White Lion Inn, Walsall

A grand example of a late Victorian red brick building with moulded stone door frames, nice key stone details around the etched windows and two half timber gable ends. It is a back street community style pub with two rooms that is owned by Punch Taverns. The entrance on the left of the building gives access to both rooms, a public bar on the right and a comfy lounge on the left. The public bar is L shaped with a large L shaped counter with brass frame work in the back left corner, as noted by some of the other reviewers the bar has an unusual sloping vinyl floor, green leather bench seating around the two walls opposite the counter, a dart board with dedicated mat and oche in the back right corner, a large flat screen TV on the left hand wall (showing the horse racing) next to the entrance and old photos of Walsall on the walls. The lounge is long and narrow with a smaller counter in the right hand wall, red leather bench seating, carpeted floor, a piano against the left wall opposite the counter, a large brick fire place with a genuine coal fire and grate in the left hand wall towards the back of the room and double doors that lead out to a nice beer garden behind the pub with half a dozen picnic tables and a pond. The two rooms are also linked by a short corridor at the back of the building where the toilets can be found, in reference to Soup Dragons review, I did not notice any unwanted odours in the two main rooms so hopefully that problem has been resolved. Regular ale is currently Timothy Taylor Landlord, Adnams Bitter and Greene King IPA with Highgate Dark Mild on most weeks and a single changing guest beer which was Wye Valley Hereford Pale Ale on this occasion. I normally try halves in pubs that have a decent selection of ales, but I couldn’t resist a pint of the Dark Mild which was so good that I had a second (GBG 2012). One of the few pubs to have the Dark Mild on regularly in the town centre at least. This is a brilliant back street pub with a nice traditional interior and a superb exterior. I really liked the feel of this place and the choice of a couple of fairly local beers, I only sampled the Mild but it was spot on so I would return on the strength of that. One of the better pubs in central Walsall and definitely worth the walk from the bus or train station.

The best real ale pub in town I say. Quality ales, bar generally a good laugh, helpful and fast bar staff, sensible prices.

This is a nice, two bar pub set in an attractive building about 15-20 minutes from Walsall train station by foot. The most striking feature, upon entering, is the unusual, uneven floor, which is acknowledged by signs on the doors admitting to either the ‘Deep’ or ‘Shallow’ end of the pub. The larger of the two rooms has a bit of a public bar feel to it, with some tatty banquettes lining the walls and a few tables with low stools dotted around elsewhere. There are bare floorboards and a fairly basic bar counter with plenty of pump clips behind illustrating a good ale policy. A dart board is set in a corner of the shallow end and there was a large TV which was turned off in favour of Absolute 80’s radio which was playing in the background. The second room houses the lounge bar which is carpeted and has some fancy red leather banquettes and low stools. There is an upright piano and a jukebox and the room gives access to the beer garden at the rear. The beers available are listed on a board above the bar counter in the public bar. On my visit the choices were Adnams Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Highgate Mild (£2.45), Greene King IPA and Abbot Ale, plus Thatcher’s Heritage cider. My pint of Mild was in good shape and was served by a cheerful barman. I enjoyed my brief visit to this pub, but having arrived just after opening, the place was obviously very quiet. I can imagine the pub would be excellent with a decent crowd in and I would certainly consider a return should I find myself in Walsall again.