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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Lion Tavern, Liverpool
Liverpool
L2 2BP
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Strongers . left this review about Lion Tavern
The Lion Tavern has a serving counter up the left that supports premium keg alongside Neck Oil and five hand pumps that were drawing Otter Beer, Lancaster IPA and Lion Tavern Pale Ale. I noted that the actual bar didn’t seem to fit properly as the windows on the wall behind seemed to come down too low, like the counter and back bar had been removed from somewhere else, but this was the last pub of an all-dayer so I was probably seeing things. There’s a hatch from the bar to the right where there are front and rear seating rooms with brown banquettes. The governor was very friendly and I liked the atmosphere even though it was quiet, so I’d swing by again to have a proper look at the architecture.
On 6th March 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about Lion Tavern
A lovely pub with a very nice interior and backed up by a decent beer range, on my April visit the beers were Red Willow Doubtless, Salopian Shropshire Gold, Moorfields Mild and Wild Fox Crafty Fox, the Cider was Rosies Pig. The pub is definitely toward the top end of the list of pubs visited on my stay in Liverpool.
On 13th June 2024
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about Lion Tavern
It's hard to argue with the two previous reviewers, especially while sitting in the pub and drinking Liverpool Moorfields Mild (NBSS 4), but the pub lacks the little bit extra that gets a 9 or 10. The interior is one of the best, the beer is great, but there's a little bit of a smell, and the exterior is a little shabby. I know times are hard, and don't worry, I'm beating myself up as I write this. A definite 8 though.
On 20th May 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
The Chairman left this review about Lion Tavern
A proper pub with a selection of rooms and a real old fashioned bar and, most importantly, excellent beers on offer. Just splendid.
On 23rd February 2024
- rating: 9
[User has posted 49 recommendations about 49 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Lion Tavern
Another high rating from me but its got everything I want from a pub.
Drinks - a perfect, pin sharp Peerless Seven Streets IPA. If it hadnt been the afternoon, I would have surely taken advantage of the whisky tasting flights - available in £10, £15 and £20 options. And what a collection. Especially Irish.
Decor - Liverpools answer to Manchester's Pev? If you want tiling, central bar, etched windows, gorgeous bar back, hidden back rooms and so on.
Music - free jukebox, with people with great taste on my visit. The stones a break from the omnipresent beatles.
Food - a chiller cabinet full of pork pies :-)
Locals - super friendly.
I'm unsure what else you could want from a pub!
Will be my goto Liverpool pub in the future - but I have much work to do first.
On 25th April 2023
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Lion Tavern
Another high ceiling pub near to Moorfields, some ornate tiling and features
On 11th February 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1542 recommendations about 1519 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Lion Tavern
Corner pub that has some fantastic architecture inside, but similar to its altogether grander counterpart the Philharmonic across town, it seems to rely a little too much on this to the detriment of its beers.
The real ale range is down to 4 these days. Liverpool Brewing Moorfields Mild & Wily Fox Crafty Fox are regular beers. Guests on my visit were Peerless Pale & Leeds Pale. Real cider has now been discontinued. My mild was enjoyable, but the pub was very quiet, especially considering there was a Premier League football match on that day. Staff seemed to be confused as to why there were so few customers, but whilst I still enjoy a visit to the Lion Tavern, it does seem to be living off past reputations.
On 5th October 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Lion Tavern
Enjoyed our visit to this 2019 Good beer Guide pub where we chose Red Star brewery The Lion which was fine. Most of the beers available were standard beers that are easily found, but the pub itself is amazing to wander round. Plenty of stained and etched glass have given it grade II listed status.
On 21st August 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Lion Tavern
Earlier reviews have summed this up better than I can so i'll just summarise that it's a classic two-sided boozer with one side much bigger and more comfortable though less atmospheric than the other. A good range of beer including local options. well worth a visit along with the Railway next door which is now back open, thank god.
On 23rd December 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Lion Tavern
This is an excellent well preserved street corner pub, close to the old and now closed Exchange Station, the larger and main room is The Bar which has an old Falstaff's Brewery window, beyond through doorways are two lovely connecting rooms, the "News Room" being particularly appealing and contains the old bell pushes in the banquettes. The island bar is a sight to behold, curved etched glass, lower patterned tiling and dark stained upper woodwork, ornate ceiling cornices. The tiling extends to the walls in The Bar, the ceiling has elaborate cornices and copper hooded fireplaces look to get use in the colder months. Leather button backed bench seats, small chairs at Britannia type tables, lots of interesting B&W photos of the Mersey Tunnel in the early years including during construction. The bar area has some splendid floor tiling while the back rooms are carpeted.The handpumps are all in the bar but there are boards listing the beers, this visit had Red Star Lakata plus Lion IPA, Moorhouse Pride of Pendle, Titanic Plum Porter, Charnwood Liska and Rock the Boat Dazzle, two not on. Lunchtime/afternoon food seemed to comprise of pork pies.
A lovely pub, I did enjoy it but I found the service to be disinterested and almost objectionable, a request for a top up to a short pint was met with a "let it settle"....it didn't and eventually I got a token top up plus the landlady had a habit of half pulling a pint then disappearing to chat to presumed regulars and needing a harrumph to finish the job, so down a mark. Despite this it is an essential Liverpool visit.
On 7th August 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]