The White Lion, Grantham

On the southern outskirts of the town, GBG 2025 listed but another filler I’m guessing. A community pub, most of the community was blocking the bar in the public while the lounge was deserted. I could tell it was the public bar as it had three dart boards and a pool table as well as the machine and jukebox, not to mention the sweary salt of the earth punters. To be fair they were all enjoying their night out and socialising nicely. The jukebox included such delights as the theme from Rainbow, the 1970s kids program and favourites from the Wizard of Oz among other weirdness. I think I was the only one drinking cask which may explain why with four hand pumps only one was working, there are two in each bar. The clip was on one in the lounge but a second was attached to an upright in the public for the more sensible to see (bar blockers permitting). It was a bit thick but drinkable and it was taken on a Tuesday night. Rough cast plaster above grey panelling forms the fairly bland interior. Not sure it’s worth the walk, “they” often say one beer pubs are better than multi beer pubs, not here I venture to say.

The White Lion has a Lounge Bar to the left where the counter up the right faces seating under the side windows and there’s a fireplace on the rear wall. Standard and premium keg are available and the one of the two hand pumps was in use drawing Purity’s Mad Goose. The main bar to the right is much larger with a mix of carpet, tiles and wooden flooring. The L-shaped counter on the rear wall by the entrance supports three hand pumps, all of which were unused. The three locals stood at the counter were all drinking lager, so I decided to do the same, although when I sat down I did notice lots of old pump clips along the roof beams so maybe I should have gone for the ale. Televisions for Sky and TNT Sports are found throughout and seating runs from the counter to three dartboards that hang on the right-hand wall beside a pool table. The jukebox sat silent, which was good because the landlord was very friendly so there was conversation at the bar. I’d pop back in if passing but wouldn’t go out of my way to revisit. Note that the doors don’t open until 16:00 in the week and 14:00 at the weekend.

A traditional two room boozer, seemingly unchanged since the early 1980s, including the myriad of signed photos from that period above the bar (a Grantham speciality!). Left on entry to the lounge with retro pub carpet, red wine banquettes, dodgy artex walls and quarry tiling by the bar. The right side public bar is larger with a green theme and a tiled floor along with pool and darts and music. Four pumps with just Thwaites Wainwright on but it was in very good shape – quality over quantity. We unexpectedly found a lot of joy in this simple pub – perhaps the interior is due consideration as a heritage pub?

A long pub with a small room on the side street and a longer room, ending in an area that features several dart boards, on the main road. There are five hand pumps split between the two, with Timothy Taylor Landlord pump clips turned round and just Sharps Doom Bar available at the time of our midweek afternoon visit. Date of visit: 1st July 2015