White Lion, Walsall - pub details
Address: Sandwell Street, Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 3EQ [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 13113) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Walsall (0.8 miles), Bescot Stadium (1.1 miles), Tame Bridge Parkway (1.7 miles)
Pub facilities/features:
- Real ale
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> Current user rating: 7.7/10 (rated by 16 users)
other pubs nearby:
Dog and Partridge Inn, Walsall (0.2 miles), Walsall Cricket Club, Walsall (0.3 miles), Wheatsheaf, Walsall (0.4 miles), New Fullbrook, Walsall (0.4 miles), Sir Charles Napier, Walsall (0.5 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of White Lion, Walsall
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 16 shown - see all reviews
| What a shock. We returned to a once favourite haunt to find it almost empty and in a miserable state. A few years ago, we’d often visit the White Lion on a Saturday night, having had many enjoyable evenings there. Back then, the Lounge was comfortable with a decent juke box for those who wanted it. The public bar would be fairly full, with occasional bands or other acts playing on a tiny stage area to one end. How things have changed. Arriving early Friday evening, we headed for the Lounge only to find every table set for food – but not a single diner there. A pool table (also empty) had appeared at the far end, rarely an improvement to any pub. As non-diners, we felt obliged to head to the next-door public bar. The barman was playing darts with what appeared to be the only customer. He broke away from his darts match to serve us, only to return to his game afterwards. This is a pet hate of ours, bar staff who are busy with their mates/laptop/accounts, as the customers then feels like a disturbance to their routine. The beer range was Wye Valley IPA, Adnam's Southwold Bitter and Marston's Pedigree. With the latter almost always a disappointment, we opted for the Adnams which proved fairly dull. I was glad we’d only ordered halves, whereas my partners regretted not walking out. A large, old TV had been dumped at one end of the public bar, presumably to entertain the bored staff, but killing any chance of atmosphere or conversation as a result. The cook, in the absence of any customers, kept appearing to sit down and watch it. We could smell the kitchen’s deep fat fryer heating in the hope of some customers, but this didn't smell very nice. My partner visited the ladies toilet to find a large bin full to bursting with what she guessed was well over a week’s worth of waste, something you might have expected the bored staff to have dealt with. The ‘Specials Board’ listed Chilli, Cottage Pie, Ploughman's & Steak Salad, leaving us wondering just how more basic the standard menu could have been. Asking locally, it seems the owners we fondly remembered left a few years ago. Since then, the PubCo has changed, and several new landlords have passed through in quick succession. The latest crew are rumoured to be just holding the place whilst a ‘Change of Use’ planning application is made, presumably to change it away from its pub history forever. CAMRA are said to be fighting this, but I have to say things don't look optimistic. The phrase ‘running down to close’ was used by one local, and based on our visit, that seems spot on. Roy22 - 10 Aug 2014 19:54 |
| A decent local with 4 well kept cask ales and a friendly landlady. It's only a 15 minute or so walk from the Park Inn, by Bescot Stadium station, where I was staying. Worth a visit if you are doing likewise! alexw - 15 Jan 2013 16:38 |
| It must be something about after match drinkers as this pub is a couple of mile from Walsall ground but I like others ended up there after a game - to be fair I have been in this pub before (too many years ago to mention here) and thought I would give it a go. Well worth it I would say with a few real ales and a very mixed clientele (arty types mixed with footie fans). I get told off for saying it too often but it really is an oasis in the middle of a run down area of Walsall (Caldmore if you know the area). ianatwalsall - 24 Sep 2012 15:48 |
| Friendly staff and customers make this a must visit on a match day as this is by far the best pub near to the Bescot Stadium. Great range of beers and even better pickled eggs. The bar has a sloping floor which is a bit strange on your first visit. Well worth seeking out. villagefamily - 17 Apr 2012 11:32 |
| Great backstreet pub with a very knowledgable landlady and some well-kept beers. Our visit coincided with the aftermatch of a beer festival which meant that the remaining ales - indcluding some belters like Sarah Hughes' dark ruby, were on offer for two quid a pint. The landlord and brewer of the Price of Wales' Feathers and Castor Ales was also present in the deep end and appeared suitably impressed. Will definitely look forward to another visit. Stamfordian - 3 Nov 2010 10:00 |
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