Ye Olde White Lion, Congleton

The rozzers were nosing around after an altercation took place outside Ye Olde White Lion earlier in the evening, so the handful of locals were buzzing with excitement. This good natured excitement was amplified because the policeman looked about 12 years old. This Tudor pub is square with a large thick table in the front left and an L-shaped bar counter in the rear left corner. In the front right seating is found around a log fireplace and banquettes are found in the right rear. There was a strong smell of white spirit and on the sink in the gents was a can of Right Guard deodorant, no idea! The bar supports standard and premium keg alongside six hand pumps, three of which were in operation drawing two from the local Beartown Brewery and Abbeydale’s Absolution. This was the last pub on a ten hour Winfield of Congleton so I’m amazed that I can remember it so well, however I think my memory triggers would probably be filed in the ‘bit of a crap pub’ drawer.

Visited last week. Very old looking externally and plenty of dark wooden beams inside, at least some of which look authentic. Split levels inside and bowing ceilings all make it seem authentically old so if it is fake it's pretty convincing and I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt! Six hand pulls at the bar, four of which were on - and indeed of the two that were off one had literally just gone off as I was at the bar (unfortunately for me it was the one I fancied trying). All the cask offerings are from Beartown, a local brewery. By Beartown Skinful was served in a Carling glass, but I guess you can't have everything. Inside it is quite limited in terms of seating so I expect it can feel quite busy at peak times. There is a mix of seating, and I found the banquette in the rear section to be comfortable. There is a mix of flooring styles too - wood, tile and carpet all featured. Music was playing, and perhaps a but louder than you might expect for 6pm on a Tuesday, though it was certainly not unbearable. Dogs appear to be welcome and Wi-Fi is advertised with the password on a chalkboard behind the bar. Toilets are accessed via the beer garden and despite not being particularly modern they had a nice clean smell to them and were surprisingly pleasant. All too often I find that the olde worlde looking pubs are the ones that rely on a rather mundane selection of real ale; Ye Olde White Lion bucks the trend and is well worth checking out.

Brewers Tudor or original? All too square inside so probably not that old in spite of that “Ye Olde”. Three pulls of Beartown with three unused plus a mix of mostly National kegs over two low T-Bars on the small L shaped counter. It may have been four small rooms originally judging by the residual walls and stuff, it’s not that big now but has a beer garden. Each area is a wee bit different, banquette and low tables front right, high seating with old Congleton photos as décor front left, vertical drinking and machines by the counter and banquette seating with more dining style tables rear right. Screens here and there. Not startling beer quality but drinkable. The music was a selection of 1970s to 80s hits.

The interior does not quite live up to the nice black and white frontage on the High Street, but it is pleasant enough. Outside there is a considerable amount of decking to the rear. Three ales on: I also tried the Kodiak Gold which was exceptional.