please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I've spent many a Thursday night sipping ales in this fine establishment and after suffering it's closure — however brief — once already over the last couple of years, I'm gutted to hear that it's once again fighting for it's life.
It's a fantastic example of what I'd consider a 'proper' pub — warm, friendly staff, with the additional bonus of darts, jukeboxes and tv screens available for a bit of light entertainment. The area certainly wouldn't be the same without it.
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I've spent many a Thursday night sipping ales in this fine establishment and after suffering it's closure — however brief — once already over the last couple of years, I'm gutted to hear that it's once again fighting for it's life.
It's a fantastic example of what I'd consider a 'proper' pub — warm, friendly staff, with the additional bonus of darts, jukeboxes and tv screens available for a bit of light entertainment. The area certainly wouldn't be the same without it.
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Excellent memories of post-match drinks in this most welcoming of boozers. I understand it is on the verge of closure once again so I would urge anyone who has enjoyed a sherbet or two in this fine establishment to rally round in its hour of need. To the regiment...
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After drinking in this pub for over 20 years our football team has been devastated by it's closure. This pub has been serving all the local teams who play on nightly basis at the Finsbury Leisure Centre for decades. It is a great loss to the community. Please reopen it ASAP!
Andy A
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We, as a club have played on the football pitches opposite this wonderful establishment for over 25 years until recently. It has proved a superb watering hole no matter what our results over the years. It's an integral part of the local community and a wonderful example of how a pub and a sporting complex can work hand in hand and contribute to the income of a local area. With a good choice of lagers and always a warm welcome we were so glad that it recovered from the devastating fire earlier this year. It simply wouldn't be a thursday without it.
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Now reopened following a fire.
Same management.
New fire alarm.
Bruff - 19 Nov 2014 12:28 |
[CLOSED]
Windows shuttered.
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Pleasant back street local, tucked away off the main road. Two well kept real ales are served by friendly and welcoming bar staff
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The White Lion has a slightly eccentric decoration, which somehow works quite well. The long bar was occupied by 3 locals during my Thursday afternoon visit. Youngs and St Austell Tribute were the two real ales. In addition to the several lagers, there also seemed to be a range of wines. Items around the place included a couple of Irish rugby balls, 2 Manchester footballs (one from each team) and a glitter ball! The blackboard menu was completely blank. I didn't get to visit the games room at the rear, but found this a fairly comfortable pub situated far enough off the main Old Street drag to ensure it doesn't get too crowded.
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Adnams and Tribute were the ale choices in here before Christmas so they have not changed since September and there is a standard draught selection. My Guinness was well poured and I found both of the barmaids to be very friendly.
The front bar area of the pub has limited seating around the walls and a plasma screen for the showing of Sky Sports and music channels when there is nothing to show. There is a dartboard and a couple of pool tables around the back of the bar and I think that a pool league game was just finishing as I arrived as there were some sandwiches etc laid out on a table, but I could have been mistaken.
I felt comfortable as soon as I sat at the bar and although this isn�t a remarkable pub I will still return for the hospitality when next in the area.
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This pub was listed in the last Good Beer Guide I bought (2006 or 2007) but on visiting I found that a bit surprising. It's a pretty ordinary boozer with a couple of nowadays very mainstream ales on (Tribute and Adnams, if I recall), and in era when so many pubs offer four of five ales including guests, I don't think it's really GBG standard. That said, I didn't dislike it: I just thought it quite ordinary. It's surprisingly large, with a central bar dividing a front bar (which I thought was looking a bit scruffy) from a rear games room with a couple of pool tables etc.
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The management seem to have given up on this place. They don't bother putting the sound on when there is footy on the TV, happy simply to pump out music so loud you can't hear yourself think - hello this place is supposed to be a friendly local boozer not a night club! Often no real ale on either. This place has really gone downhill over the last three months.
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I've been drinking here for 7 or 8 years and quite simply it's just a good down to earth, unpretentious pub (which is so rare in these trendy parts) with a mix of locals, office workers, students and people from the sports centre opposite and in all my years of drinking there I've never heard a cross word from a customer or not been afforded a great welcome by the londlord and landlady.
For the real ale crowd there's usually IPA and Adnams on and for those who need it there's pool tables, big screen, jukebox etc.
Sadly no food except bar snacks, which is the only thing which lets this pub down, although they will gladly order a pizza to be delivered to you if you wish!
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Adnams and IPA now almost always on which is a big improvement on the beer side compared with a couple of years ago. The pub remains well run, great management, friendly efficient staff and with a good atmosphere.
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Good chat with the landlord yesterday afternoon, top bloke. Restricted choice of bitter but the Adnams was in good nick and I think they had GK on too. Nice pint and good hospitality, I'll be back.
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Good pub. Good atmosphere. Good landlord and landlady. Good bar staff. Very Friendly.
For those looking for non lager drinks, it was selling Greene King IPA when I was in there last night.
Has Satellite TV and a pool table for those needing such facilities.
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Always a sociable place to have a beer. Good mix of local residents and 5-a-side footballers from across the road. Staff are fast and friendly.
Now the downside - The White Lion was proud to be in the Good Beer Guide a couple of years ago and always had excellent Pedigree and Adnams on. Now when we visit there's practically never any real ale on. This side of the pub has gone downhill appallingly. Come on guys get a grip - it's not rocket science to keep one ale on is it!
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I've been a weekly visitor to this pub for about nine years, and it's excellent. I play football first, then spend the rest of the evening here, and it's a cracking pub. The landlord and landlady are both genuinely nice people, and they have a knack for hiring really good staff. You can always talk to anyone else in there, which is a good sign. If it was my local, I'd probably be in there most nights.
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Seeing the Whitbread sign entered this pub with trepidation. Very welcoming greeting from the bar lady. Only Adnams bitter available beerwise hence lower rating. Nevertheless a nice pub with pleasant regulars, the sort of place I would be happy to have as my local.
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