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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by john mcgraw
Submitted on Tuesday, 11th August 2009
With picture contributions to 21065 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (19 more images)
Requested be closed with reason - Other: http://www.islingtontribune.com/news/2015/dec/drinkers-toast-breakthrough-fight-save-%E2%80%98beacon-light%E2%80%99-pub-refuses-die
Detail Pages
White Lion, Finsbury, EC1
EC1
EC1V 8AB
Served areas
Reviews of White Lion (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about White Lion
There were a couple of ales on in here - London Pride and St Austell Tribute (£1.90 a half). There was no sign of food or menus late Wednesday afternoon, and it didn't really look like the sort of place that would give food a high priority.
This is another unpretentious pub in this area. They have green upholstered banquettes around the sides, complete with loads of scatter cushions. Along the front of the bar counter they've strung bunting advertising something called "Stowell's", which judging by the bottles depicted on it looks to be some kind of wine. The fireplace on the left has a pushbike leaning against it. I guess all this demonstrates a pub there for its functionality rather than its appearance. However, the bar back did have what looked like old 60s signage for "wines, spirits & cocktails - Champagne - fine ales and beer". I doubt whether very much Champagne gets drunk in here, but I wouldn't have been surprised to see a bottle of Babycham gathering dust somewhere.
There's another largish room at the back with a couple of pool tables and a dartboard. At the entrance to this room is an incongrously sited white covered sofa with glittery cushions. This pub is something of a combination between tackiness and simplicity. It didn't seem to me to have the warmth of other unpretentious pubs that I've visited, and looked as if someone had failed spectacularly to inject some elegance into what is in essence a straightforward boozer. But maybe I've got this place all wrong, but that's how it looked to me. It gets a 5 because the Tribute was OK.
On 17th January 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about White Lion
Adnams and Tribute were the ale choices in here before Christmas and there was also a standard draught selection. My Guinness was well poured and I found both of the barmaids to be very friendly.
The front bar area of the pub has limited seating around the walls and a plasma screen for the showing of Sky Sports and music channels when there is nothing to show. There is a dartboard and a couple of pool tables around the back of the bar and I think that a pool league game was just finishing as I arrived as there were some sandwiches etc laid out on a table, but I could have been mistaken.
I felt comfortable as soon as I sat at the bar and although this isn’t a remarkable pub I will still return for the hospitality when next in the area.
On 3rd February 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5968 recommendations about 5934 pubs]
No known official website for this pub.
- CAMRA WhatPub :: White Lion - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 17 January 2014 by Rex Rattus
- Darts : Yes last updated 17 January 2014 by Rex Rattus
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 03 February 2010 by Old Blue
- Pinball : No last updated 17 January 2014 by Rex Rattus
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 17 January 2014 by Rex Rattus
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 17 January 2014 by Rex Rattus
