White Lion, Bristol

Describing itself externally as the best little pub on the centre, The White Lion is a small traditional single bar pub on the very edge of Colston Avenue by the pedestrianised square. Externally at first glance, it partly resembles a continental café, with its green canopy, shiny chrome seating outside on the pavement and a clear emphasis on advertising speciality coffees – either to have in or take away. Inside we find a simply furnished ale house style of pub which includes a row of stools by a ledge where you can watch the busy traffic go by. Contrary to what you might expect from the outside, it’s very much a drinkers pub with evidently a few regular local characters. The spiral staircase to the downstairs toilets might best be described as challenging. It’s a Wickwar Brewery tied house – their only one, so I gather – which, on my recent evening visit, was offering 5 of their beers which included Station Porter ( 6.1%). My pint of BOB ( £ 2.80p ) – which is described as the session bitter – was in good form. I’m not familiar with the Wickwar range, but I’m never particularly impressed when beers advertised on a blackboard above the bar are different from what the pump clips show – as was the case with at least 2 of the beers when I visited. Worth popping in if crawling in the area.

A tiny pub with large windows overlooking the junction of two busy roads, so ideal for any traffic-watchers out there. Had a decent pint of Wickwars Bankers Draft from which I think a charitable donation is made from the price of each pint, could probably have done without the landlord all but shoving a collecting box at us though. Gentlemen beware, this pub has perhaps the most precarious and narrow climb down to the Gents ever, and despite the encouragement of my drinking partners I do have to admit to refusing the 'stairway challenge' and waiting for the next pub.

Very small traditional pub selling the full range of Wickwar beers.Don't try going to the toilet if you have had too much to drink!