please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Its claim to fame is that it was visited by Montgomery, Eisenhower et al during the planning of Operation Overlord during WW2. A little smarter than the other pub in the vilage. My pint of Triple FFF Alton's Pride cost £5 and was fine but visiting during Southwick Revival weekend perhaps wasn't the best time to get a true feel of the place.
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A deceptively large pub with a lounge that loops around the central bar. Seating is comfortable and decor is good. A good choice of real ales including beer from Langham's brewery. The only negative is the outside toilets.
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Had a fantastic meal last Saturday 22nd Sept, excellent menu great choices. definitely will book again. Excellent choice of real ales very well kept, the landlord was a great host and the waitresses were very professional, loved the banter with the Australian waitress
Once again thankyou for a great evening will definitely be bringing my friends to the Golden Lion in future.
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Well done The Golden Lion! 5 star rating with Carol Godsmark in The News can't be bad. I haven't been around for a while but knew this pub was going to fly
mitme - 15 Dec 2011 23:03 |
This is a great little country pub with lots of atmosphere. I cannot understand some other commets because this is one of a few pubs in the area that supplies some really good beers. Always made to feel welcome, always treated well and both Greg and Jane (the Landlord & Landlady) make you feel special. Bar staff have always made me feel as a priority customer and the food is really very good for a Pub Food restaurant. Great little place to get away to and soak up the environment..
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Re visited with wife last year and food was good but not exceptional, but..Oh dear the halo has fallen very quickly here - the staff or owners? are not interested in the drinking fraternity as was made clear to us when I recommended it on a stop with colleagues. This place is def all about food now - the Red Lion seems comfortable to offer both at odds to this place.
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This pub was a good renue for many people for many years, unfortunately, we have found that if you want to have a pint towards the end of the evening, say about 10.30, and there has not been that many people in the bar, you'll probably find yourself turned away. NOT GOOD P.R. All I can say is it's a good job theres 2 pubs in the village and on another visit to the other, we were not suprised to find, when looking in the window on the way past the Golden, that it was empty. Maybe some training in costomer service wouldn't go amis.
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The pub is great with it own dining and drinkers area. The real ale is well kept will go again. But its a shame the local bus there is infrequent.
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What a fantastic night we had last Saturday. 24th July 2010. The Golden Lion had the feel of a great pub - sitting area, bar area, dart board on one side and lovely lounge bar leading into a very pleasant restaurant. Four of us ate and we all had a wonderful meal with brilliant service. The scallops on black pudding with mushy pees super (can tell we originate from Lancashire). Mains courses of Lamb for 3 and Haddock, poached egg on mustard mash excellent. Ice cream, delicious and have to say what a fantastic idea serving the cheese at room temperature. Best cheese, all local, me and my sister have had in years. Can't wait to go back again very soon. Congratulations to Greg, Jane and all the staff. Well done. Dawn and Tony.
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talk my wife for a meal on the strength of the last review. Wed and packed for dining! Couldnt get in but spoke to somebody leaving (while we had a drink) and they raved. Intend booking a table next time. Ale was also very good (Wykham ales?) and the landlady was very apologetic. Also had a darts board! Not the grotty (but friendly) old pub I new so many years ago when I lived in Portchester but looks to be worth a visit. Fell back on the Horse and Jockey (review posted).
odbod - 27 May 2010 10:47 |
visited on sunday lunchtime, the place was heaving by 12.30, the food looked superb, but I didn't eat, the beer was superb, this place is settling in nicely, and is going to be(if it is not already), the best pub in Hampshire
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Well said Annette, and Bert. My user name is also my real name (honestly) and I have to say I find this a real hoot. Who would have thought that the old Golden in little old Southwick would raise such high emotions. Perhaps it proves that the pub really is the hub.
But I must say here and now, and without fear or favour, that I'm pleased that jwillis found conversations with members of my family interesting but not one member of our family is related to Greg, or indeed to Jane! If you were told otherwise, you were probably the victim of a wind-up! And if you know me, you will struggle to find any family resemblance between us. End of!
For my part, of course, I think the beer on offer is fantastic and the food that Sunni and his team produce in that tiny kitchen is amazing, beautifully presented and served with a smile. Greg and Jane are brilliant hosts and I agree, we are lucky to have them in Southwick.
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This used to be a good site for getting a 'snapshot' of what to expect when visiting a new pub. Having been told by a mate about the entries made about the good old 'Golden', I logged on to have a look. It seems my mate was right. in that the site seems to be being used simply as a vehicle to promote the business of friends of most of the contributors. It does seem a little 'co-incidental' that most of the contributors (and interestingly enough, the ones who are dishing out the heavy-handed comments either way) are very new to this site. It is interesting to look this up - just click on the contributor's name in the bottom right hand corner of each comment box and you will be able to see the details - try it.
There is no mystery about who I am. My screen name is my real name and I worked for Ray and Jan in the late '70s and then again for the 9 years to August 2007.I am still a good friend of theirs. I too only registered on this site recently (today), this was so that I could remark on how disappointing and childish I find all of this.
I may as well mention here that I have been asked why I haven't been back to the Golden since re-opening. The rumour in the village that this is some sort of 'sour grapes' reaction is untrue. If you really want to know, (and cutting a very long story short) my life has been connected with this pub in one way or another since I arrived in the village in 1963. I left at about the same time my father died in 2007. I visited the pub several times during the renovations and was very interested to see the changes made, particularly the re-instatement of the serving hatch and the uncovering of the lovely fireplaces. However, I prefer to remember the place as it was for the time being. Maybe I will feel differently in the future. Who knows.
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Visited on Sunday 21st Feb. 2010
4 for lunch! Lovely food & very welcoming.
Shame the old place had to be knocked about so much but as the lino (that's extremely old floor covering for you young'ns) on the floor was the only thing holding the building up it had to happen!
Not sure what axe jwillis is grinding but most is utter tosh!
Don't believe me or locke give yourself a treat & try it for yourself.
As mitme says don't blame Diane for being an Aussie, she's fair dinkum.
Greg & Jane are proper landlords think yourself lucky to have them.
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Jwillis I have lived in this village for over 30 years the new couple in the pub are nothing to do with the Bazeley family my facts are 100% correct.
I will apologise for turning this into a slanging match it was not the intention we are all very protective of our one and only pub and glad to have it back warts and all!
mitme - 21 Feb 2010 18:27 |
Another visit, another disappointment. "Beer was okay" is the best I can say about this place. The staff were, as noticed also by Regularpubuser50, behaving rudely and were not at all welcoming. The 6 of us went in to book Sunday lunch. However, once we'd all met the staff, we decided not to bother and went down to The Red Lion to book in. (review to follow once we've been!).
Locke - when I commented on the Aussie barmaid, I was trying to convey a sense of how the place felt, not to "name and shame" anyone! I have visited the place many times over the years and known many of the staff, including thatone. Ray and Janet employed many good staff. This is not, however, the place to discuss favourites by name!
Mitme ... get over yourself! I have had interesting conversations with members of the Bazeley (thanks for correct spelling btw) family. It seems you may need to make a closer check of your facts. (are you a "real villager"? ). I may not try this pub again, perhaps in the summer.
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First time visit after the refit - unfortunately not a good impression. The bar staff only seem interested in serving those they are on first name terms with. Why do pubs make this mistake? They lost a lot of money to a rival pub; We may try this place again, but competition is tough in the area, and once the initial interest in the GL dies down, they will struggle if they can't improve on this. Previous comments are favourable so we may be back or we may just stick to the regular places we trust.
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Well, food superb REAL yorkshire puds hand carved striploin I hope this is a taste of things to come literally a must for anyone that enjoys really good food and very well kept ale. I learned that as the pub gets busier there is a chance for 6 or more local real ales no big boys, exactly what a country pub should be the place was buzzing and the atmosphere great well done!
locke - 11 Jan 2010 21:06 |
Sorry to pop up again but may i also say there is only one new door and that is in a place where there was not one before to the dining room, all the other doors are the same ones that were there before the estate workers just painted them!
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jwillis i am about to put you right neither Greg nor Jane are anything to do with the Bazeley family they run The Florence in Southsea and have done for 12 years.
I know for a fact both are from forces families, Janes dad was in the navy and Gregs dad was in the raf , I know this from a conversation we had about the memorabilia that used to be on the walls. Janes dad (ex mercury and ganges) and his friend Reg (Falklands admiralty staff veteran) are sorting out the relevant pieces to go back up, but there has been such a lot to do just to get it open.
The front fireplace in the public bar was not actually attached to the wall all the way to the ceiling and was not allowed to stay as the Southwick estate had to fire board and sound proof all walls onto the property next door as per legislation.
I know the log burner in the lounge was kaput and dangerous because the blacksmith told me, but the one in the public is being renovated for possibly putting in the dining room fireplace. If Greg or Jane are around just ask they will answer anything you want to know.
I agree with Locke they are a great couple and a lot has been done by them in a short space of time so give them a chance most of the real villagers are!!!!! at least we have our pub back!!! As for Diane she is Australian and can be appear grumpy but we all know and love her and are really glad they kept her on all this time as we missed her.
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The comments by jwillis seem a little harsh the grumpy aussie barmaid was in fact Diane the only one that was kept from the old staff of Ray and Janet and Jane and Greg employed her at The Florence for 15 months until the pub was finished instead of making her redundant. Having visited the pub regularly throughout the renovation just to check out what was going on, I can tell you that the building work itself, including removal of fireplaces etc was nothing to do with Greg and Jane the Squire of Southwick was to blame for that.
They had to turn an empty shell into a pub including building both bars, as well as renovate the toilets and install brand new kitchens themselves in two months and worked themselves ragged doing it. I have a lot of respect for them taking on this project in a time when so many pubs are being lost and putting a vast sum of their own money in to do it. They keep a good house and I am sure given time it will age and develop. The bar menu did start Monday but the snow hit so has scuppered them a bit but I hear the restaurant menu starts next monday and there is Sunday lunch on so I am booked in then, again weather permitting!.
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Having used the Golden Lion for some years and enjoyed the warm welcome we always received
from Ray & Janet and the staff on every visit it was with baited breath that we eagerly awaited the
reopening, so when the day came for the doors to be opened to the public once again it came as
somewhat of a surprise to see what had been done over the 15 months or so it had been closed.
I feel I have to agree with "jwillis" as to the decor however as he stated we also had no
complaints with regards to the beers on sale (a very good selection and kept well),
But I have to say the the removal of the fireplace and log burner in the main bar
(although I was told it was a danger) was a big mistake, I feel that it could have been reinstated
and would have helped keep some of the character of the original bar.
The two fireplaces uncovered in the course of the renovations are superb if only they could be used
as such and not just seating areas.
I'm sure we will visit again in the hope that maybe it will have regained some of it's original character.
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Visited this pub over Christmas, first time since re-opening. The place has been decorated to within an inch of its life and now looks shiny and tidy, floors and walls have been 'straightened out' and are now smooth. The original solid wood interior doors and frames have, without exception, been replaced with ridiculously modern ones, very out of keeping with the age of the building. Gentle kinds of vandalism, but vandalism all the same! As to the place not being anything to do with Southwick Brewery, one of the few locals mentioned that Greg (the landlord) is part of the Bazely (sp?) family, the family I thought owned Southwick Brewery? I'm sure someone will put me straight if that is wrong. The beer I received was of good quality and fairly well kept as far as I could tell, although it was served by a grumpy, offhand 'Aussie' barmaid. The best things about this refurb are the marvellous fireplaces, which have been exposed in both lounges, the worst things about this pub are ... everything else. Not sure if I will venture back to try the food, even though I hear that The Florence has a reputation for food. I just found the whole experience unwelcoming and cold (despite the vastly uprated heating!).
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What a wonderfull job they have made of this pub, to say it was lack lustre before is an under statement.
They atmosphere is great, wonderfull selection of real ales all local no big boys on.
Contrary to the comment posted before it isn't anything to do with Southwick brewery it is run by Greg and Jane from The Flo in Southsea, one of the last great locals in Portsmouth and as at the Flo, the staff at The Golden Lion are professional and friendly, the beer is well kept and the decor is just great, memorabilia Jane says will go up a bit at a time and on my last visit a couple more things had gone up on the wall.
This pub I have no doubt will go from strength to strenghth great summer visit as well as there is a small garden on the side.
locke - 13 Dec 2009 12:37 |
now re-opened and being run by Greg and Jane of the great Florence Arms in Southsea, already a really good pub that will only get better
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I managed to get to this lovely pub in historic Southwick today. It was the first time of opening since the closure some 15 months ago. Food gets under way in about 10 - 14 days time. The Oakleaf Porter was spot on, so good to see a pub re-opening during a time of so many closures. Well done Southwick brewery!
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