The Golden Lion, Kidderminster

Inauspicious from the outside, with a dodgy render and paint job, with three letters missing from the pub’s name on the outer wall. Staple shaped interior, the right hand side was judged to be the better area, with a classic pub carpet and turquoise curved bar. Two ales on, GK OSH and Three Tuns XXX which was a commendable NBSS 3.5. Worth a nose if you’re on an extended crawl of town or fancy something a bit different as a one-off.

Always complete an Xmas walk into Kiddy for a pub crawl. Since last year, I have tried to add a previously unvisited Kidderminster pub onto the route. Last year, it was the Peacock in the Horsefair. This year, the Golden Lion. Working out how to get in is a challenge. The first door encountered on the right is locked up. I could see a gent returning from the loos through the glass, so tried the second middle door. Success, and with no vestibule, you are thrown right into the action. Nearly onto the Oche of the dartboard. Open plan surrounding a central bar. There were some workies playing darts and a couple of mothers with their babies in the opposite corner. Barman was incredibly courteous and despite my reservations, the cask was better than I would have expected. Marstons house - so the usual Wainwright/Hobgoblin but i tried the Bewdley Brewery Baldwin IPA. It was in very good condition.

Facebook page of The Golden Lion - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Golden Lion - www.facebook.com

Decent back street local with 3 beers on. Wainwrights, Three Tuns and Hobsons Old Prickly. I went for the latter which was in good shape. Glad to have called in.

The Golden Lion is a J-shaped pub with a dartboard on the left-hand wall before seating that runs up the long laminate floored left-hand side to a pool table at the left rear. A television in here was airing ITV, they seem to like this channel in these parts. In the smaller carpeted right-hand side of the pub are banquettes along the front window adjacent to a fireplace on the right-hand wall and more banquettes are found in the right rear. The jukebox was silent, but there was some rock music coming from a radio behind the counter that supports Standard keg alongside San Miguel and four hand pumps, two of which were on drawing Wainwright and an OK pint of Bewdley Brewery’s Baldwin, named after former Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin who was born locally in Bewdley. It’s hard to judge a pub when it’s so quiet, but the service was polite and I can imagine there being a good atmosphere when busier.

Solid side-street local with fairly plain furniture and decoration throughout the U-shaped layout featuring the bar and lounge seating to the right as you enter, with the dartboard, games machines and pool table in the left-hand branch. A patio beer garden is also available at the back. Finding three of the four handpumps in use, Wainwright (with an old Thwaites clip), an excellent Baldwin IPA from nearby Bewdley (£4.00) and a Rosie's Pig cider were being served.