Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury

An old and famous hotel on one of the towns main roads. Oggy has described the interior below and very impressive it is too. The Oak Bar to the left as you enter is the public bar, but once served you can visit several other grand rooms and sit anywhere. The bar itself is unsurprisingly wood panelled and made of oak. Only 1 beer available on our visit, but this was a very passable pint of Shropshire Gold and at a decent price for this sort of place. The other half loved it in here, so I'm guessing we'll call in again next time we're in town.

The Grade 1 listed Lion Hotel sits at the top of Shrewsburys historic Wyle Cop , it is considered one of the most important buildings in Shropshire . Records for the Lion go back to 1618 although the building is much older in parts , the central part is timber framed and dates back to the 15th century , the place has been re-modeled several times over the years including the addition of a large domed Adam style ballroom , the Lion that stands guard over the entrance dates from 1777. Many notably guests have stayed over the years , Shrewsburys most famous son Charles Darwin was a regular here and Charles Dickens wrote the Pickwick papers here , Paganini , Disraeli and Jenny Lind . Today it is an hotel but has a public bar at the front , the main entrance is through an old and well used revolving door , there is a huge old Tudor fireplace and lots of oak panneling , the public bar is the Oak Bar and is to the left of the entrance , it has a small bar with a few keg taps and three handpulls , Butty Bach , Shropshire Gold and a decent Woods Shropshire Lad . While not a traditional pub it is worth popping in for a pint and absorb some of the history of this grand old place.