pub's coal fire reminiscing.

Jason said: "The fact that I can sit here next to a fire and listen to some live music says it all.

"It might be old fashioned but pubs used to exist so that you can meet people and socialise and that doesn't seem to be the case in a lot of pubs now."

Mark said: "It's hard to explain why it's such a great pub unless you spend some time in it.

"But I think its best quality is the atmosphere."

Kevin Gibbs, 39, travelled from his home in London to the festival.

He said: "I grew up in Leicester and I used to come to the pub. We had some top nights here.

"Whenever I'm back I always pop in for a few pints and it's a great shame that won't be possible anymore."