Meet the Publican - The Shakespeare's Head, Leicester

Ruth pulling a pint of Barnsley Bitter

Meet The Publican this time returns back to the City. Ruth Rodger is the licensee at The Shakespeare's Head, Southgate Street, Leicester. Built in the 60’s along with the underpass, this former Shipstone’s house is now an Oakwell pub, one of only two in the city.

Ruth was born Ruth Turner in 1965 in Nottingham. She attended a number of different schools as a child and had been brought up in pubs in the Northampton and Cambridge areas since the age of 7. On leaving school, her first job was pressing in a local factory, the name of which Ruth forgets. Over the years she has done a lot of bar work, something she feels comfortable doing.

She has always considered herself as a “Biker Chick”. In 1982 while at a friend’s house, she met John Rodger, a guy who she took a shine to. A few dates later, they were married at Hucknall, Nottinghamshire in 1987.

The Shakespeare's Head is Ruth’s first pub. She took it on as a manager in November 2002 having worked at Sileby & District Liberal Working Mens Club as a barmaid then manager, as they said, ”We can’t have a female steward”. Her husband, John, works as a dye house manager and leaves Ruth to run the pub her own way. He also plays guitar in a band called The Swampsnake Blues Band. They have 2 girls, Laura who is 21 and 18 year-old Katherine who works behind the bar of The Shakespeare's Head.

Ruth’s interests are music, travel and windsurfing. Her ambition is to own her own pub one day. As Ruth quite bluntly puts it, ”To line my own pockets instead of the brewery’s”.

The Shakespeare's Head has recently been refurbished very tastefully, retaining most of the original features as when built. The beer is amongst the cheapest in Leicester. Ruth is a very popular figure with her regulars. Why not give her a visit.

K Williams

This page last updated: May 28, 2008

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