please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Final stop in Dorset on Saturday evening for us was the White Lion at Bourton. Luckily for us, we had saved the best pub of the day until last. It's fairly close to the A303. So you will unwittingly travel very close to here without knowing it when driving between London and the West Country. It's a fairly large, but traditional place with areas for both drinking and dining. Despite arriving fairly late, they fitted us in for a meal and I enjoyed a very nice meal. There is a children's meal too. Otter Amber is the regular ale. There were 3 guests - Dartmoor Jail Ale, Exmoor Fox & Keystone Bedrock. Ciders were Rich's Farmhouse & Thatcher's Traditional. The bill was handed over without the drinks on. Staff seemed surprised and appreciative of my honesty to point this out. But they had been friendly and helpful during our visit. So I was not about to fiddle them out of a few quid. Lovely place.
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A genuinely excellent pub which proves beyond doubt that a pub can do a great food trade, without banishing your drinkers. Great homemade pub food is served either in the bar or a full menu is available in the restaurant if you fancy a proper sit down meal. Personally, I prefer the bar (very much separate from the diners) which fantastic with a great mix of locals, regular tradesmen and the slightly wacky, well-heeled of Bourton all mingling and chatting. Good range of beers on, including Doom Bar, and a rolling guest cider on hand pull. At last visit, this was Rich�s. Bar staff are also knowledgeable and attentive without being overbearing. Cider, music and beer festivals all regularly feature. A truly great all-rounder.
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Glad to hear that the dear old Bush is still going strong since we lived next door from 1958- 1964. Basic food then and exclusively Ushers beers. Chickens used to live in one end. Will make a point of calling in next time I'm passing
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Beer is always well kept and the staff are always very pleasent. The food is usually very good but stay away from the fish courses as not always that fresh. That said they probably do the best sunday lunch around by a mile
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Definitely a food pub, but good! Well cooked sea bass fillets, good gastro-pub style starter selection, my friends' steak did have to go back for being cremated rather than rare though... Wine list covers all bases, nice part of Doom Bar ale, worth a visit.
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This place wants� to make its mind up. Am I a pub or am I a restaurant. Once upon a time this used to be the White Lion Inn and the Bush Restaurant, which worked well with drinkers and diners co-habiting in perfect harmony. Now it is a shambles with the food taking over, the bar is empty of clientele and more important vacant behind for much of the time.
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nice looking pub, outside and inside, rustically furnished.
3 real ales.......Butcombe was very good, although over-cooled as is the normal expectation in 'Cask Marque' accredited pubs.
Almost an enthusiastic welcome from behind the bar but certainly no stimulating conversation offered....
....perhaps down to the seemingly mild panic-driven service on the Food front, partly made more difficult by the modern do-it-all, add-it-all-up-n'-wash it for you Cash Till. Whatever has happened to traditional bar service skills???
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The White Lion at Bourton is getting back to how it was in the good old days.
A really pleasant proper pub with friendly locals. Whether you just want to go for a drink after work, have a bar meal at lunch or in the evening or sit in the restaurant and enjoy the excellent food and wine.
I'm particularly looking forward to some warm weather so that I can sit out in the garden now that it's been tidied up and is looking very inviting.
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It took a long time but The White Lion has eventually changed hands, and re-opened after a week of refurbishment. The bar has been repositioned to open up the bar area, the beer is still as good as it always was but the athosphere has returned and the sun is once again shining on this village pub.
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The White Lion has finally changed hands from the 23rd Movember 2007. We have refurbished the bar area including moving the bar, the restaurant is back in good condition, the kitchen has been modernised and the accommodation has had a good going over.
The White Lion now has a new menu which includes many of the old favourites. We have welcomed back many of our customers who were put off by the last landlord and we look forward to seeing many more.
Reopening on Friday the 30th Novemeber at 5pm. Come and see the changes for yourself. Let us know whether you agree with the rating of 10/10
Cheers. Nick
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I've met some bad Lanlords in my life but this one would win a gold medal if it was an olympic sport
anonymous - 14 Sep 2007 15:11 |
The pub is back on the market after the landlord drove away the majority of the locals with his rude and Obnoxious attitude to running a village pub. The sooner he goes the better 2007 will be.
anonymous - 23 Dec 2006 18:26 |
Friendly pub with good beer and food. Recently changed Landlord, so we must wait to see how that works out!
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