On 14 January, the team from The Bulls Head in Ashby collected their award from Ashby Civic Society after being chosen as 'Building of the Year 2025'. 

The Civic Society work with Ashby Museum every month to share the history of a building in the town as their Building of the Month, which have been complied into a calendar for 2026. 

Out of the 12 buildings chosen, The Bulls Head was chosen as the Building of the Year 2025 after being featured as Building of the Month in September. 

The Bulls Head pub is known to date back as far as 1598 (Photo: Ashby Civic Society)

The Bulls Head is an iconic building on Ashby's Market Street, with the main building dating back to 1598 and is considered to be one of the oldest structures in the town. 

The pub, which was previously called The Swan, was sold to Thomas Leeson in 1598 and was then owned by the Page family in the 1700s. 

In 1715, a brick extension (69 Market Street) was added onto the original building for Nicholas Joyce to be Joyce's Hat Shop and Best's Taylors before becoming part of the pub in the mid 1970s. 

Until the 1960s, the pub remained a series of small rooms with access to the bar, including a snug and restaurant upstairs with an open fire to warm diners on cold nights. 

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It is rumoured that Bainbridge used the pub as his base in 1646 when he was engaged in the demolition of Ashby Castle following the English Civil War.  

It is also rumoured Oliver Cromwell himself may have stayed at the  

There has also been reports of a ghostly presence in the pub, with Gregory Tutton, who managed The Bulls Head from 2019 to 2025, telling the story of a small ghostly girl who runs towards the toilets in the early morning and then disappears. This sighting has been reported by a number of staff over the years. 

Now, the pub remains a lively spot in the heart of the town, known for its cosy interior, suntrap beer garden and regular events including music bingo and live performances. 

It is currently run by Sam and Salina, who collected the award from the Civic Society this week. 

Speaking about the award on Facebook, Salina said: 'Last night, we were proud to collect our award from Ken Ward, Chairman of the Civic Society. 

'Myself and Sam are committed to maintaining the pub to its full potential and preserving its original character and historic features as much as possible for future generations.' 

Read the full history of The Bulls Head on the Ashby Civic Society website and check out their other Building of the Month picks.

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