please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Lion can be found in the backstreets between Teddington and Hampton Wick. There are drinking areas all around the central bar, which dispenses Doom Bar, Naked Ladies & Shere Drop. It was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday night, given its out of the way location. Food appeared to be fairly popular. The interior is fairly bright. But, it makes for a nice space for drinking or dining. One of the better pubs we tried in the area.
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I haven't been in the Red Lion since it was the CAMRA London pub of the year back in the day, but was in the area last Sunday so looked the place up..
Oh dear....another one f**ked up by the Gastro pub make over crew and has succumbed to the usual sterile farrow & Ball pastel shades characterless make over. Also bad move to visit on Sunday as it was overrun by families whose parents are unable or have no interest in controlling their little brats who were running amok throughout the pub.
For the record there were three beers available and one of these was a decent pint from the Twickenham brewery, but it wasn't a pleasant experience drinking it here..
Sad, this used to be a great pub.
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I was around these parts yesterday and fancied a pint. I used to live locally at Elton Close therefore, I always like to pay a visit to one the local pubs for ole times sake.
On my walk back from Kingston I planned to stop for refreshment but was undecided on the venue. The pub I tended to use most frequently when I lived locally was The Old Kings Head however, when I went past there was not a single person in there so gave it a sweve for fear of looking like a saddo. The Swan looked shut (although it was probably open) and the Foresters was the same story as the OKH. The once magnificent Stykers Railway has long since been converted into a house by some toff which left one choice....The Lion.
My last review wasn't overly complimentary but this place has grown on me a bit. Whilst I did prefer the Lion before when it was a proper boozer with carpets and pool table/dartboard etc I did find it quite pleasant and really enjoyed my pint of Surrey Hills Shere Drop. Other ales were Doom Bore and one from Twickenham with one hand pull unused (at the time anyway) Prices are average for the area
There is a large area at the back of the pub near the kitchen which is set up for dining so there is plenty of room to just go for wet refreshment. The garden looks like it has been restored to somewhere near its former glory and looked like it would be good for the warmer months.
My rating has increased and I hope to go in again sometime in the not so distant future (well less than decade away at least)
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I have to agree with Meurglys on this one.
I used to pop in to this pub from time to time when I lived at Elton Close a stone's throw away. I worked in Twickenham and used to get the train back to Teddington and walk from there to get a bit of excercise to try to combat my rapidly expanding gut (due to the gallons of beer being poured down my neck)
The Lion was my last oasis of peace before returning to moaning child/nagging missus etc. Pub had plenty of character back then. Always a good selection of well kept ales, a pool table and a nice garden.
After the refurb the place has become a bit sterile and lost its soul unfortunately. Place is now very foody and is aimed at people such as Pubfan67 and his boring family... not really one for me anymore.
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Disappointing. Very. The beer was the bottom if the barrel and a glass twirling lad exchanged it but with some reluctance. Three lemonade for the kids turned out to be soda water because the mix needed refilling. The small glass of wine was okay. Four drinks more than £15. Three of them wrong. They didn't seem bothered. If you charge top dollar then have the customer service and quality to go with it. That was our first visit and quite likely our last.
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This was awesome pub in the 80s( great Chilli) , anyone know what happenned to Landlord John Furber and his daughters Jayne and Tara ?
kelv1 - 13 Nov 2013 18:04 |
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This used to be a proper pub. Well used by locals from the nearby estate and punters from further afield who wanted a decent pint and a chat. The pub at one time featured live music, a useful back room for functions, meetings etc. and was in every respect a proper boozer. Sadly this is no longer the case and like many pubs in the area has now become just another restaurant. I see that they do chicken livers as a starter. We used to boil 'em up for the dogs.
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What an excellent pub.Had lunch here last Saturday-the bill for five was �100 including 8 pints of beer and a bottle of wine-staggering.
The food was authentic french and served by charming friendly staff.The beers,both Doom Bar and London Pride were well kept.this pub is well worth a visit.
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Just want to say a big Thank You to Julian for bringing the life and soul back in to Wick Road. The Lion has gone through many changes over the years, some bad, some good, some terrible and some excellent, I'm not going to make comparisons as I believe change is a good thing. I really like the atmosphere in the newly refurbished Lion, the welcome is warm, the staff are friendly and attentive, the wine selection is excellent, and the beer served as it should be. The Bistro is open, bright and lively, anyone who enjoys good quality food, made with fresh seasonal ingredients, should try it out, it is a lovely dining experience.
The locals are flooding back in, the Wednesday Quiz is back on, plus it looks like Julian has lots of ideas to keep people coming in, Sinatra Dinner and Dance Evening in October, Beaujolais Supper in November and Christmas Lunch - so if you haven't tried it yet, get down to The Lion and give it another try - you will love it.
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Although the layout is not what I'd have chosen if someone asked and I was sad to see the tamarisk tree go, I love the 'new' Lion. All credit to the new (French) owners for having a vision and a passion about what they do. The new conservatory and dining area looks like it was always meant to be there. The beer is well kept - I should know as I only drink quickly when it is! As well as Doombar and Pride, they now have a 3rd guest beer most of the time - most recently Woodford Wherry and Twickenham Naked Ladies. The food is excellent - quality ingredients and dishes you would not easily prepare yourself at home. Most importantly, there is a friendly welcome and a real neighbourhood feel back in the pub.
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Fantastic beers (great Doombar) plus a fantastic wine list and incredible French Bistro food. Love it!
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I've never tried Meurglys Bitter, but it probably wouldn't be any worse than the sub-standard Pride and Doom Bar that this place doles up. As for the garden, whether it's being re-seeded or not the tree has gone, and the interior looks like a barn.
I'm sure that the eating area will be as noisy and unpleasant as any other gastropub, and will gradually encroach on what remains of the vestigial passing trade.
Plenty of other good food pubs, and plenty of other good beer pubs (many of which do both). I'm sure that the widely-travelled "pubfan67" will be delighted that my (and others') resolution means there will be much more room for his family in future.
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I hope people wont be put off by meurglys bitter review. The pub looks lovely and returned to its former glory with a proper drinking area and new restaurant section. It looked to me as if the grass area was being relaid so I cant see that the garden has been spoilt. I wonder what character he thinks has been stripped out of The Lion (unless he means the repulsive 90s carpet). That pub was long in need of a refurbishment and now looks very welcoming. My family and I look forward to sampling the french inspired menu when the place is up and running properly and wish the new owners much luck in this venture.
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As we discovered yesterday, this is really no longer a pub. Nor does it appear to be a restaurant. Instead it's a shallow husk, stipped out of all its character, in a location which, when it was in its prime, was a worthwhile excursion in itself. This seems like commercial suicide, but I may be proved wrong.
The garden has lost its tree, half its space (presumably so that the braying hordes of boat-shoe-clad bourgeois families don't make quite as much noise next door to residential properties) and the grass.
The beer range was tepid London Pride and Doom Bar, plus a collection of bog standard kegs (hardly aspirational given the affected pretensions of the rest of the place). There didn't appear to be any menu to hand so it's impossible to determine whether or not that will make up for it. About the only possibility.
You couldn't make it up. Just as the gastrofication of pubs has reached saturation, this turns into a parody. Perhaps it's all a practical joke.
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Visited on its "grand reopening". Frankly, I still have no idea what is going on here. Half of the lovely garden has disappeared, there is no "fabric" left in the pub and it is still not serving decent beer. How a CAMRA pub of the year can come to this baffles me. It's tragic. If you ever liked it, avoid it.
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I think BITE might need to review the rating for this once great establishment as it has been rendered virtually non-existent as a local pub. Empty every time I walk by because it's old regulars are simply not returning.
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Oh dear, oh dear. What ever has happened to the Lion? Is it ever going to be refurbished? Will it ever be popular again? I am struggling to see where its future lies....
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Yes, I'm a bit worried that it's being turned into a gastropub. It's too small and too obscure a location to succeed in my opinion. Look at what happened to that one in Colne Rd Twickenham - very similar location. The new landlord is French and has run 2 branches of L'Auberge - including The Kings Head in Teddington, which was a reasonable attempt at fusing French food and trad English pub. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Incidentally, I don't mind the dress code if it's meant as a way of keeping out the loud mouth slobs who John let back in. But if it's meant to gentrify it, it's the wrong pub for that in my opinion.
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It's reopened. It's going to reclose. Then it will be refurbished. On reopening (in March), it is going to be an English pub - but with a authentic French restaurant. Natural bedfellows. And there's already a dress code in place - smart casual. All of this strikes me as an odd strategy given the foundations of the pub's previous success. I hope that its days as a beer emporium are not numbered and that the restaurant is good.
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Don & Myf (now in Oz) were a hard act to follow having attained the high order for these premises of CAMRA London pub of the Year 2005/2006. The recently departed landlord tried with beer festivals and kept the beer well. It's tough running a pub and especially as a tenant. Enterprise Inns are taking time to find a replacement and hopefully soon. We're thirsty.
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I used to be the dj in this pub for new years eve and also for many parties in the function room over the years.Im sure many will agree we had great times in their with Don and Myf.
However thir departure was very sad as the new landlord john was very unpleasnt to me on new years eve of 2008.He didnt want to pay me other half of money so i said i will go home half way through.he was rude and very unfriendly.
Iam pleased he has gone but i knew he would destroy this pub.he didnt care about anyone apart from himself.so aim glad he lost alot of money.you dont treat people like that.Don nad myf did so much hard work to get this pub good and he ruined it.I feel very sorry fot the locals and hoefully they will get someone decent in there but john if you are reading this.You deserve what you got.
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A case study in how important a landlord is to the success of a pub. This was London Pub of the Year under the Don. Its decline under the just-departed landlord was shocking. If the pub is lost to the local community as a result it will be nothing short of criminal.
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Had the same depressing experience as BeerGutt: this once great pub appears to have closed down. Although I have witnessed its decline from its glory days, it is to be hoped that someone realises its real potential and that it is reopened.
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Went to go to the Lion today as I was in the area and make a habit of popping into the pubs in Hampton Wick/Teddington when I am around due to a continued fondness for the area bourne of the fact I resided here for a very happy 2.5 years.
It is with sadness that I report that as I approached the pub at 12.30 in the afternoon it looked dark and lifeless. As I approached the entrance I saw the ominous sheet of A4 White paper with the words "closed for the foreseeable future as of the 22nd December" signed by the now ex landlord John.
I know that the more recent reviews have not been overly complimentary however if you read further down you can see that this was once a great pub.
What a shame!!! I hope in my heart of hearts that this place re-opens but sadly I have a feeling that may not happen. Watch this space! ! !
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Visited the pub for the first time on saturday night, primarily as there was a beer festival. Beer selection in the pub and at the festival was good (village idiot was a particular highlight!) and generally thought the pub was good, certainly looked like the kind of local that I would want although previous reviews not too complimentary - will visit again to see what it is likely normally
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I don't think I've been in here all year. Partly because the few times I visited last year were a big let down vs Don & M's time here, and partly because none of my mates are interested in going any longer. He's running his Beer Festival next weekend apparently. Last year was scaled down considerably from the days when Don built it up to the size of Ally Pally. It was also far less busy - although that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as it used to be chaotically crowded. It'll be interesting to see how it works out and how many people turn up.
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Still good food. No food bing served when i went. Very quiet.
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I'll agree with the last couple of posts - and so would my wife and children. Whichever way you look at it, something has been lost since Don and Myf departed some 2 years ago: it's looking tired, unloved and a bit run down. And I am afraid that the beer, although still good, is not enough to save it.
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Have to agree with cheese & onion. Yes, the beer is still top notch, but unfortunately the atmosphere has been lost somewhat and there seems to be generally less customers. Because of the previous landlord, it was always going to be a hard act to follow - and sadly this has proved to be the case..
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Can't believe this pub has been given such an easy ride here.
This used to be one of the liveliest pubs in the area, packed with a real variety of ages, genders and drinker types. Two years under the new landlord and it's like a morgue. Previously, you had to get there early on Quiz night - now you can roll up late and have your choice of seats. Saturday lunchtimes used to be buzzing. Now you'll be lucky to find more than 4 or 5 people in the bar.
The beer's not the problem: it's still always in good condition. But this pub was far more than just a real ale pub - it was a fantastic community pub. Not any longer. The undesirables that were swept out by Don have been let back in - the only regulars these days - and dominate the bar with their ignorant foul-mouthed tirades. You'll be lucky to see the landlord - even luckier if he can remember who you are and acknowledge you when you do!
A classic example of a pub which punched above its weight for a while - by dint of excellent management and sheer hard work - being allowed to drift back into the pack. God knows how much this guy paid for the pub, but he must be losing a fortune and - Ramsay money or not - he surely can't afford to carry on like that.
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An absolute gem of a pub, everything a local should be and with a great beer garden. We had Sharp's Doom Bar that was judged unremarkable, and Twickenham Fine Ales - Summer Gold that was excellent. It seems to me that Twickenham Fine Ales have a magic touch at the moment everything they brew seems to be coming out good.
The Spring Grove Morris Men danced and played in the beer garden; and everyone got to join in at the end. A lovely evening, thanks guys!
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This is our local pub, and we're thankful for it. Its absolutely fantastic. Best Local we ever had!
Staff is super friendly and the place has a very homely feel to it. Its also child friendly which in this area is a must have quality for any pub.
Food and drinks are great, and stocking Twickenham is always a plus in my books. They also have a changing ale pump which is an excellent ways to sample ales I've never even heard of before.
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Nice enough pub serving good quality ales.
Quiz on a Wednesday is one of the best I've been to. Multiple discipline and of a level that sorts the wheat from the chaff.
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Seems to be down to four ales. One is Twickenham; recent addition of Brass Monkeys is welcome. But the range does not vary sufficiently and the removal of a stronger beer is a shame.
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The pub has a new chef and the food is absolutely fantastic ! Definately worth a visit !
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What sort of a pub is cleaning the beer pipes at 5.15pm on a Friday night and asks punters to wait for 20 minutes for the beer to come back on? If we'd wanted a lager we'd have asked for one. Mabe this was a blip. Might go back sometime to find out or then again...
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Prices have indeed been dropped down to the �3 mark. The range is better than earlier in the year but still does not offer the surprises that were a feature of the previous landlord's tenancy: does any one remember Fuller's Vintage on draft late December 2007, for example? A very hard act to follow though.
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Sat06, Pride, Doombar, BlackSheep, Twick Autumn Blaze. Busy carpet, plenty of seating, hadn�t noticed pool table to right last visit. Landlord said they still have music, predominently continuing the bluesy preference of prev guv, with perhaps one group every 4th week, or so, diversifying away from that. This evening�s offering was to be �Good Men in the Jungle�, if that helps? Not cheap at �3ppint, but I think it was already that ~2yrs ago, & we paid more elsewehere on the day. Decent bus route along main road, Kingston-Teddington-Fulwell (& beyond!).
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What a great local pub. It's fantastic in summer with the large garden but just as good in winter. The whole place is always spotlessly clean, unlike some places, and has a really nice friendly atmosphere. Good beer. Haven't tried the food yet though.
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John, for Gawd's sake, come back to the Warrington and show that f...in' idiot Ramsey how to run a pub.
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The current proprietor here has an unenviable task of following a top act from previous, this was CAMRA's London Pub of the Year 2007. However, after a couple of visits including the August Beer Fest and BBQ, the real ales are well kept and we still have a great local. With 5 pubs a week disappearing in the UK, local gems like these can't be taken for granted.
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Had't been since change of landlord earlier this year; used to go regularly for the live bands on Saturday evenings, and sorry to see no sign that that continues. Worse, they now play some pretty awful, and unnecessary, muzak. This alone can be enough to drive me out of a pub, and knocks one point off my rating. On the positive side: the food is still excellent, the staff friendly, quick and competent, and there's a good range of well-kept beer.
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As promised,made a return to the Lion on Saturday to check out the beer festival thing.had some mates along this time and all agreed that it was a top night. Staff were all first rate and the atmosphere was well 'holiday' I suppose. we even got round some of the real ales (anyone fancy putting on a lagerfest)! Seriously though people of Teddington, you have something to roar about in the Lion. Proper local, well done.
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To set the facts straight about Teddy_Boy's 'aka': my name is David, I live in the road behind the pub and I'm not a pseudonym for John the landlord. However, I want the pub to do well (as, I am sure, does Teddy_Boy)and am happy to read that people are enthusiastic about the festival. A word to the wise - try to get there on Saturday if you want to have the choice of the full range of beers, since in previous years quite a few barrels have been empty by Saturday night. Cheers!
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i've recently discovered the Lion, and have to say it's ticked all the boxes for me. although we didnt take part in the quiz it sounded good and the atmosphere was just right.I'm far from local but will be making return visits food great and the LAGER well kept
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Glad to hear you're putting on the festival, John (aka Trevor 111, DJH and Ted2). Could just be the turning point the pub needs.
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Great News about the Beer Festival at the end of August
This is a truly great community Pub.
Serves great food and well kept Beer.
Always a brilliant atmosphere
Well worth another visit !!!
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I'm glad to say that there WILL be a beer festival at the Lion this year, on August 29th, 30th and 31st (from 6pm on the Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday). There'll be 25 ales, half-a-dozen ciders, BBQ and live music. Let's hope John inherits Don's good weather luck.
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Excellent pub. Had lunch here on Sunday with my mates from the running club.
Had to wait a while for a table for 5 as they were a bit busy, but the staff was freindly and the beer went down a little too well.
Good Atmosphere, beer and service.... Bad Carpet !!!
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Sorry guys, but this pub is now on the slippery slop downhill. It's rapidly losing its custom. My last two visits were Saturday lunchtimes. On was yesterday, when there were 12 customers at most in the middle of the lunch period. No sign of the landlord. The other was a sunny day, yet I was able to take my pick of several tables outside, with most of the others occupied by solo drinkers (unheard of under the previous management). The same's true of Wednesday's quiz night; previously you had to get there an hour early to bag a seat, but now you can just turn up and take your pick
The beer's still in top notch condition and there's a little bit more rotation including a second Twickenham Ale (albeit just a stronger version of the ever present Sundancer). But there's more to a great pub than just keeping good beer. It's about personality and atmosphere. This pub had it in spades. It doesn't any longer.
I'm decamping to the Jolly Coopers in Hampton. The landlord of the Lion could learn a thing or two from them.
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Good range - 5 pumps so 5 beers. All round good pub, with one exception. �3+ for a pint is hard to swallow.
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Went for the first time last Saturday and apart from the loud carpet I really liked it, good ale (Doom), decent food (touch expensive but decent amounts) and a lovely safe space for the kids. In fact all it really needs is that function room incorporated into the rest of the pub and it would be a real winner.
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Anyone else thinking there won't be a Beer Festival this year? I agree - I'm spending less time (and money) there now. I've even started to make the odd trip to the Tide End for a change of beer, which was never necessary before.
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Well - I have been biding my time and letting John, the new and clearly very experienced Governor bed in. But I have to agree with, and build on, the previous post: while reasonably happy with the "if it ain't broke don't fix it approach", the place is a bit stagnant, particularly the beer range. Apart from the absence of Twickenham guests, Brakspears Oxford Gold was the guest long after its sell by date and has now been replaced by Hobgoblin - which is nearly as exciting as the replacement of Abbot by Old Speckled Hen, the only other beer change that I have noted. Bearing in mind the pub's recent history, particularly the fact that I sampled Hepworths Old and a spectacular Fullers Vintage before Christmas, and the fact that May is Mild Month, things could be better - indeed, at one time, the guest changed weekly and was invariably from a micro. All I can say is that I am spending less money than I was there - which cannot be an entirely good thing!
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First signs under the new management are reasonable. In fact, to be honest on the surface you'd not notice the difference - the kitchen and bar staff under the previous regime are all still there and the new landlord (John) clearly knows how important it is to look after his beer.
Whilst I'm a great believer in 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' I was hoping that he might freshen things up a little and impose something of his own personality. It's a bit like moving into a show home and keeping all the decor and ornaments exactly as they are! He even seems reluctant to rotate the beers - the (admittedly delicious) Twickenham Ales Sundowner has been stuck there all through the winter and spring and the opportunity for the likes of Gothick, Strong & Dark, etc passed up.
Still, I'm also a great believer in 'Be careful what you wish for - you might come to regret it.' So maybe we should be happy with our show home :-)
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This is a lovely Pub! I went here this Wednesday, and it was quiz night. The pub was packed but we still maanged to find a table. Atmosphere, food and service were all first class. They advertise bands every Saturday so we will be going back at the weekend to check it out !
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Been here several times with the missus, for lunch and a drop of real ale, in the last year. Always had excellent food and service but this was under the old regime. Yet to see how the new owner(s) bed down.
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A deceptively large pub, apparently under recently new management. Not a bad range, Abbot Ale(cough), London Pride, but also Brakspear Oxford Gold-the guest-Sharp's Doom Bar, and the local Twickenham Sundowner. Pool table in a seperate area, pull down screen assumed for sports events. A large array of bottled ales on display behind the bar.
The beer was good, Blues bands are still advertised, bit foody; lets hope the new management maintain previous standards. No reason yet to suspect they won't.
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The news of the owners imminent departure is a real blow. Let us hope that their successors are like minded.
In response to the posts below, I would not want this place to become more family friendly than it is but have to say that I have always found the landlady to be very pleasant to my children and to me. Perhaps it is badly behaved children/parents that she objects to? I have absolutely no problem with that!
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This is the nearest pub to me and I have to say I feel blessed to have such a boozer as my local.
If it were a cricketer it would win best Teddington all-rounder. There may more attractive, more comfortable interiors and there is undoubtedly better food. But to be honest you'd be hard pushed to find better kept or more varied a range of beer (even draught mild, occasionally) and the staff are among the friendliest in the area. And the whole package adds up to the perfect local community boozer.
There's a dark cloud on the horizon though, as the owners are selling up to move abroad; let's hope it doesn't become another soulless gastropub. On the plus side, though, it might just become a bit more family friendly, since the current landlady is hilariously rude to children - and to anyone who has them.
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Been coming here for some years. A bit expensive perhaps but you pay for what you get locally. Beer range (5 real ales) does not change quite as much as it once did but there is usually something of note. A slightly surprising winner of CAMRA London pub of the year 2006 to my mind but an excellent pun nonetheless.
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Excellent pub - nice choice of ales and a friendly atmosphere
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This is a fantastic pub with friendly staff, good ale and very good homemade food. THE best pub in the area.
anonymous - 5 Jan 2007 11:18 |
This is rapidly becoming my favourate pub. Every time I go, the beer is spot on and the landlady and staff very pleasant. Nice friendly crowd in there too.
Can't quite remember all beers but they included atlantic IPA and a seasonal Twickenham beer. Didn't try the food, but it did look good. Oh, yes, there is a pool table as well.
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Great pub, five ales on tap, small but good food menu, friendly atmosphere. Hidden away down a back street away from the main Hampton Wick pubs and also a bit of a hike from Teddington. Also has live music on Saturday nights. I'll be back!
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Returned to the pub this year for the beer festival and really impressed I couldn't fault any of the beers except for the fact that some had sold out! Vast improvement in food since the first review (mine)over 2 years ago. Go find it!
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Surprisingly hidden down a back street, nowhere near anything in particular, this great little pub offers a very interesting selection of 5 cask ales, wonderful home-cooked food with fresh vegetables cheaply priced, and a friendly landlord and landlady who keep a watchful eye on everything. What more could one ask for? Even the additional bar staff, who are not quite so competent, are very charming and friendly.
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This is our favourite pub in London, and recently winner of 2006 CAMRA London pub of the year. The bar staff are always really friendly, and the beer (many changing varieties of it) is always well kept. I have just read the previous review which said the beer was off - and I am really surprised by that - sometimes the beers they bring in for the beer festivals are really obscure so maybe they weren't off, just different?? The food here is always really lovely - home cooked and fresh. For anybody wanting a traditional pint in a traditional setting, this is the place for you.
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This is normally a wonderful pub, and I've complimented it a few times over the years.
But I went to its three-day beer festival at the beginning of September and had a truly rotten experience.
Both the pints I had were roaringly off - one was overpoweringly yeasty and the other was horribly metallic.
They weren't meant to taste like that - they were just off. I'd have complained, and I know the staff would have been okay about it. But it was my birthday and I wanted a nice time.
Normally this is the most perfect pub in the area, and you can guarantee excellent bitter. But don't expect the 40-odd barrels they get in for the beer festival to be any good. I've been to their beer festivals in three previous years, and I've never had a pleasant-tasting beer, although this is the first year I've had anything that was off.
Next time I'll stick to their very good London Pride.
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I assume, Squatter, you're a smoker? I reviewed the pub, I like it, I sat in the no smoking section, I said the smoke wasn't a criticism of the pub, just a little whinge that we still have to pollute our lungs cos the law's not come into effect yet. What's wrong with that? Have you never eaten in a pub before?
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The clues are all there...'Beer in the Evening' not Food in the Evening . Lets try and keep the reviews aimed at the correct websites . God pub , good beer , enough said .
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There is a non smoking section I believe at the rear of the bar area.
"To eat go to a bloody restaurant??" ..
or a Pub that sells food .. smoking NOT a priority to those who don't.
PS plug for the annual Beer Festival .. September 2nd 2006
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At the end of the day its a pub - drinking and smoking are the priority , to eat go to a bloody restaurant !! Good pub though with good beer......
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Nice place this, is in a trendy modern 21st century pub way (you know - sofas, bare wooden floors, nice lights etc etc). A lot bigger than it looks, don't be fooled by the deceptively small exterior, it's very spacious. Food was lovely - ordered steak and it was cooked as I'd requested, rare (ha - geddit?!) that you get that in places, it's a good yardstick to the talents of the chef. Service was excellent, very friendly, fast and with a smile. Had a shandy made with the Twickenham summer ale (whose name escapes me) and it was the best shandy I've had in a very long time, sooo refreshing. Beer itself was great when I opted out of the lemonade too. The only complaint I had was that the second our food arrived, the considerate people on the table behind us decided to light up so the first few mouthfuls of food had that delicious fag flavour as an added extra. We were sitting in the no smoking section and the smokers weren't but you know the score - no smoking and smoking have to cross over somewhere in open plan places. This isn't especially a criticism on the pub tho - selfish smokers will insist on polluting our air with their disgusting habits at every available opportunity. The ban can't come soon enough.
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Not sure what pub pinot went to .. The Lion is my local .. and I'm a musician .. who plays there!!
Don and Myf are wonderful tenants .. the beer is fabulous .. it's not smoky (I'm a non smoking nazi)..
The key "musically" is he hasn't tried it on the weekend .. with the combination of Live Music in the bar plus the Bluescene in the function room good music is NEVER in short supply. BTW The Lion just won CAMRA London pub of the year .. well done!!!
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I won't have a word said against The Lion. It does what it is supposed to which is supply an invaluable service to the local community who don't want to schlep down to the pubs down in Hampton Wick which are nothing to write home about.
There's always a good atmosphere down there most nights and the garden is full of local families enjoying the Summer.
I've always found that if you are polite and considerate everyone down there will spare a word and the bar staff are always quick to have a word if you are on your own.
Try it again if you didn't like the people last time...
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I really like this pub. Its a bit out of the way and quiet but it's well presented and clean, the beer is fantastic as well. a good find, worth investigating.
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It's been done up nicely. Maybe they need more promotions or some good music though. Haven't tried it on a weekend yet, but evenings in the week are lacking in atmosphere. When the football is on it's pretty depressing too. Also really stinks of stale smoke, and as a smoker I don't usually notice but this was worse than most pubs.
pinot - 16 Mar 2006 12:03 |
(oh yes, it also won a SW London CAMRA pub of the year award)
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Decent loval pub, well kept good selection of ales. Little pricey, but what do you expect from SW London? You pay for quality and no less than some god-awful trendy bar. I was impressed and contrary to some comments, it was very friendly...with a friendly bunch of regulars.
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Once a rundown back street pub, this has been transformed into a thriving community local. There's a regular supply of well kept real ales and the food's not bad either. A small garden with amenities for the kids and a recently added extension make this a haven for families at the weekend. The function room is home to an annual beer festival where
the best from the GBBF can be sampled. Off the beaten track, this is worth the effort to find out how a real pub should be run.
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I have been a regular at The Lion throughout the reign of Don and Myfanwy and it is because of them that I returned to my local, the previous landlords drove me away! As a local and now a regular you could say I am biased and I probably am, but I really enjoy drinking in The Lion. The welcome is genuine, the atmosphere is always jovial, the ales are kept superbly and the food is great pub food. There are not many pubs I feel comfortable drinking in as a women alone, but The Lion is definitely a venue where I can relax and enjoy the surroundings and I have made a lot of good friends there. Some say the prices are high, but no higher than high street prices, but when the pub is as good as The Lion I don't mind. I would recommend this pub to anyone who enjoys a perfect pint in a good social scene.
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As a lay about student I'm not a massive fan of the prices, but the revolving guest ale keeps me interested. However, did a whiskey challenge with a mate and it cost a fortune. Quiz machine has the superb 'Magnificent 7', and the so called pikey elements are always good for a game of pool. Does have proper locals and is better than the Anglers, which is a shadow of its former self - too many bloody candles. Also alot better than a soulless 'Scream' pub and their limited choice of drinks.
H-bomb - 1 Nov 2004 22:04 |
Thanks Mike - however PB was wearing a suit & just wanted a quick pint & read of the paper before collecting my daughter from the child minders. Not to be welcomed by a bunch of big fish in a little pond yokels. Shame as good beer & revolving guest ales. One customer left. No wonder pubs like these are forver closing!
PB - 7 Oct 2004 11:37 |
I've been to the Lion about 20 times in the last 4 years, and I think it's one of the best pubs in the area.
So I'm a bit puzzled by some of the comments from other reviewers.
I think the beer is very well kept, Jim, and there's always a choice of at least two interesting bitters other than London Pride. Although I agree with Chris that the prices are high - �2.70 for whatever guest beer I chose last Friday, against �2.50 or �2.60 for London Pride.
And I don't understand Tim & Dave Ball's dislike of foul-mouthed pikey regulars - people are considerate, tidy and predictably middle class whenever I go (early-late evenings).
It's got a nice garden that's perfect for small kids. Reasonable food available in the evening. Pleasant decoration (except for a hideous new carpet that must have been salvaged from a Berni Inn). It's not noisy (I don't remember a juke box), although they have live music on Saturdays or Sundays; not too smoky (a bit, though); you can usually get a seat.
And the staff seem perfectly okay to me. In the last few months they seem to have switched to the usual Oz/NZ/SA types, but they are polite. The landlord seems to spend his time with customers. The landlady spends her time serving or delivering food.
So I can't think why PB met with such rudeness - unless he was that rather drunk transsexual with hairy legs, Tourette's and a leaky colostomy bag who kept trying to cadge drinks off customers back in June?
Seriously, I think this is one of the best pubs in the area - on a par with the Wych Elm in Kingston.
Mike - 29 Sep 2004 14:25 |
nice pub, ok beer - shame about the dodgy characters hanging out there. Landlord/staff show no inclination to try and discourage the pikier element.
Dave Ball - 15 Sep 2004 17:10 |
Popped in to the new Lion a couple of weeks ago to check out the "improvements". Pub looked great but still suffers from the same unpleasant, foul-mouthed, drunk-by-six locals and Central London prices. Also, not wanting to be rude.... but I think we must have met a different Landlady than Raver below - We found her cold and aloof (and a little scary!!!) Sorry! Trying to be an upmarket bar (with upmarket prices!) but actually can't quite shake off it's past...
Tim - 10 Aug 2004 23:37 |
Up-market,well presented back street boozer.Pretentions, but not quite a wine-bar.
Beautiful Landlady. (worth the trip).
Raver - 9 Aug 2004 21:08 |
Great Pub with a good selection of well kept beers, the food is also worth trying. A new extension has just been opened.
Bob Silver - 14 Jul 2004 15:36 |
Unimaginative beer selection and not that well-kept either. It's an ok pub... But there are many better, so why bother?
Jim - 12 Jul 2004 05:01 |
Great pub, serves (quite regularly) one of the best pints of deuchars I have ever had. Has a slightly cramped pool table with some comedy cues to make up for it... including a curtain pole with a tip on it?!?! Good quiz too.
Nice place to finish a Hampton wick pub crawl in.
Tom - 9 Jul 2004 17:10 |
I used to pop in once a week for a pint and I can confirm that, yes this is a genuine local, containing genuine locals & the beer is very good.
However I have decided to stop going after I said"Goodbye" last time I left & the barman/landlord mumbled "Good riddance & dont come back". I presume the Hampton Wick can afford to me so fussy despite the Rose & Crown recently closing & the fate of the Foressters unclear (I've heard it's to be bulldozed & converted into flats).
PB - 23 Jun 2004 12:43 |
A really good pub - a genuine local, containing genuine locals. Great staff, beer and food, and good music on Saturdays.
Jimbo - 14 Apr 2004 11:55 |
Very busy back street pub! This is due to the quality of food,ales and service. I will always pay that little extra for these!Even if i do moan at the time!!
JON - 17 Dec 2003 16:47 |
Oh dear. I used to really like this place but having just been charged almost three quid for a pint of Stella I shall never return again. I don't mind paying a bit extra for a pint now and then but this place takes the p***
I think they need to realise its Hampton Wick not central London.
Chris - 17 Dec 2003 00:40 |
Good real ale and food. Back street pub, friendly staff. Music as well some nights.
quizman - 12 Nov 2003 19:47 |
