please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Cracking boozer. Great range of ales.
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Went there for the first time ever yesterday and live local. The place is gleaming with character and the selections of beer is the best in rochford. Really friendly staff and one of the rare occasions where ive actually seen the landlord in the pub.
Would defiantly recommend.
SamPL - 10 Jun 2016 10:28 |
Came here after a disappointing crawl in Southend. Had a very polite welcome from the lady behind the bar (Margaret i think her name was) which confused the regulars as they apparently are subjected to a rather more "Industrial" verbal tirade upon arrival.
But seriously, the locals and staff were great, full of personality, beer was spot on, good selection, not the usual suspects, and the pub was very welcoming and cosy. I jumped off the train from Southend back to London to try this pub and wasn't disappointed.
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I visited this pub recently and had a great time.The landlady was very jolly and the beer excellent.The landlord could not do enough,even putting new paper towels in the loo when I said they'd run out! "I'll be back!"
Divas - 25 Feb 2016 17:42 |
This was the first of 4 pubs I tried in Rochford and it was probably the best of them. The ale selection was good - Greene King Abbot, Shalfords Levelly Gold, Adnams Bitter, Titanic Plum Porter, Maldon Liberty Ale & Peerless Red Rocks. The cider selection listed on a blackboard also looked impressive, until I actually asked for one. There were 5 or 6 listed. But they had none of them! Apparently they were getting some more in next week. That sounds like either poor stock control or that they had just finished some kind of festival. The pub itself has a nice feel and there is a small courtyard out the back. The jukebox seemed a hit. No sign of any food. Probably my favourite pub of the day on my visit to Essex despite the lack of a real cider.
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Yes it could do with a lick of paint and a clean up. But it depends what you're there for - an excellent pint, or leaving your business card as a decorator. It's not that bad anyway. I could hardly mark it down for this reason!
I am local and try to pop in when I can. The jukebox has decent old school rock and is only 50p for 5 songs. The food is 'ok' but I refuse to get carried away with food in a pub review. If you want amazing food, go to a restaurant! (Even then, its no guarantee of good quality or value) There is a bad culture of this type of distraction from the main event in pub reviews.
The Lion always has regular beers and a good selection of guests. You name it, theyve had it. Great pub, and long may it continue.
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visited the Golden Lion recently with a mate and both agreed what a well run pub with full range of great beers plus when we went their beer festival was on,which was an added bonus.Barmaids were welcoming and friendly and their service was spot on and they are very easy on the eye,especially in their outfits which are definitely a winner!!!!!!.
all in all a very nice pub.
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this pub going down hill pub dirty dust everywhere tables old falling a part bar staff not helpful like texting not serveing pepole you have wait could do with lick paint
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A while since we visited,must admit was disappointed ,the pub ,which we appreciate is 16th century building,is however in desperate need of a clean up/refurb.,as the saying goes "first impressions" !!
Beer was ok,and seems to sell well,which we guess is the main thing.
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Good unspoilt pub ,currently CAMRA pub of the year apparently,beer in good condition although unremarkable,on our visit during the day we had to wait to get served whilst barmaid finished her cigarette outside,however we intend to visit again.
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Great Pub - Excellent attentive staff - Friendly landlord....Going from strength to strength ..............just needs to be a bit bigger
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And now South east CAMRA's pub of the year again. Well done!
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Change of Personnel since last visit - the improvement is dramatic. Friendly atmosphere, good service, a good place to go
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A Brilliant pub, the legend that is Brewers Gold always on tap as well as at least 4 real ales.Proper pork scratchings on sale.If you are going to football at Southend the ground is a 10 minute cab ride away.
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Good pub - good beer, good landlord. Miserable Bartender....unless you're a regular
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I haven't been in this pub for a few and fortunately it doesn't seem to change much. Plenty of rustic charm and a fine selection of beers. Definately worth a visit.
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Excellent pub, highly recommended. Very friendly owners and bar staff and regulars too. Always a good night out and a great selection of real ales with different selection nearly every day.......Don't miss it :-)
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a good old fashioned pub with good old fasioned dust. a decent range of real ales, worth a visit
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We found this place very friendly- staff & customers alike, and we're very obviously not local.. Beer was excellent (and tons of choice), and a nice atmosphere.
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At last a professional run pub with fantastic real ales (award winning I believe). Lager is palatable and thirst quenching. Locals seem friendly with a nice oldie worldly ambiance.
Downside bar staff seem unfriendly to strangers with no please or thank you.
If you can tolerate the bar staff then this pub is recommended..
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In simple English, a gem! I stopped by on GBG recommendation on my way back into London from Southend last night.
This is everything a PROPER pub should be, six ales on handpump (of which Oscar Wilde Mild and Crouch Vale Brewers' Gold were both exquisite). The landlord even took an interest in why I chose those two beers to which I replied they were the two best beers avaliable in my humble experience. Ceiling absolutely covered in beer clips from very interesting breweries
It was full of pre-Christmas buzz, and it makes such a difference to be in a pub full of genuinely cheerful people. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and I was afforded a welcome seldom seen in London.
Shame I had to catch the last train back otherwise I would have stayed for more. It is worth spending a whole evening in this pub, and for me it was a great discovery!
Excellent, well-deserved 10/10.
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Traditional free house pub dating back to the 16th Century. Lovely stained glass windows at the front of the pub. Seven hand pumps were available, 4 regulars; Crouch Vale Brewers Gold, Adnams Bitter, Greene King Abbott and Weston�s Scrumpy. The 3 others on Saturday were Brains SA Gold, Crouch Vale Anchor St Porter and Skinners Betty Stoggs. The beer was in good form and not bad at �2.60 for the Anchor St Porter. An ever changing dark beer is always available here. Former guest pump clips cover the ceiling area. This is a multi award winning CAMRA pub over the last 20 years. A TV was present but was not switched on although I understand big sporting events are shown. A juke box was also available in the pub. Pub snacks including pork pies, cheese rolls and burgers were available for reasonable prices. Only criticism from me was the less than clean gents toilets. One of my mates who smoke said that that the rear paved and covered area was good.
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cracking pub was visting my brother who has moved from se london to rochford and paid a vist on a saturday afternoon, plenty of reals ales on tap great service tv on with the sound on(not to loud )please note wetherspoons as i cant lip read
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A belated thank-you to the staff who were so superb on Rugby World Cup Final night.
A brilliant venue. Well done again.
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As everyone has said it's a wonderful place. It's always a shame to have to go home from here as any plans to have a pub crawl are usually thwarted- why go anywhere else? It can be a bit clicky. Bar staff are generally friendly especially on friday night. Other nights are pretty variable unless you're with the "in-crowd". But who cares when the beer is so good.
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Fantastic pub. Selection of ales best in South-East Essex.
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An excellent pub with great selection of ales always on.
A real gem amongst some awful pubs in rochford.
anonymous - 13 May 2007 11:16 |
Best pub in Essex.
Though a small pub, has a great selection of special ales.
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Wonderful pub, many times CAMRA South East Essex pub of the year, including 2007.
Recent addition of a log burning stove in the bar has enhanced the atmosphere.
Selection of 6 real ales always available including Crouch Vale Brewers Gold and a Stout, Mild or Porter.
Well worth a specia; trip to visit, walking distance from the train station.
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Wonderful pub - all the usual ingredients you find in great Essex pubs i.e. top quality local beer, interesting old building, high standards but low pretension. A must.
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Agree with all the comments posted. This is very much a down to earth small traditional no frills pub and the CAMRA haunt of the local area. Usually a good selection of real ales and a cider on.
Friendly banter with the locals ain't hard to accomplish. Brewers Gold (my fav) always on. The place is well worth a visit. Was the best pub in town for a good while but the other 3/4 real ale pubs have upped their counter and now there's a good choice and a fine stroll to be had.
Mcloj - 29 Sep 2006 10:10 |
Excellent beer range .... good service .... basic decor .... friendly. A "must visit".
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This is one of THE great pubs.
Excellent range of beers, friendly locals (even to us Blackpool FC fans) and great trad interior.
Is worth visiting Rochford for.
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A pub to warm the heart! The beer is fantastic and always a wide range available.
Friendly atmosphere too. Excellent!
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Best pub in Rochford. 6 good beers, two good ciders, and nice staff.
They could do with a selection of good single malts and brandies, but I'm just being picky now. A great place!
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Down to earth small traditional no frills pub.Usually 6 real ales and a cider on tap. Join in the friendly banter with the locals. Brewers Gold always on. Well worth a visit. Easily the best pub in Rochford.
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A wide range of ales, friendly and knowledgeable bar staff and old-world charm
Dan Sayer - 25 Oct 2004 06:14 |
