The Lion, Ledbury

Peculiar place and I was warned by a couple of people in the PoW that hours were ‘whenever he fancies opening-up’ – on my Saturday afternoon visit he was only 10 mins late compared to the advertised time. It’s a micro hidden down a side street with little obvious indication of its existence or actually being open. When you get in you might well wait an age for someone to turn up to serve you; the attendant locals are well-versed. Finally an Eeyore-esque female did manifest, though the actual owner appeared afterwards. Inside is two rooms with a red, grey and wine case papering. 6 Nations flags on the ceiling despite there being no obvious TV. An Iron Maiden pinball machine and a mix of random British Heart Foundation furniture shop seating in the rear, plus a snake in a vivarium. Kraftwerk (ace!) on the tinny speakers (not so ace). Three casks stillaged with two labelled as being on, Ludlow Gold and Tudor Skirrid, the latter of which was in decent nick for the dispense (NBSS 3). A somewhat stilted atmosphere and I very much felt like an interloper. All a little odd and notably not GBG when usually micros are a shoo-in.

Whilst it is not apparent from the outside, the Lion has yet to re-open following lockdown. Speaking to the owner, they are hoping to re-open in the not too distant future.