Golden Lion, Hoddesdonback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Thought I would call back here six months after my last visit.
Food is still good for taste and value. My pint glass was clean (though probably not because of my previous review).
As for the real ale, it does not seem to improve.
There was the usual Pride and GK IPA but, surprisingly, the third pump had Potton's Village Bike.
I chose the Bike. After drinking about a third of my pint I was fairly convinced it was going off. Another customer was not over-happy with his. Both our beers were cloudy and stale.
I was offered a replacement. Thankfully the London Pride's pump clip was turned around - so that left the dreaded GK IPA.
You never know one day it might taste like beer. I must say it poured very clear, had a good head and again served in a clean glass. I might actually enjoy this brew for once. Who am I kidding?
It is not the fault of the Golden Lion but this beer really does taste like p*ss.
I'm sure if I had been drinking real wee it might have had a fuller body with some character - this has none.
Rant over.
Slight delays to get served but the bar-girl was on her own and she did at least apologise.
4/10
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This is a former 16th century coaching Inn which is believed to have been in existence since 1535 so there is plenty of olde � worlde character with lots of what look like original beams and several separate pub areas at different floor levels, and has a ramshackle feel befitting its age.
Bit of a local�s pub, who can be a bit clique and tend to dominate the bar stools. But I won�t begrudge them this as they spend a lot more money here than me on my infrequent visits.
Plenty of the usual chrome Lager and Guinness pumps and these are complemented by three hand pumps, which usually dispense GK IPA, Fullers London Pride and then the third alternates between Adnams Bitter and GK Abbott. As I tend to visit on a weekend evening when the pub has live bands and there is a few in (being one of the LemonRock Local Music venues, when the band tucks itself in the right hand end of the pub), the ale quality tends to be OK and the Pride and IPA have always been drinkable, as it was again last Friday evening.
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Have been here a few times now for Saturday lunch. Food is good with a wide choice of dishes at reasonable prices. And it makes a nice change not to get ripped off from the specials board.
The pubs interior is dimly lit, which gives the impression it is in need of refurbishment.. Despite the low lighting I did notice the glasses were not perfectly clean. Lipstick around the rim and others badly stained does not lend to enjoyable drinking.
The choice of ales has not changed much over the years. Greene King's 'bland' IPA, Fullers 'overrated' London Pride and Adnams Broadside.
I have tried to like London Pride but I really do not know why people rave about it. It has got no body or character. I decided to give it one last chance. The young barman picked out a grubby pint glass and half filled it with froth and end of barrel dregs. After connecting a new barrel he continued to fill the glass without drawing any beer off or clearing the pipes.
"Your pint" he beamed. (No wonder London Pride tastes crap.) 'I don't think so' I replied. 'You draw another pint off and I'll have the one after', I told him.
Despite all that, the new pint (in yet another finger-printed patterned glass) tasted ok. The best Pride I've tasted - but it's still not a great beer.
Let's hope they have cleaned their act up by the next time I visit!!!
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not a bad little boozer, bit clicky with some of the locals but friendly altogether. Food is good, have eaten here a couple of times and it has always been very nice. Whenever i have been here the bar staff have always been happy and helpful, especially the bald one, he even did garden service for us!!
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The C16 beamed building is stunning. In London it would be a major tourist trap. This one is less flamboyant than the narby White Swan.
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Used to be a really quiet old mans boozer this but I went in on Saturday and its had a right lease of life. Open till 2, a DJ and plenty of crumpet.
Downside is the landlord being a Sheffield Wednesday fan.
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Nice locals pub. They do karaoke and they do open mike evenings if you want entertainment. Late in the week and weekends the food is very good - only serves evening food at these times.
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