White Lion, Sawbridgeworthback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Well I have returned - sadly for the last time!
Abbot, IPA and only one guest ale this time; GK Ale Fresco, which was in the poorest condition - but it would not be changed for another.
I told the bar girl it tasted off, like the end of barrel. She said it was supposed to taste like that.
I have never been a Greene King ale fan, but if their staff are saying the beer is awful, then at least they are honest.
Four meals were ordered, two came okay but the other two were wrong.
When the correct meals came the server said "You're lucky, the mix-up meant you were charged one pound less".
Unfortunately, another member of our group paid for it and did not ask for a receipt.
After we had left the pub I realised we had been overcharged by £14.
Forget about the meal error - that can happen in any pub, it was the attitude of the staff (we waited five minutes before anyone showed up to get served).
I don't like dropping pubs to visit because as they say, "Use it or lose it". Sadly, I will lose it.
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A Greene King pub but, thankfully, guest beers available.
Abbot, IPA, Oakham's Citra, First Brew's Hadham and Wadworth 6X.
Good choice of food, two meals for £12.99, well cooked and tasty triple cooked chips.
Basic appearance inside but clean with friendly bar staff in attendance.
Will definitely return later in the year.
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I was just reading the reviews for this pub and most seem to reflect my previous visits quite well (even down to the changes over the years!). My last visit was Christmas 2011 (just like the previous reviewer) but I can firmly say that my visit was excellent. I will repeat that because it does not happen often it �was excellent". The staff had lain what was one of the best Christmas tables I have ever seen, the fires were roaring and the atmosphere was truly memorable. We were a group of sixteen people who were all seated together on the same table (a tall task in a small pub). The table was complete with pristine black tablecloth, silver candelabra, candles and good quality crackers and cutlery. The food offer was well priced, traditional and very well prepared. It seemed to be no problem for the staff to alter a meal selection for one of our less-easy-to-please friends and the result was that we stayed all night and left only because the business was closing. I will happily concede that often it is the company that makes a night go well but on this occasion it was the venue, the service, the food, the drink and the staff that made a good night, great. I cannot give it a 10/10 because that would leave me nowhere to go when I have my expectations exceeded again but 8/10 is deserved. They left a reasonably old man, very happy, and some younger family members happier still. I would happily recommend this business to those who live locally or are just passing through but whichever you fall into, don't miss out on what you expect but rarely get these days. Well done White Lion, I will see you again soon!
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We recently had our xmas party here. We got there quite early so it was pretty empty. We all put our coats and bags in a seating area, admittedly there were a lot of us, so we took up a large area. Later on when the pub got busier the landlord decided the bag and coat situation was a matter of life and death and threw them all on the floor. Bags and belongings went missing, but we weren't bothered because we knew it was such a huge inconvenience, so much so that he had to do it rather than have a word with us first.
Like I said there were a lot of us, one round came to over �200. I was given a G&T when I had actually asked for vodka and lemonade. This could've been the fault of the person buying the �200+ round, or the bar lady, I don't know, but when I asked if I could have a vodka and lemonade instead, she told me we would have to pay for that as well. Like we hadn't put enough money behind the bar. She also told me that I did ask for a G&T. I have never liked G&T, I hate it and would never ever order one, so was very annoyed that she was accusing me of this.
The only other time I've been to this pub was about 15 years ago and me and my friends got chanced down the road by some nutter throwing pint glasses at us. I won't be going back in a hurry.
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Personally I am a true Sawbo-ite and find The White Lion to be top notch! The atmosphere is invigorating, the decor is warm & cosy, the food is amazing with a varied menu and I have always found the staff helpful. The pub has truly transformed over the past few years ( although we do miss the pool table)
Of all the pubs in Sawbridgeworth it is without doubt my favourite ( and there are quite a few)
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Transformed from quite an intimidating atmosphere with the previous landlord, to what is now an incredibly welcoming and dare I say it, sensible pub. Now the football isn't shown there you can go for a relaxing drink or a meal without having to shout across the table to be heard. oh, and the food is good quality and excellent value.
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The White Lion has been nicely refurbed in the last few years, but still has plenty of character. Log fires and nice furniture give it a 'homely' feel.
The staff are friendly, and there are a good selection of beers, (I've found a new one I liked). I haven't eaten there yet, but the menu looks good, and definitely appears to be popular. The acoustic Sundays are a great way to round off the weekend.
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Good food, polite staff and proper beer. This is no longer a typical Greene King outlet and aims higher than most of the pubs in the area for customer service.
Recently refurbished toilets and smart seating make for a comfortable experience.
Oh, and there's relaxed, acoustic music on Sunday evenings.
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I'm new to this town and I like it!
I decided (as any single man would) to have a saunter around and check out the local inns. I made an educated (possibly!) decision to aim for pubs that appeared to most traditional from the outside, you know... roses round the door, low doorways, well tended hanging baskets building that generally oozed history. They were okay, but this little (believe me it isn't as big as it looks when you get in!) pub had something to offer beyond what it lacked asthetically. There were two fires going the day I visited, food was on all day (NO BREAKS!!!) half the village appeared to be here (The rest I suggest in my second choice, the George), the ale was restricted to green king products , which is not a hinderance in my eyes, but I like a broad choice. Having said that I had a swift half of the four on offer and they were all mighty fine. The chicken and chorizo pie I had for lunch, took quite a while to come but was well worth the wait. It is not the traditional pub I was looking for but you know what in many ways it was better, I saw no evidence inside of a dodgy past, the staff were helpful and honest about food times and food recommendations, I am giving this pub a great review because I believe and (judging by the amount of well rounded individuals inside) many locally believe this pub is currently the pub with the best all round offer. Are there better? Yes. But not in this small town with such a high ratio of population to pubs, this pub shone out.
P.S - they appear to be working on the toilets, the barman told us they were a little "shonky" before, I like the attention to detail, many pubs leave toilets a slow second(or futher)... not this one.
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The previous review was certainly not unresearched, but in fairness I did pay another visit. An effort is definitely being made, and generally a bit better than last time...but still a fair distance from being a decent pub
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The white lion appears to be a two sided issue. It suffers from a stigma attached prior to the latest owner and the recent refurbishment. Yet when you visit it is surprising to note how friendly it is and good the beer appears to be ( can't speak for it all - but the ale was good and my friends peroni was more than appreciated) the staff are young but friendly and efficient. The food I have to say was actually very good (Wild boar sausage!)and much more than I was expecting. We had a good wander around Sawbridgeworth that day and it was the busiest establishment and barring the gate (for the independents ale!) one of the best in town for staff, food, atmosphere and decor'. It is Greene King obviously and managed but not hindered for it, I would recommend those who haven't tried it to make up their own minds by popping in, I believe these previous reviews are unresearched but a fair reflection of my past visits.
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pretty dire pub, expensive and the staff really arent up to much
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Typical Greene King outlet!
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