White Lion, Finsbury, EC1

There were a couple of ales on in here - London Pride and St Austell Tribute (£1.90 a half). There was no sign of food or menus late Wednesday afternoon, and it didn't really look like the sort of place that would give food a high priority. This is another unpretentious pub in this area. They have green upholstered banquettes around the sides, complete with loads of scatter cushions. Along the front of the bar counter they've strung bunting advertising something called "Stowell's", which judging by the bottles depicted on it looks to be some kind of wine. The fireplace on the left has a pushbike leaning against it. I guess all this demonstrates a pub there for its functionality rather than its appearance. However, the bar back did have what looked like old 60s signage for "wines, spirits & cocktails - Champagne - fine ales and beer". I doubt whether very much Champagne gets drunk in here, but I wouldn't have been surprised to see a bottle of Babycham gathering dust somewhere. There's another largish room at the back with a couple of pool tables and a dartboard. At the entrance to this room is an incongrously sited white covered sofa with glittery cushions. This pub is something of a combination between tackiness and simplicity. It didn't seem to me to have the warmth of other unpretentious pubs that I've visited, and looked as if someone had failed spectacularly to inject some elegance into what is in essence a straightforward boozer. But maybe I've got this place all wrong, but that's how it looked to me. It gets a 5 because the Tribute was OK.

Adnams and Tribute were the ale choices in here before Christmas and there was also a standard draught selection. My Guinness was well poured and I found both of the barmaids to be very friendly. The front bar area of the pub has limited seating around the walls and a plasma screen for the showing of Sky Sports and music channels when there is nothing to show. There is a dartboard and a couple of pool tables around the back of the bar and I think that a pool league game was just finishing as I arrived as there were some sandwiches etc laid out on a table, but I could have been mistaken. I felt comfortable as soon as I sat at the bar and although this isn’t a remarkable pub I will still return for the hospitality when next in the area.