John Booth (Syston)

John Henry Booth, White Swan, Melton Road, Syston, Leicestershire.

In 1870 Samuel Bevan was a coal merchant and beer retailer on Lower Bridge Wharf, whilst the White Swan was shown as being on Leicester Road and run by George Randall from at least 1846.

Mrs Rachel Bevan was listed as brewing 1877-1895 and in 1881 JC Bevan was the victualler at the Bull’s Head. In 1892 Samuel Bevan was listed as the brewer, but he may have died in 1891 and in 1894 Rachel Bevan was again shown as the victualler.

On 6th February 1897, Arthur Hyde took the licence and was listed as the brewer for the following year’s directory. George Wallace Hitchcock was identified as the brewer in 1900 and was brewing until 1902.

For the period 1910-1920, John Henry Booth was listed as the brewer (F5001). However, in December 1897, the All Saints Brewery had bought the pub for £2,670 from Henry Booth. The purchase included the local fire station! It was not until 1916 that they sold the brewing plant from the White Swan, Syston, and the Coach & Horses, Kibworth, for £44. This suggests that they continued to brew until around 1915. In 1920 the pub was de-licensed for £1,248 compensation and sold in 1922.