please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Visited this establishment for the 3rd year in succession for my works' Xmas outing.......will not be going back again.
I ordered the Xmas 3 course meal of which the pate was as thin as a 5p coin, my main meal (roast turkey) was a very small portion and ONE roast potato chopped in half and the vegatbles were as hard as a rock. As for the Xmas pudding, well you could start and finish it with one bite.
Terrible value for money!
And to rub salt into the wounds I was made to wait for 10 minutes at the counter to pay for my meal and was then presented with the last suprise.....10% service charge.
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#2 of the Hammersmith Tour. We got hit by a rainstorm and needed somewhere to shelter and to eat. Kind of struck gold with this place. Lots of dog and children adding to the bo-ho atmosphere. All the tables were reserved for 6:30pm, but the staff offered to serve us as long as we were gone by then. London Pride was perfect, as was the food. They have some special oven for cooking chicken and it was the best I have ever tasted. And I have been to Nandos.
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We had high expectations of this pub, but felt badly let down. Maybe because of its lovely location, it feels it just doesn’t need to try hard (and regrettably, that may be the case).
We planned to spend a day by the river, as a group. The Black Lion’s website clearly said (and probably still does) it opens at 11:00 on Saturdays; but when we arrived, we were told it did not open until 12:00 — and the staff (already in the bar but not serving) were bordering on rude, offering no apology and all but accusing us of lying.
The selection of beer/cider is nothing special, and very pricey. Our sandwiches had delicious filling but dry bread. And perhaps the worst thing is the women’s loos — these would be totally inadequate, even in good working order; but one of the two cubicles was out of order. The resulting queue left little room for hand-washing at the sinks — an unpleasant experience.
Despite the surroundings and the pleasant interior decor, we will not be visiting again.
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We should have realized our mistake when we were asked "Will you be dining with us today?" by the bar-person while she was serving us. Two pints of decidedly "flat" Thwaites Wainwright for £8.80 - we drank up and took our custom elsewhere!
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I was here on Saturday afternoon, and while the staffing was chaotic (a barmaid picked up the phone while getting my fiancee's tea, forgot about us then came back and asked if I still needed to pay) I can make certain allowances. The whole atmosphere was friendly and happy and for that I am prepared to relax a little and wait for my pint.
I tried four (Big Ben, Thwaite's Wairnwright, Golden XPA and Theakston's Old Peculier) of the six real ales on and all were in great nick. The menu was expensive, but the fish & chips for £14.50 came with Kiwi additions (the pub is run by a New Zealander it seems) including battered mussels and pinapple rings and fed my fiancee and our hungry boy while my crab & crayfish sandwich for £6.50 was lavish and came with an unexpected portion of frites & a salad.
Perhaps I was in a particularly good mood as we were marking ANZAC Day with a hangi with some NZ friends (fiancee is from NZ) and there was the most spectacular rainbow over the river, but with its skittle alley, table tennis table, play area just nearby for the boy I found this one of the happiest pub afternoons I've had in some time, as did the highly diverse gang of punters we spent it with encompassing proper Londoners, a group of Hungarians, two Irish & a large gang of Antipodeans.
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This used to be a good pub where you could enjoy a quiet drink but now the focus seems to be only on food. The last time I was there was on a Sunday lunchtime, I politely waited at the bar for over 15 minutes but the barman informed me he didn't have time to serve me as he was attending to diners in the other room. I left with my lady companion without a drink and intend never to return.
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This pub seems to trade in shooting themselves in the foot. My most distinct memory was being asked to pay �15 admission during a local pub crawl on one new year�s eve, which perhaps explained why this characterless pub was empty at the time.
Unwelcoming staff and atmosphere, seemingly sometimes closed during advertised opening hours, and although it�s something of a clich� to complain about pub prices in London, this pub does still seem to be noticeable in that respect.
I can think of absolutely no reason whatsoever to ever visit this pub again.
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Quite liked this place. Myself and the wife went down here the other night and had a bite to eat. Nice (if very expensive) food and a really nice glass of wine. Not a place I would return to regularly purely as I couldn�t afford to
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Will be shutting soon for another 'refurb' according to the sign I saw earlier this week. Don't expect too much... maybe the prices will become even more shockingly expensive than now. Has been plunging in quality for several years now.
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Well, anywhere that has a pirate party (one assumes related to some engagement do or something) that involves a cake with a cock iced on it (and yes I did take a photo) has got to be good by me. Oh, and by the way, the beer was good as well. Plenty of outdoor seating with river views. Highly recommended. Aaar me hearties!!
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Went there on boat race day. Seemed very disorganised. After being told they would open at 1 (already very late) didnt in fact open till 10 past 1 and then still were not ready to serve food. Also beer prices were extortionately high even by the standards of riverside pubs on boat race day.
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First impressions are very good: pleasant welcome at the bar, the gentle perfume of the log fire and such a variety of furniture to keep a chairologist happy. Nice variety of beers (see their website). Very much enjoyed the bar food (onion soup with melted cheese and ham baguette). Disappointed by the routine choice of ciders when they could stock, say, Aspalls or Westons, which would better fit with the general quality offering here. Expensive pub if one is looking for a carouse. Au revoir I hope.
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A good looking pub that fails on so many levels! Average but expensive beer, average and expensive food.
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Went into this pub with the family last night and ordered 2 pints of ordinary bitter ( Doom Bar) and a pint of shandy. I put �10 on the bar and confidently waited for some change. Confronted by a snotty look and asked for another �1 10. Felt really embarrissing as I had left my wallet outside. Go to the pub next door. Cheaper and a better view of the river. I suppose they are trying to keep riff raff like me away. Shame as the female staff were very nice and noticed my discomfort.
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Nice location, pleasant enough. But paid �7.40 for two pints of Doombar. Plenty of other nice pubs nearby which are more reasonably priced.
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Called in for a few pints last night, a pleasant pub with well kept ales and friendly bar service. Worth a visit!
alexw - 29 Apr 2010 20:57 |
I agree, expensive
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If you are paying over nearly quid for a bottle of cordial then no wonder you have to charge �2.40 for a pint of squash. �3.50 for Doombar made me smile, a local pub sells it here (central Bristol) for �1.50 a pint.
LukeD - 20 Sep 2009 19:03 |
Dear Jeremy B
I'm saddened that you found our service 'arrogant', but maybe it was because we'd just won 'Best Managed Pub in the UK' and 'Best Pub in London' at The 2009 Great British Pub Awards. Proud and excited, but not arrogant maybe ?
I remember your visit. My barmaid did not grudgingly remove the service, but was taken aback by the fact you were quibbling over 35p of the service charge and simply removed the whole �1.35 of it to appease you. We are used to custmers paying extra, not less.
We never hurry perfection. We clean the real ale lines before every change of barrel to ensure a perfect pint and with three others to choose from I hope your Bombardier was equally delicious.
We just have to accept we can't please everyone, but we manage to please the majority.
The Black Lion
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fascinating seeing previous postings. This is an attractive pub with a lot of potential but a feeling of something not quite right. Aside from the prices (3.50 for a Bombardier), there is something on the arrogant side about the service which different members of our group sensed at different times on Friday lunchtime. For one thing the Doom Bar was not available but the handpump clip was not turned round and when its availability was queried there was no sense of concern or urgency as to when it might reappear. Then I was charged 10% service on beer as well as food...that was a first for me. It was taken off but somewhat grudgingly. In short, as previous posters have indicated, not one to engender feelings of lingering...but it should be! As it was in the Cross Keys on the other side of Black Lion Lane and the Carpenters further up...
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Ok barry. Maybe I did not articulate the cordial issue correctly. Let me explain. Lets look at the scenario. I charge 20p for a cordial and soda. Out of this 20p I have to pay VAT of 3p. with the remaining 17p I have to pay for the cordial which costs me about 10p. This leaves me with 7p to pay for a member of staff to serve you, the ice, slice of fruit, straw and then the energy to wash the glass, the Co2 to fizz the water, the water itself and the heating, cleaning and lighting needed to run the business, the rent, business rates etc
As we do charge a higher than average price for this particlar drink, we tell all customers the price before we serve it so you have the choice. We also offer a fresh lime alternative instead of the chemicals used to flavour the cordial which, by the way, is a well known quality brand and not a 'Happy Shopper' style brand.
I'm sorry if you find this pompus, but the minimum charge for a drink in The Black Lion is �1.20. We are after all a business.
Thank you for your comments.
The Black Lion
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Fine location, nice interior, reasonable (if expensive) beer, something a bit strange about the landlord's attitude, but he and his team continue to make an effort to make this a destination pub.
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'Our cordial is prcied to discourage undesireable clientelle. Why would one charge 20p and fill a table with a small spending crowd? One would loose money.'
Hmm, you come across very pompous. In most people's books, 'undesireable clientelle' are those who drink too much alcohol, not the soft drinks. Potentially discouraging families and designated drivers by overpricing cordial is just daft as the majority of punters still drink enough booze to keep your till ringing.
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Nice location by the river so good to call in on a riverside stroll but not worth a trip just for the pub.
Drinks not cheap so not a place to linger. When I visited early on a Friday evening only one of the three ales was on. It was well kept but sad that the others were off. And on a Friday too.
Slightly off-putting service. Reasonably disparate mix of punters: no chavs thankfully. Not a particularly warm, local atmosphere though.
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Dear mswh
We are not a cheap pub yet, in our opionion, not overpriced. Are you also aware that riverside venues are charged premium rents ? Quality costs and thats what we deliver.
Our cordial is prcied to discourage undesireable clientelle. Why would one charge 20p and fill a table with a small spending crowd? One would loose money.
If you recieved table service and read the menu, you would have been aware that a 10% ( not 15 ) service charge would be applied. If you were not happy with the service, you are not obliged to pay for it.
How can one suggest that our burgers are ordinary when we buy in the best, freshest minced beef and add our special ingredients ? Our customers return time after time telling us that they are the best burgers they have ever eaten.
Thanks for your comments and we hope you'll be able to visit us on special occasions.
Regards
The Black Lion
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Decent enough but laughably overpriced pub near (but not on) the river.
I used to like this place for being a bit quieter than the other riverside pubs, but after being charged �2.40 for a blackcurrant & soda (= fizzy water) and �10.50 + 15% service (since when does one pay service in a pub?) for a fairly ordinary burger we won't be returning.
'A little bit of posh by the river' practically says 'average quality but overpriced' so we should have guessed.
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Well known pub close to the river, just off Chiswick Mall.
According to chalkboards in the large outside drinking area, it's a "wonderful riverside gastro pub" and a "bit of posh by the river".
It's overstating the case a bit to use the word "riverside" as it's slightly set back from the river behind a small childrens playground and grassy area, although you can actually see the river from the pub if you stand on tiptoe on one of the outside tables in the large garden.
There's an extensive food menu, at prices that reflect the affluence of the area and the location, but, thankfully it's not a gastro pub.
The pub has managed to retain a reasonably traditional cosy feel, and there's a fine fireplace over which hangs a painting of A P Herbert in a small area of the pub on the right as you go in.
This pub was well known as one of the last pubs to retain a skittle alley. This is now long gone of course, but you can clearly see where it was - at the back of the pub on the left - a long narrow room with a low ceiling that now forms part of the dining area of the pub. The aforementioned A P Herbert - a well known author - was one of the principally players of the pub's Skittle Team apparently.
The pub proudly displays Cask Marque Accreditation. Beers on during my recent Sunday lunchtime visit were Bombardier, Broadside, Sharps Doombar and, unusually, Theakstons Old Peculier. Prices are high - the Bombardier was � 3.50p - but both the Broadside and the Bombardier were in good nick. A weaker session beer would have been nice, but I suppose it's not really that kind of place.
Staff seemed noticeably keen, enthusiastic and friendly, such that it seems worthy of comment here.
There's regular events - theme evenings, quizzes, singers etc.
Taking the visit as a whole, I was reasonably impressed.
Not a must visit pub, but if you're doing a crawl along this stretch of the river, you should include this one
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Certianly not a Gastro pub, but with prices to match a Gastro pub on food..
At �16.95 for steak, I expect a decent steak, not one thats very thin, a couple of mm thick. I was very disappointed with the quality, after being recommended this pub from friends. Maybe they are trading on past reputations or have changed chefs.
Nice looking pub inside and out, great location, and service was very good, but will not be eating here again.
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I went here and found the beer pricy but not obscene- on a par with similar places. I also post to another 'Londone' review type website and think some of these reviews have some 'politics' in them about preferring the old management?? Who can tell but it seems people who don't know the 'history' enjoy the pub for the following reasons:
-4 well kept real ales on tap;
-Wine drinkers can taste before they buy, even for a glass;
-very clean and well kept pub and toilets;
-Nice range of customers- not too 'posh', not chavvy in any way;
-Good music and decor.
Our round worked out at about �3.50 a drink- so on a par with other places in the area.
I found it less crowded than the 'bang on the river' places, too, which was great.
I haven't eaten there so can't comment on the food
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went for a walk up the river on the way to dukes meadow paddeling pool with my daughter and partner, stoped of here for a drink on the way, found this pub very pleasent and the service good as well the lager, and very child friendly, will be coming back, As with most off these river pubs along hammersmith couldnt recommend them enough
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We visited this pub and were disappointed. When I asked at the bar for the drink I wanted, I was told by a very rude barman that they didn't serve this as he didn't like it! He then lost interest in serving us so I asked the girl next to him, who apologized (twice!) and gave us an alternative. However this was not a pleasant experience - next time we will go to one of the other pubs nearbye.
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I visited this pub yesterday. Was quite busy as it was Race day, so expected lots of people and slightly expensive drinks, but �20 for a 1.5l jug of Pimms and �3.50 for a small cup of potato skins is ridiculous!
Shame as it was a nice location and friendly staff, but won't be hrrying back at those prices!
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We have been reading these recent reviews and thought we should point out some untruths.
Most importantly is to express that Doom Bar is �3.50 a pint here, Mr Maldenman, along with all our other beers and when the place is packed to the rafters and there are glasses covering the 'glasswash area', then please excuse us for being so busy � I mean how rude of us ! Beer in the evening make a point in their terms �Don't post anything that isn't true. For obvious reasons�
Our staff are far from inexperienced. The current manager was judged to be the London Regional winner of the BII Licensee of the year 2008 Award and all bar staff are professionally trained in all areas of Licensed Retail. If one is going to exaggerate the price of our beers, then one can only assume that one's head size is also exaggerated. The staff are instructed to serve a 5% head and willingly top up if ever requested.
We are not a 'Gastro Pub' by any means - We are a Traditional Pub with modern values and serve superb home made food all day everyday. We offer full table service for everyone who wants it ( which has been called 'swanning around' but yet it reduces the queues at the bar), a convivial welcome and we are gaining new business every week due to what we do and the way we do it.
For those who have been disappointed in the past, we hope you will come and try us again before making your final judgement.
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First impressions can clearly deceive, approach via a pleasant gentrified street to outside tables and planted baskets, enter to a warm busy bar with a fire burning, old beams and the suchlike. Then try and get a drink. One clearly inexperienced person serving at the bar, two blokes swanning around as if busy but seemingly not really doing much, and virtually a third of the bar top full of unwashed empties. Finally served, nearly two inches of froth/head on my beer and the barmaid plonked it down and vanished. Waited another two mins for her to return and requested a top up which was grudgingly given with an audible sigh.
Full to the maximum with people eating, I hope they got better service than I and other drinkers did. I shall not be returning.
Sharps Doom Bar (�3.80!!) Adnams Broadside, Theakston Black Bull and Bombardier. In fairness the beer was well kept.
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At last i have found my new haven of tranqulilty. Now i'm a woman who likes to 'lunch' and 'dinner' as well as having a deliciously cold bottle of pino blush on a sunny day, and this pub hits the spot. My friends and I were greeted in such a friendly manner i nearly dropped my M&S bag full of shopping ! - It's so refreshing to find this in London these days. The bar itself looks scrupilously clean and the restaurant area was so welcoming we just had to take a seat in there amongst the flickering church candles. Service was prompt, considering it was quite busy, and when the food arrived none of us were disappointed. I had a vegetarian sweet potato tart - evidently home made- whilst my girlfriends had a hefty portion of fish and chips and a large bowl of mussels. The chips that came with the fish looked so good I had to pinch a few from my friends plate. I am usually very hard to impress so well done to the guys here. I have recommended this cute bar and restaurant to many of my friends now and advise you to pay it a visit if you have not been recently.
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This pub has had something of a makeover since my last visit, and they�ve ditched the rather nice yellow sign in favour of a somewhat minimalist black and white plain sign. This of course is a clue to how the pub now views itself, being advertised as a gastro-pub, although when I was in there at 2.55 on a weekday afternoon there was no-one eating, and there were no menus out. The classical music they were playing made a change from the rubbish one often has to listen to, and set an unusual mood for the place with only two punters in there drinking.
Inside it is very comfortably laid out, with a couple of armchairs round the fireplace, and proper tables and chairs throughout. Also, the floorboarding looked to be original. But for one thing, I would recommend this pub. The one thing being Doom Bar at �3.60 a pint. Now I really like Doom Bar, but I won�t pay those prices on principle. I suspect that the food might be similarly overpriced. Other ales on were Bombardier and Theakston�s Black Bull Bitter.
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The new management don't have a clue. When its busy they have no idea how to cope. Went on a sunday at 1.30pm. They had sold out of Roast beef, roast chicken and two other dishes. Basically nothing left. Ordering took about 30 minutes and the food took over an hour. They simply can't cope. If anyone knows who owns this pub please tell them to get new managemnt!
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This Charming traditional pub has improved VASTLY since they appointed the new manager recently. Me and my friends now get lovely table service, even outside - a rarity these days - and we all go back regularly for the food. I met the new chef ( Or Cheffess ) called Penny on our last visit and tried to prize her beefburger recipe out of her - but to no avail !
This place has a great atmosphere and it's nice to find a bit of posh in Hammersmith ! Not the cheapest pub in the area but you get what you pay for.
Nice mix of people, young, old and not a chav in sight ! Would highly recommend a visit if you haven't been for a while
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This pub is one of my locals, only for the reason that it is close to where we live and used to be child friendly. I have noticed that the pub have gone downhill for the last 6 months or so; it used to be a traditional pub with reasonable prices with board games to use for the kids but it have now become a overpriced gastro pub. The beer is nothing to write home about either. From now on I will use the Old Ship instead.
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Euch! Went last Sunday and it was pretty horrid all round. Tired stodgy starters, main course of sausages was literally inedible as so fatty,tough, cold and tasteless. Everyone was so hungry they ate the roast dinners but they were also tepid and to top it off tiny portions. Restaurant tables left uncleared and generally looked a bit mucky. Staff seemed unable to cope although were pleasant enough. Would not recommend which is a shame as it's a lovely loooking pub in a nice spot. Seems everywhere now seems to think they should do "gastro" - would be better off sticking to good quality basics unless they've got staff who know what they are doing. Expensive too.
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Very pleasant place to have a pit stop while walking along the river. They are pushing the food quite heavily which looked good although I didn't try it. It doesn't get as crowded as the nearby pubs.
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The Black Lion charges �11.80 + �5 deposit for a 4 pint jug of Carling. I think that is overly expensive, even for the location.
The pub has been no smoking for a while so I had a taste of what it will be like, after the weekend, puffing in the rain, although I did get to read the interesting history of the pub that is printed outside (see 04/04/07).
All-in-all this is a nice expensive pub right by the Thames.
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I love this pub! As a pregnant woman who still likes to socialise it is wonderful to know that pubs like this still exist in London. It is already a 'smoke free' pub making it comfortable to sit in. The staff are friendly and chatty, the decor is quaint and relaxing and the overall ambiace is welcoming. The food is just wonderful and so obviously totally fresh - yes you pay a tad more that in 'chain' pubs but I don't think there was a microwave in sight. There are a range of board games available to pass the time and if the weather is nice then there plenty of space outside for sitting in the garden by the river. A great pub and well worth a visit!!
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A history of the outside reveals that this haunted 200 year old pub started off life as a pig farm � it seems to have diversified a bit since then. Situated just an anglers cast from the riverbank, the pub is as homely and enticing as you could expect in these parts with its candles and lanterns in the windows and welcoming flower baskets. The range of beers include Deuchers, London Pride plus a guest (Cornish Tribute) and a fourth hand pump likes agonizingly redundant begging for another beer to be added to the repertoire. Prices are a bit higher than I would have expected but the quality is good. The interior is a series of rooms that have now been knocked through making it fairly open although the numerous high backed settles create their own snugs to give an impression of intimacy. The decor has a rustic and simplistic feel with rugs on the bare wooden floors, plain textured walls and ceilings, empty bottles on high shelves, old photos adorning the walls and various old tools dotted about. To the rear, beyond a stand alone pillar with its fireplace, is a carpeted sofa lounge area probably suited more for dining but not off limits if you just want to sit down with your drink. The atmosphere was very laid back and relaxed, the staff very welcoming and service was good albeit the pub was pretty quiet on my visit. This is the sort of pub where one would sit with their newspaper rather than be glued to the TV for sport � I only noticed a small basic TV so I would imagine that crowds watching England games is not generally the norm here. The mixed bag of music does not interfere with the ambiance and I would find it quite easy to while away an entire evening here. There is also a large beer patio to the rear, some of it under cover, and a children�s playground is situated 20 yards round the corner so there is really little excuse not to visit.
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I've made very positive reviews here in the past but now I'm inclined to retract them.
The manager at the Black Lion is rude and desperately lacks any customer service skills.
Most of the staff are great and, as a local, I get along with them really well.
However, there are some exceptions and they ruin this pub!!! For example, my friend was in there on the weekend and asked the tall blonde girl (behind the bar) who works there occasionally for a coffee and a bowl of chips. He was told they dont do hot drinks (the espresso machine was right behind her). There are several more specific incidents that occured recently, I'm not going to list them all.
The weekend before Easter was one of the first summery weekends and the Lion was full. But the wait times at the bar were simply pathetic! All down to a lack of staff behind the bar ... that stinks of poor management!
If you guys read this ... pick up your game otherwise you'll lose all your customers to the Ship.
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Fine location, nice interior, reasonable beer, slightly clueless staff...
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Great Pub! Nothing bad to say ...
Friendly staff, great food, great atmosphere, trivia night Sundays, movie night Mondays and live gig Thursdays ...
Huge beer garden and a much, much better place than it's neighbour - The Old Ship!
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Saw the sign on the A4 was busting for a pee and thought I'd check it out.Pleasanlty surprised by the qaulity of the food on offer and would highly recommend it to anyone who finds themselves on the A4 or taking a stroll along the river.Good selection of well kept ales on offer as well.
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Great little pub just of the river.Really friendly bar staff,surprislngly good food and very good beer as well.Highly recommend it to anyone doing a walk along the river between Hammersmith and Barnes bridge.
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Booked a table for 10 on Sunday here on the previous Friday... Actually watched it been written down in the 'diary'
On arrival on Sunday.. we were told there was nothing in the 'diary'. They did manage to seat us but the wait from ordering to the arrival of the food was far too long. A couple of us had the Pumpkin soup...judging by the 'taste',it was 1 pumpkin to about 100 bowls of soup. Food aside, it is a well positioned pub with a nice interior.
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Nice little boozer. Was smashed by the time we reached here on a crawl so can't remember too much other than that I liked it a lot. Had some kind of guest bitter with a rustic name that was very nice and well kept.
Genuinely fit eastern european barmaid (those seem rarer these days, I think the fit ones stay at home nowadays).
anonymous - 6 Nov 2006 11:45 |
The pub crawl down the Hammersmith Mall is one of the easiest and best in West London on a sunny day. However, the Black Lion somehow never seems to be as packed as the Dove, Ship etc. May be its just a bit too far away from Hammersmith Bridge or perhaps its because its not actually overlooking the river. The pub itself is fine, retaining some old features and the beer garden is large. Quality of beer and food is adequate and the staff are pleasant. I wish I could recommend this pub for something exceptional but there's nothing really too special about it. Saying that ther's nothing wrong with the place either, so its worth a visit if you fancy whiling away a sunny afternoon.
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or should that be shooting the sh!t???
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One of my favourite pubs, generally quiet cosy atmosphere with friendly staff and decent decor. Seating is in high backed cubicle style in the main bar so gives a cosy private feel when with a group of friends.
It probably has the biggest beer garden/concrete area on the hammersmith river stretch, admittedly it is not right on the river so probably why it doesn't get as many visitors as the Old Ship, Rutland etc on a sunny day.
Food I had there was nice, and the menu is typical pub grub stuff but they also do have a BBQ area set up outside during the summer which you can get stuff from, which I have to confess I didn't taste.
Thursday they currently have a guy doing acoustic cover tunes and Sunday is quiz night.
Despite being a 25 metre or so walk to the A4 it reasonably quiet, apart from the usual planes coming into Heathrow, and feels quite out the way. Yet you can reach Chiswick high road in about 8 minutes, stopping in at the Cross Keys on the way.
Only problem is there isn't any TV's, which for some is a blessing, but if you want to watch the match it is a no no I'm afraid.
As Ruby says a good place to whittle away the hours shouting the sh!t...........
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Has a warm and cosy feel inside and the outside appears to be an excellent place to spead a warm sunny evening or bank holiday monday. Its a real shame that when I attended the only ale on offer was London Pride and Bombardier as both guest ales were not available. Even the fosters was off.
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I liked it, had two more interesting ales on as well as a couple of standards. Pride probably and something else. Nice feel inside. The food was very good and the staff were actually friendly and efficient. Inside was good and there was a really long room in there, which apparently used to be a skittles alley although it's seating now. It's in a very nice area with character. And a bit of 'istory thrown in!
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Excellent locals pub. Although only a stone's throw away from the dual carriageway, you wouldn't know it.
Good selection of beers and good food. Seating inside is okay, but the best thing about the place is the huge beer garden. Although not overlooking the river, its a great place to while away time in the summer, almost has a village atmosphere.
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A lovely anti-Tardis of a pub (large on the outside, seems cosier within). A garden of sorts for the summer, and they do alcohol and crisps inside which is good enough for me. The kind of place you can try out with a few friends in tow and end up whittling hours away shooting the shit. First class.
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Nice cosy and warm pub for a few cheeky pints before you head on a crawl up the Thames to Hammersmith Bridge! Staff very friendly. Bit quiet when I went but I can imagine it gets v busy in eves.
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My wife and I ran the Black Lion in the 1970s and went back recently to have a look. They say you should NEVER go back, but we had such great times at the Black Lion we just had to. Our fears were ungrounded - its still a nice local pub, cosy and warm, with friendly staff and even friendlier locals. If anything it has improved (it was a St Georges Taverns pub when we were there, all Watneys Red Barrel and Ben Truman bitter!).
The atmosphere was a bit 'different,' but it was as homely as ever . Two of our regulars were still there as well, after a quarter of a century! But our famous customers such as Vanessa Redgrave, Pete Townsend and Sir Magnus Pike havent been seen for a while!
Paul Rusling
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Always found the service to be relatively slow, but if you can forgive them this it is a traditional pub with a good range of drinks. Close to the river so it gets very busy in the Summer.
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An excellent boozer - has so far avoided the usual crappy refurb . Well worth a visit in order to avoid The Old Ship .
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The Black Lion is a very old yet characteristic and cosy pub. Great on a Friday night with a live atmosphere yet not to in your face.
It has a great quiz night on a Sunday along with the best Ive had yet of Sunday roats.
Emma Smith - 18 Oct 2005 14:10 |
Well worth popping in on your way out of London. Car park is small but there is metered street parking. Sat in the beer garden and enjoyed a couple of pints of draught San Miguel. Also had on 3 real ales including Bombardier. Have eaten there in the past, and thought it of good quality.
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Nice place, never overcrowded, cosy in winter, but nice big beer garden which is near enough to the river. Once had an excellent bbq lunch there on a hot summers day.
Food is basic but no complaints considering the price, staff have always been pleasant. Good for if you want somewhere to sit and have a chinwag with an old friend without disturbance.
What is best about it is sitting inside you really feel like you could be in a small village than just off the A4 in London.
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Fan Bloody Tastic
A HUGE improvement new Manager , New Menu and summer to boot
Needs some hot bar staff and we will be here every weekend
anonymous - 16 May 2005 17:01 |
Overpriced, but what else do you expect from a riverside pub?
Lovely place to drink, and if you're lucky you might glimpse the odd "celeb" drinking nearby.
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Finally under new Management
The Blacklion has had a change for the better get ready for the boat race
Foods good & Staff are not bad too look at either
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Nice pub overall. Near the river, but not actually on it, so don't expect views over the river from the beer garden! The advantage of that is that it doesn't get packed with posers every time the sun shines. More of a locals pub really, and once or twice I've got the feeling that the regulars are giving it that "what are you doing in our pub?" attitude. The staff are always welcoming though. Beer is OK, but nothing to write home about. Had a Sunday lunch here once and it was very poor. All in all I like the place though.
Johnno - 23 Jul 2004 10:02 |
Beware, the address is South Black Lion Lane, you have to walk under the freeway to get there.
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Good pub by the river. Good in the summer with the bear garden and car park.
Philip - 10 Oct 2003 09:55 |
