please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
St Austell brewery pub with Proper Job, Trelawny, Tribute and Hicks the choice of ales.
Good food and pleasantly served by Emma.
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Perfectly in keeping with the character of this wonderful village. Small and welcoming, with fine ales and decent food should you wish. Worth hanging around till after dark for a view of the harbour. All you could wish for in a pub.
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It's a pleasantly lived-in, comfortably basic local, in this picturesque fishing village, offering St.Austell ales on good form.
It's a solid, historic, traditional slate-built pub, with features relating to Cornwall's fishing and seafaring history and legend dotted throughout.
The staff were apparently creative, bohemian young ladies, friendly and efficient.
Enjoyable, interesting and memorable, I found.
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Decent food. The HSD was wonderful. Great view over the harbor.
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speding a sunny afternoon (if you can get) on a seat out on the balcony, overlooking the harbour, is one of the greatest pleasures you can have.
the building is stunning and the village is nestles into is even more beautifull. the staff (all 20yr old girls by the looks of things) were quick and happy, even on a busy sunday afternoon. atmosphere was lively and friendly, and the beers were decent.
all in all, an absoloulty amazing place. worth popping in just for one pint to experience that balcony view.
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Still their normal range of Tribute, Dartmoor and HSD.
Food is good at fairly reasonable prices.
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Seems know one uses this site anymore? Looks like last person to comment was in 2012???
Trips advisor seems way more current and accurate to the pub than most of the comms place o. Beer in the line ?
Great to see a little local takings pride in British pub food and all that should be a great little local. If more places put in the effort like this one less would be closing down
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We sat on one of the outside tables overlooking the harbour. The pub had character - plenty of old pine, Victorian fireplace, internal corridor, serving hatches etc. No problems with the service or beer. We didn't eat but found it better than previous reviewers seem to have......
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Delightful position right above the harbour and very busy. Can't quite think why. Maybe it's the Doc Martin effect. If you're looking for a decent pint, something to eat and maybe service with a smile, go elsewhere.
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Sunday roasts �7.95, not very hot food nor plate.
Usual offering from St Austell's, Tribute, Trelawny and HSD.
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The Golden Lion is a disappointingly scruffy pub in the heart of Port Isaac. Three St. Austell beers (Tinners, Trubute and HSD) were on offer. Yesterday the HSD was in excellent condition, but today the quality was noticibly poorer - drinkable but not quite the standard one would expect from a well-run pub.
The bar staff are surly and unprofessional, but I forgave that on my first visit as the beer was good. Today I was served by the chunky bar-maid who short-changed me. I did not count it immediately, but a few moments later I realised the error and approached the bar. At which point the bar-maid saw me and without saying a word, walked to the till, took out the correct change and handed it to me. Clearly she knew that she had tried to con me, and by exactly how much.
esuhl - 27 Apr 2011 23:59 |
It's changed hands now and (disaster!!), the crab sandwiches are no longer on the menu !
That said, the welcome was even more friendly than usual and the beer and food were fine. The place looked like it had been given a thorough clean as well - not that it was ever dirty in my experience but it definitely had a brighter feel to it, though nothing had been changed in the way of decor.
It seems to be run now by a couple of families and I have rarely been made to feel more welcome in a pub that's not local for me. I really hope that they are as successful as they deserve to be. That said, with the number of tourists flocking to Port Isaac nowadays, the aforementioned levels of service should ensure they have no problems.
The only thing they need to do is get the crab sandwich back on the menu - and I told them so :-)
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First time visit - as noted by previous poster the beach car park is now closed. The new car park is a pretty long walk from the village itself, and not to be taken lightly if you have health issues. My knees may take some time to recover.
The Golden Lion is what I would call a rpoper, seaside pub. Small, great seating, overlooking the harbour itself. It also appears to be guarded by a very old cannon...
The usual St Austell beers available, along with Rattler. Served a fairly decent pint. Didn't try the food, but looked on in awe as the biggest piece of cod I've ever seen was delivered to a table near us.
My visit was somewhat spoiled by the children allowed to scream and shout by their parents. Nothing the pub can do about this, but incredibly irritating just the same.
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Just visited last week great friendly welcome as previous writer said and food looked excellent howver not tried on this visit.
Only spoilt by Hooray Henrys who seemed to of slowly taken over this pub when anything resenbling a holiday arrives , and there crass manners sometimes have to be witnessed just because the wallet maybe be fuller and bigger having said that serviceand ale are always top notch.
Just word of note beach car park was closed and whilst typing another car park is being built and used on the outskirts so more visitors are being anticipated these coming peak months.
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Update from last year.....but nothing really to update !
It's still the same and thank God for that !
Crab sandwiches still the best I have ever tasted. Beer well kept and as ever, a friendly welcome.
The village itself, and by extension the pub, are a bit touristy now and the place was rammed with Doc Martin fans - and this was a Monday lunchtime, out of season.
I suppose if I'm honest, I'm one of those tourists but as I was coming here long before all the sightseers, I have to say I'm a bit resentful.
Nevertheless, this wonderful pub never disappoints and long may it continue.
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Good food, lots of character and decent drink. Would recommend.
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We love this pub as we enjoy sitting on the balcony in the sun drinking real ale thats available. Best time to visit is out of season.
gjgj1 - 27 Sep 2009 23:58 |
Nice pub, full of character, right by the harbour. Although I didn't have it, the Sunday Roast looked huge and good value for money. As I was driving (groan!), I only had a half pint of H.S.D. I was comforted by the fact that I could enjoy my half whilst gazing at the gorgeous barmaid, which almost made the visit worthwhile on it's own!
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I've been visiting Cornwall in general and Port Isaac in particular for in excess of 30 years and inevitably, things have changed, not always for the better. Port Isaac, of course, has been "discovered" in recent years, firstly by that irritating gothic bloke off the telly and the city types who followed him and latterly by the Martin Clunes fans looking for the sights and scenes of Doc Martin. As a result, the village has been somewhat gentrified and, in my opinion, more than a little spoilt.
Somehow however, amongst all the Range Rovers and green wellies is the oasis that is the Golden Lion. It really hasn't changed in any way whatsover in all these years. Still the same uneven floor, same pictures of shipwrecks on the walls, same range of beers etc etc.
Beer was ok (Sharp's Doom Bar being my first choice when visiting) and the welcome was as always, friendly.
At first glance, the food looked a tad expensive and I thought �8.00 for a crab sandwich may be pandering to the city types a little too much. I was wrong though ! What arrived was the biggest sandwich I've ever seen, full of local crab and with chips and salad on the side. Fantastic !
My advice is come out of season on a sunny day,order the aforementioned crab sandwich and a pint of Sharps and park yourself on the balcony overlooking the harbour. From here you can amuse yourself by watching the green welly brigade scrambling to get the Range Rover off the beach car park before it's enveloped by the incoming tide.
Priceless !
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The food here is seriously good, espcially the burgers which are proper quality. Been going here every year on hols for 20 years and it's been totally constant in terms of what you get and how bizzy it is etc. A proper "pub" like pub, nothing fancy just does the job very well. It has a balcony overlooking the harbour (over 14's only), has three tables out there but it is usually busy in good weather etc.
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Great little pub with an atmostphere at all times of the day. From a Monday afternoon to a Saturday niht there are always friendly staff and lovely locals!
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I love this area and stay nearby quite regularly. However, it's a different pub away from the main season. On out-of-season Fri and Sat nights it's full of teens - just like any other town - and I didn't feel particularly welcome.
I know it's different during the day though and I expect it's different in the season. But I only go out of season. The whole area is quiet out of season, which is why I like it - but this pub certainly isn't!
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Great pub. Damn fine pint and gorgeous food. Can see Doc Martins house from the window too!
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Great local pub that is more than welcoming to the many tourists. With everything else in the village closed out of season, the great beer and food, and the friendliness of the staff and regulars mean there is no reason to stay indoors.
Quiz Night on Sundays, but don't get there too early or you'll be on your ear before it starts!
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Sitting on the balcony with a pint of HSD, looking out over the harbour on a warm summers evening, after a meal from their excellent menu, what more could you want.
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It's eight years since I last went to Port Isaac. Glad to here that the Golden Lion is still as good as ever.
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A beautifully basic, yet comfortable inn with heavenly views and plenty of character. Serving excellent St Austell Tinners,Tribute and HSD, well worth a visit. Enjoy Cornwall (and its beer) as it was meant to be. Good food too.
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