The Red Lion, Whitehall, Bristol

A good-sized street corner pub, it doesn’t look especially inviting from the outside being covered in graffiti, but we persevered and found that it is perhaps, slightly better than expected, although it was definitely a little on the shabby side. All three punters in the pub were sat on stools at the bar, making it slightly difficult to get there and see what was available. Internally it consists largely of a single L-shaped room, with a smaller room off to the right that looked to be unused; in fact there was a washing line strung across it drying out a number of towels. The graffiti theme continued to some extent, or at least street art style murals covering some of the available wall space, whilst elsewhere the paintwork was either battleship grey or black. Old wooden boards were on the floor whilst various other pictures, posters and beer mats were dotted around the walls. An old piano was in one corner, along with a couple of fruit machines, some tussled lamp shades and other miscellaneous paraphernalia. A pool table was at the rear, and a brick chimney breast with a wood burning stove was off to one side. Beers on tap were Ramsbury Farmer’s Best and Leatherbritches Dr Johnson, whilst a further two pumps appeared unused. Ciders meanwhile were their own Woke Bastard from the St Paul’s Cidery and Sheppy’s Classic Draught. A chalkboard next to the bar listed the available wince selection as White Grapey Booze and Red Grapey Booze. Further tasting notes added that all the grapey booze came from a country and was grown in some soil.