please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Highly rated Snorbans pub but not our favourite on this visit even though we still very much enjoyed it. Sidepocket for a Toad from the Tring brewery and Adnam's Lighthouse were are choices and a rambling garden provides access to the nearby Garibaldi. Still, 9 pubs visited in St Albans and not a single one rated less than 7 out of 10.
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Lovely little traditional local, and some excellent live music on Tuesdays.
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Shocking service from the girl behind the bar on the evening of Saturday 30th November. Well-kept beer though, which we drank, then moved on elsewhere.
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Small, double-fronted pub with a bar either side of the entrance. Went in last night but had stopped serving. Shame, as looked a great pub.
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I see the lease is up for sale , Hope it doesn't ruin what is a great pub
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great bank holiday beer festival with all day music on the monday , 50 beers and ciders, superb hog roast and bbq. garden has masses of tables and is well planted, friendly staff and helpful landlord.
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I love this place. They have great beer and that often includes Harvest Pale from the Castle Rock brewery which is a big selling point for me. The atmosphere, people and location are great, though so far I have only been in the main room and not the smaller room the other side of the bar; I'm not sure if you have to be a wizard to use that bar.
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Pub No.13
Excellent Pub
Good beer
Good service
Bit pricey.
recommended: 7/10
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Very nice pub with very nice, but pricey, beer.
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fantastic beer fest on over the weekend,40 beers +bar everything i tried in great condition.wonderful bbq ;had the burger/wedges/salad combo a really good meal for the price,too full to try the venison roast that came on later, all the beers had cooling jackets so no warm offerings here; 2 more days of this fest including music on monday,
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An excellent pub run by a manager who is first rate at being a publican. Food is good, beer as good as it can be outside a free house. A beer garden that can accommodate a crowd and is regulalry full of families and groups of all ages.
Well worth a visit if you can't be bothered to cook your own Sunday lunch.
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I'm beginning to believe this is where to go to try ales in their best taste and condition. i.e. drink it here and then see if anywhere else compares. If they do.....good, but don't be surprised if they do not.
The cellarmanship here must be superbly tuned to demand and turnover as I can't remember what decade I last got an inferior pint here.
Furthermore Isambard Lombard's review below succinctly describes this pub to a tee.
As he rightly says who could ask for more!
If you are reading this during opening hours and can get there...what are you waiting for?
A truly superb pub...impeccable.
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I had two goes at having a beer in the White Lion's lovely garden over the Easter weekend and on both occasions I gave up a went elsewhere because it was overrun with the kind of non-drinking Happy Families who crawl out of the woodwork when the weather's nice but are not seen at all for the whole of the rest of the year.
It's hardly Dave's fault that his pub is so popular but it's a shame that regular customers get elbowed out in this way on all the best occasions, particularly when I'm pretty sure that me and my companions spend more on a single visit to the bar than the part-timers spend in an entire lunchtime.
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Hi, went to the easter beer fest. about 20 real ales on ;everything i tried was top quality and reasonable prices also 20p off for camra members, superb hog roast followed by bbq which i know from previous days is always good NO iceland burgers here . pub and garden always clean and tidy.already looking forward to the bigger august weekend beer festival.
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excellent choice of beer, will be back
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Good beer. Friendly staff. Massive Garden. Three-legged dog.
Who could ask for more?
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Located merely a stone's throw along the street from the Goat, this pub is surrounded by plenty of other real ale pubs. The beer selection is good - Sadlers Celtic Tear, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Youngs Special, RCH Steam Bitter, Okells Red, Fox Mr Tod and Kempsey Wanderlust on our early evening visit yesterday. Cider was limited to Stowford Press. The interior is fairly comfortable and the resident three legged dog is friendly.
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The chaps and I frequented this delightful little pub late on Saturday night, and though we were only meant to stay for a cheeky half, stayed on for a few pints until closing time. After throwing my flat cap on to a hook, the affable (owner?) Dave gave us a free packet of pork scratchings (after quickly recinding the offer of a free round - wise move) 10/10
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Nice enough back street St.A boozer. Not brilliant but still has some resemblence of a a back street alehouse. Had a pint of Mr.Tod, which wasn't a great pint but drinkable.
anonymous - 9 Oct 2010 23:02 |
Agreed, Sherlock. Perhaps someone needs to come out of his kitchen and kick some arses and, perhaps, smile whilst doing it!
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Not improved since my last post. Landlord is a hard working nice chap who is let down by surly staff who only have one gear-a very slow one. Not good enough. Very busy on hot summer days, where do all these people go during winter??
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Another great pub in this area, with great real ale and decent food, and i very much enjoy their policy on children.
But staff and regulars are probably some of the most unwelcoming around
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Fine traditional pub situated in a residential side street off Holywell Hill.
The whitewashed exterior leads into two separate bars either side of the main entrance. The larger room on the left - The Lounge Bar - is divided into a number of different areas and is traditiionally and comfortably furnished. There's black beams, low ceilings, horse brasses, and a collection of brewery mirrors, including Aylesbury Brewery Co and Courage Imperial Stout. Just inside the door is an interesting framed map of St Albans detailing the location of 92 pubs then existing. As a further reminder of the past, note the redundant Watneys Red Barrel tap alongside the pumps on the bar.
The smaller bar on the right - The Den Bar - has a blackboard which lists the beers available in the two bars which, on my recent Saturday lunchtime visit, were Butcombe Gold, Youngs London Gold, Exmoor Stag, Caledonian Flying Dutchman, Youngs Special, Black Sheep and Tribute. This blackboard also lists forthcoming beers.
The Butcombe Gold - � 3.10p - was a pleasant pint, but was served slightly too cold. The pub has won local CAMRA awards and, as evidenced by the stickers on display, has been a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular.
I think this one should be included in any St Albans crawl.
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Ignore my comment about new tennants, that is the white swan
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Has new tennants/owners..not been in yet.
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Lovely two-roomed backstreet local - there is quite a large room off to the left of the bar (busy with people watching the rugby on our visit), and a smaller room on the right hand side. We sat in the latter and it really was a super place to have a drink - cosy, warm and welcoming. We sampled Adnam's Gunhill, which I'd not seen before - a fairly full-on winter ale, but nice. Also saw Explorer, Black Sheep, Young's Special, Old Hooky and Tribute. An excellent pub.
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Spent a happy couple of hours in the LIon tonight. Fairly quiet, but then what pub isn't on a Monday night these days. A good selection of beer, including Titanic Chocolate and Vanilla Stout, which, if had tasted as good as it smelt, would have been reason enough to go there on its own. There is a three-legged dog, a one-eyed cock in the garden and expertise in the Den on tap. Wit and wittery in equal measure. Dave the landlord is normaly found slaving in the kitchen but was to be found at front of the bar tonight. A little under the weather, I agreed to see him next Tuesday.
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Why has this pub won so many awards? Have I missed something? Did I visit on an off night? A Thursday evening at 9.45 and the place was dead, only a few quiet morose looking drinkers and permeated by a stagnant, musty smell - as if a lot of wet, smelly dogs had been drying themselves by the radiator for a few hours and no one had opened a window for a week. The beer was dull and insipid and had seen better days, a bit like the pub really.
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Still a great pub. However, the last few months have seen a decline in the level of service provided. All to often you are waiting far too long to be served.
A victim of its own success perhaps? With others in the vicinity upping their game, my visits are becoming less and less....a shame
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OOh why did i say it was a 3-legged cat? I must have been a bit tipsy and gone cross eyed. Whoops!
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There's now a one-eyed cockerel to go with the 3-legged cat/dog/anteater. But does the cockerel live in the same cage as all the chickens who have moved in too? If so, there could be trouble ahead. I like the White Lion very much; all human (and animal) life is here. It could even form the basis for a 21st century "Archers"-type radio series; I'll retrieve my old wooden typewriter and sketch out some ideas.
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Great range of beer which is of very good quality. Service was slow, which was partly to do it being a Beer Festival and partly the staff.
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Well done The White Lion, making it in to The 50 Best Gastopubs - in last weekends Independent. Unlike other "gastropubs" its still a great pub to drink in.
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I thought it was an anteater.
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Actually it's a 3-legged dog, but I agree with your sentiments!
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All the positive comments below about this pub are spot on. An added attraction here is the 3-legged cat, to accompany the legless drinkers!
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Three rooms, two bar areas one lovely rear garden and 7 ales with loads of choice (including Morrissey/Fox, Titanic and Tetley Dark on my visit, the aforementioned threesome all in good condition). Friendly service behind the bar and a tidy dartboard in a nicely-kitted-out pub which felt like a good place to be - could have spent all day in here (next time I will do so I can have go on the boules pitch). Check out the old Watneys Red Barrel font at the bar. A blackboard displays the beers tapped and forthcoming - a nice touch. The best St Albans pub on my crawl a couple of months back, well done. Would heartily recommend the place to all discerning pub-goers.
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Arguably this is now one of the most alluring boozers in the town, despite having much competition in the nearby vicinity. Besides being a charming old place that has the appearance of a cosy cottage and tucked away in a desirable residential area, it has wisely retained a characterful 2-bar layout indoors, and has a superb rear garden, which acts as an ideal sun-trap on a finer day and a repository for tiresome children etc while the serious adult business of enjoying some beverages can continue inside.
And the bar area sees much quaffing action. The focus, quite rightly, is on the variety of quality ales dispensed from its pumps (note the rare retention of a long-defunct Watney's Red Barrel tap on the bar - a delightful irony and a happy metaphor for the steady triumph of real ale over keg!). Some ace offerings were sampled on a recent visit, all washed down with convivial chat with some local folk, and the friendly banter from the rather comely barmaid (who a friend of mine took a keen interest in, only to be told elsewhere that she is already taken - and by the landlord?!).
This has similar advantages and appeal of the Lower Red Lion on Fishpool Street, but crucially, it currently has a clear edge over its rival - plenty of customers, who help to breathe extra life into what is an excellent template for how to run a successful pub. Keep it up folks.
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Excellent pint of Norfolk Wherry. Good Sunday roasts and superb desserts.
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Good pub! Beer kept well! Fantastic food especially Sunday lunch! Landlord looks a bit like Michael Ball with his hair do!
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Charming, friendly pub with a reasonable range of ales: the Titanic Lifeboat being especially nice.Well worth seeking out as there are a number of other good pubs nearby - White Harte Tap, Goat, Gaibaldi.
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Timely visit paid last night during a crawl. Unchanged since last time I popped in, my friend and I were treated to a warm welcome, and an exquisite pint of Harviestoun "Bitter and Twisted" that was on the best form I can remember. Other beers available were mainly from regional breweries, but most people were observed drinking ale which is definitely an encouraging sign.
I am not sure of the dining hours but the food menu reads very well indeed and prices are reasonable given the dishes mentioned. I would definitely return for a meal one day.
Had we not been on a crawl this would definitely be a pub to settle into for the night!
Retains the 9/10 I awarded last time.
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Still in top form , and have the lovely Beccy around these days. Best Pub in Snorbans (unless you are under 30 and drink Lager)
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Still the best pub in town for real ale, food also very good especially the sunday lunch
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Decent pint of Rev James, they also had Youngs Special. Worth another trip.
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I really like this pub, always a good selection of beers and nice food. the staff are good too. I love the August beer festival here.
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A warm homely and cosy feel at this old pub with its low ceilings, real timber beams etc. Fairly quiet Saturday evening, sadly a sign of the times, but a few small groups enjoying quiet conversation and good beer. The bar is split between the two main rooms with a sort of snug with a hatch to the back bar providing further seating.
Black Sheep Bitter, TT Landlord, Pride, Harviestown Bitter and Twisted, Titanic Anchor, and Rhymney Brewery Bevans Bitter (superb condition). I think the Watneys Red Barrel was off!
A nice pub, it grows on me with each visit.
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Great pub. Great real ale selection to. Massive garden which is excellent in the summer.
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Excellent in every particular; an oasis sitting but a few minutes' walk from the town centre abominations.
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Wonderful, splendid visit last night with a local and another friend over from Italy. Beer range excellent - I thoroghly enjoyed the superb beer from Saltaire which was dry, hoppy, bitter and perfectly well-kept. All drinkers in the various rooms of this pub were enjoying the Irish folk music session with the musicians numbering into double figures. One of St Albans' best pubs on all counts - will certainly go again!
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Pleased to report that Dave has posted notices around the garden asking parents to keep their brats quiet and under control (not to mention a mysterious and un-repairable fault which has afflicted the swings). Seems to have worked, garden is now pleasant and usable by grown-ups. Was most gratified to see one of the my-children-are-allowed-to-go-anywhere brigade throw a hissy fit on Saturday lunchtime after reading Dave's notice. Hopefully she will not be back.
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Blacksheep, Youngs, Bitter&Twisted, Titanic Capt Smiths. Small central bar serves a lovely little snug-like front room (�the den�), settles below windows, small brick fireplace adorned with brass bedpans, faux fire, local feel, blackboard displays beers on now & �coming soon� (8th pint, no notes) also the larger rooms to the left of entrance are the well furnished lounge bar with dartboard, and dining area (or simply more seating?). Didn�t realise there was a patio/beer garden, & even a boules pitch! I liked the White Lion on my first visit, and still do.
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Three pounds a pint is too dear for me I am afraid. The beer selection on Sunday was rather boring too.
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Friendly pub with good beer. One of the best - perhaps the best in St Albans. Marvellous place.
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Fabulous pub, well run, good beers and great food. Hard to fault.
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Great beer, great food, great landlord, great pub!
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Great Pub, Cosy, Good Beer and Darts!!
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This is easily one of the best-run pubs I have ever visited. Always enjoyable.
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The White Lion is always a pleasure and never a chore. I popped in for lunch today and was reminded what a smashing pub it is. There's nothing complex about it, just the basics done really well.
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Possibly the best pub in Snorbens these days. Not surprising really, since it's run by Dave who used to run the Lower Red when THAT was the best pub in Snorbens (which it isn't any more, not by a long way).
Garden in the summer is often spoiled by infestations of unruly brats, but then where isn't?
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This pub really comes into its own in the Summer months due to the large garden with children�s facilities and a petanqe piste (I think that�s the official term). Plenty of room inside with various seating areas, newspapers available and a dartboard. They pay a lot of attention to their real ales and there are generally 5 or 6 on at any one time that change regularly. There�s an interesting old Watneys Red Barrel pump on the bar that looks as if it now dispenses lager. This pub has improved over the last year or so and is well worth a visit if in the area. Combine it with the Garibaldi which can be reached through the back of the beer garden.
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Consistenly the best pub in St.A, shame about the prices.
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Car park full then?
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Well, one of my favorite pubs and ive only ever visited twice! I just need to state for all the dart players: THIS PUB DOES HAVE A DARTBOARD!! They have a lovely throw in here, probably my favorite throw of all. They have a nice unicorn eclipse pro board (rarely seen in st albans pubs) and my darts just seem to fly into the trebble 20 like magnets! i always take my friends here to impress them ;) haha!
Nice friendly staff and a perfect atmosphere. Sometimes quiet sometimes not so quiet but your always made to feel welcome (even at lunchtime when your the only 2 people there!)
Well worth a visit
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Was privileged to be in here to view the Rugby final. As ever, a decent selection of ales available. Pricey [�2.80] but much better ambience in here than in the cheaper Snorbans pubs. Pleased to see the Watneys Red Barrel is still here.
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Great beer; very friendly service; extremely good food: excellent. 9/10
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Cracking beer festival some great ales (particularly enjoyed the Dark Star Hophead) and decent food.
Prices definately too high and whilst it pains me I will stop coming here if the pricing doesn't improve. Thats my only criticism.
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Another great beer festival has kicked off here for the Bank Holiday weekend. 20 barrels of real ale and burgers in the garden - fantastuloba! The festival is being shared with the White Hart Tap down the road, where there are 10 barrels.
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Interesting point about the �2.70 price for Black Sheep. Unless I'm mistaken, the price isn't set by the pub or its manager, but by the Pubco above (no names, no packdrill). I can think of other places in St Albans where a pint of London Pride costs �2.80 or a pint of Spitfire costs �2.90. That doesn't excuse anything, of course, but higher prices in this part of the world are the norm. The question is, how much further can they go? My guess is: not much.
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OK - I will step up to the plate with a minor criticism. I think �2.70 is a bit steep for a pint of Black Sheep - one can get a very decent pint of JHB for �2.30 elswhere in St Albans. David is an excellent landlord and knows how to keep the beer, but when he is not around the quality can slip. So in my opinion, only the second best pub in St Albans.
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I struggle like crazy to criticise this pub and every time I fail. All of the comments below are spot on. It really is that good. Fantastic. XXX
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Lovely bar, friendly and relaxing, good beer, hard to fault it really, a little gem.
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Due to such a nice day yesterday went to this pub again, it just goes to show that this landlord looks after the building/garden and pub as it all looks so good. i noticed he had one best pub in south herts which just goes to show the old pubs are the best pubs, great selection of beers and now he has some fruit beers (not on tap) great pub, great staff, great food. My rating has to go up!!!
anonymous - 10 Jun 2007 10:01 |
I agree with previous post a fantastic community pub and probably the most underrated pub in these parts.
Puts the HnH and the Goat to shame with its atmosphere, even though it has the worst decor / furniture. Arent pubs weird things....?
anonymous - 29 May 2007 15:54 |
CAMRA's South Hertfordshire Branch has just awarded the White Lion their Pub Of The Year trophy.
It's a well-deserved award, and tonight David gave an eloquent speech praising his team and thanking customers for their support in the 2.5 years since he took over.
Bravo, this is a fine COMMUNITY pub that sets the standard for all pubs, everywhere. 10/10
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With the weather being as it is, a good choice as has a beer garden out back (en route to the Garibaldi if on a crawl). Still working on finishing off the bbq area thou!
But we were here for the beer. 4 on when we arrived (including Cally XPA), which were all (from our mini tour) in good condition. This had dropped to 3 before we left, but was not long in being replaced. Staff even remembering our previous orders! Nice.
Did not stay for food (as some other pubs to move to), but looked good from those dining. One of a cluster of good pubs in this area. Just not sure about the Watney Red though... (see in pub for details!)
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Top notch. Nice feel to this place, welcoming barstaff, good selection of ales. Tried the Titanic Anchor & Jennings Cumberland and both were outstanding, I think there were 3 or 4 others on offer. Probably the pub of the day for me on yesterday�s St.A. crawl.
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This is a really great place - friendly, excellent beer, and good range of six ales on hand pump. They had St Peter's when I went in, which is difficult to find. A really good pub - I shall be returning.
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A great pub full of nooks and crannies serving good and varying selection of real ales. Nice touch with the 'Watney Red Barrel' pump - which serves Carlsberg; ha ha. 8/10
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One of the best, if not the best, pubs in St A at the moment. Good selection of beers in good condition, friendly staff and great food (try the nachos!).
Recommended.
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Brilliant pub even for the non beer drinkers!! I had a lovely cup of tea there!! The staff were friendly, the atmosphere inviting and the Landlord even came to find me when i left my wallet behind. You just don't find service like that everywhere! Deffinately worth a visit and you should all sample The Dark and Stormy!!!
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What can I say? Fantastic pub! Beer is great, and the staff very friendly to new comers. If I lived in the area this would certainly be my local. The owner even came to find us after we left as a friend accidentally left her purse behind!
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Good to see this pub getting recognition at last. David works very hard to keep the beers and food at top quality, and barstaff such as Kim always provide a friendly welcome.
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The landlord had done wonders this is definatley one of the best pubs in town. Fantastic beers, never had one that wasn't spot on.
Prefer it if it wasn't a pubco pub, it makes the beer expensive if nothing else, but thats the way it goes.
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Despite being in the grip of a pubco, manages to present a decent mix of ales in fine condition. Nearly always something amongst them to delight even this picky sod. Some think food is a bit pricey but you gets wot you pays for and this is high quality. Eclectic selection of bands / musos Tues @ Sun. Much well directed effort by the landlord has made this pub probably the best in St Albans.
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I haven't voted for this pub for a while, but it seems to just get better and better. The recent beer festival was great, 29 ales on offer, all of which were in good nick, music on the Bank Holiday Monday as a charity fundraiser made for a great atmosphere in the garden. I ate there last night and the food was superb; the beers were top notch. Landlord managed to change 5 of the 6 ales on offer while cooking for 10 people. I give this pub 10/10.
anonymous - 15 Sep 2006 00:09 |
I've just looked at the white lion's beer festival page and seen that the photo's show just how good it really was, the athomsphere and music in conjunction with the children/bigger children being face painted all in all made the two days i went there with friends and family a great weekend. Between us we tried all but one of the beers, the landlord wouldn't sell it due to it not being 'in condition to sell' good for him, i would have hated to have a bad beer considering all the rest where very tasty. Hope it's on again next year.
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Last night there was good music ,friendly staff and the usual superb beer.Best pub in St. Albans now.
carefree.
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I've always like this place and a visit to their recent beer festival did nothing to shake that. Like alanharmer, I'm inclined to rate this above the LRL now.
Nice mix of people in the bar and the garden, good service, and excellent beer. You can't go wrong!
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The beer festival this weekend was good! As a rule I steer clear of these, but the one at the WLion was laid-back, friendly and with loads of good beers. Now I've found it, will visit this pub again when next in StA.
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First visit to this pub and having been disappointed @ Lower Red Lion , this pub provided a refreshing change.Staff provided excellent service and dispensed beer in very good condition , albeit just a touch on the cool side.
Agree with earlier comments that this is possibly best pub in St A.Have to say the Red Barrel appealed tomy (probably perverse) sense of humour.
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I like to praise this pub from time to time! It remains an excellent place, with up to 6 real ales in excellent condition - the Adnams Regatta and Waggledance currently available are recommended. For freshly cooked food few pubs in St Albans are better; arguably only the Portland and Verulam are in the same league.
There's one problem at present. Dave's bizarre sense of humour has led him to plonk a Watney's Red Barrel on the side bar; it wasn't just me who nearly had a heart attack on seeing it yesterday. Still, it's a reminder of how far real ale has come in the past 30 years or so.
In my humble opinion some of the other pubs in this area are sliding a bit, but the White Lion remains first class.
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Great pub, good beer, nice food, lovely garden. Staff have always been very friendly when I have visited. If you live in Snorbans or are just visiting pop it on your list.
Btw as to the previous post about wanting football and good beer, The Farmers Boy is always worth a look, especially on match-days.
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Possibly my favourite pub in St Albans at the minute. The interior is somewhat old-mannish but not without it's charm. The Landlord is pleasant, not the hail fellow well met sort but obliging to the point of nipping off and cooking a veggie dish of his own design for a couple of friends who didn't fancy anything off the menu. That was the only time I've eaten there but it was late on a busy Sunday and both the veggie nonsense and everything else we ordered was excellent. Best thing about it is the garden, an absolutely lovely place to have a beer and watch the sun go down. One minor criticism would be the lager selection whihc comprises Carlsberg for cooking and Wifebeater for premium, so Hobson's choice there but you can't have everything.
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So am I - it's one of the most depressing experiences going, being in a pub when there's an Eng-er-lund match being shown on the TV. If there's a better way to attract the riff - raff, I've yet to find it.
Well done to the White Lion
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It's not "snobby" to have no interest in football. Personally I'm pleased that not all pubs have succumbed to World Cup fever.
But let's not argue. I have no vested interest in any of these pubs, but for TV football and beer you might be better off going to the Garibaldi, which has plenty of TV sports, London Pride ales, and "old gits" like you and me! See you in there one day, maybe.
But not today. I'm off to the White Lion.
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I went to go in on saturday as the beer is always excellent and I wanted to watch the footy.When I asked if it was been shown he was rather rude sending me to the Hare and Hounds which was a bit to busy for an old git like me ,and the beer isnt so well kept.Why are footy fans treated like lepers by some snobby pubs,I love real ale and I love football,do they have to be mutually exclusive.
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I was in here the other Sunday night with Miss Jones. I was struck again by what a decent honest-to-goodness pub this is. The ale is reliably good and there's always a relaxed atmosphere about the place. It's an unpretentious pub for professional drinkers. Had a game of darts with Miss Jones. She won one game I won the other - the right result for an evening of continued conviviality.
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This is a great little pub near to the centre of town. It should be used more often as the ales (up to 6 available at all times)are always kept in good nick and the food is superb. I can highly recommend it to any ale or food enthusiast. He has just started opening all day too.
anonymous - 31 Mar 2006 15:19 |
P.S. This pub is now open all day, Tuesdays to Saturdays. Good news for afternoon drinkers!
anonymous - 30 Mar 2006 15:39 |
A lot of hard work has gone into this pub recently, and now it's paying off. Every time I enter there's something new: different beers or interesting food or a social/music evening. Apparently more beer festivals are on their way too. A fun summer lies ahead!
anonymous - 29 Mar 2006 16:13 |
Had a great bowl of home made soup here. They even gave me a top up with the bread....Warm and cosy pub.
A nice find with so many pubs in St Albans. Food and beer good value........Mitch
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The staff in this pub work very hard, and its popularity seems to be growing - deservedly so. Tasty wholesome food, 6 real ales, a good amount of space ... visiting this pub is an enjoyable experience. The only downside from where I sit is that you're never quite sure what the atmosphere is going to be: middle-aged, younger people listening to 90s music, CAMRA types studying the ales, or a mixture? Never mind, I'm sure it will settle down. Easily 8 out of 10, on a good day 9.
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The new man keeps great beer. Food looks like a rip off though.
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It must be said that this pub was buzzing the Bank holiday weekend. Great bands, fab beer festival(i'm not really a beer drinker)and great atmosphere.
A great local which is sooooooooooo friendly.
anonymous - 1 Sep 2005 19:07 |
Went into the White Lion on Saturday night having not been in for a couple of years. It seems to have changed for the better (it was not good back then) and is serving a greater variety of real ales than I remember. Food looks fantastic and they're advertising a beer festival for this August Bank Holiday weekend - I strongly suggest you try it!
Saucy - 22 Aug 2005 16:37 |
Excellent old pub, poorly run in recent years, now back on the paths of righteousness under new (6 months) landlord. Varied range of fine ales well kept.
Food above yer average pubgrub. No SAT TV.
Good sized garden but can feel like a creche at peak hours for ankle-biters.
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Fabulous pub recently taken over I believe. At least 5 real ales. Very welcoming, clean and above all, wonderful ale!
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This pub has just had a change of management. New, different beers look OK, but I was there on Friday night and there was no sign of any live music. Still a reasonable pub and worth checking out.
anonymous - 27 Feb 2005 17:36 |
Always absolutely dead - no idea how they keep going. But decent pub, small tv so you can watch the footie if everywhere else is busy. Friendly and cracking beer garden
Dave - 30 Oct 2004 12:36 |
I visit St Albans regularly, and this + The Goat + Garibaldi make a great local trio. The beers in the White Lion are its main selling point; also does some live music - the band I saw there were terrific.
anonymous - 8 Aug 2004 21:41 |
Used to spend plenty of time at the White Lion while I lived in St. Albans. I miss the place dearly. Great wait staff, good garden for summer evenings. And contrary to what I was told about English food before moving to the U.K., the Lion served some great sandwiches.
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Just down the road from the Goat where one of its ex-regulars told me that it had gone down hill a bit recently. I wasn't disappointed though, it's clean, comfortable and friendly and serves a very drinkable pint of Piddle in the Sun from the Wyre Piddle Brewery. It's a decent enough place but maybe suffers from there being so many good pubs within walking distance.
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