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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about Black Lion
This is a large street corner pub with a split-level, multiple room interior which has now, almost inevitably, been opened out to a degree. The lowest level on the left side of the pub, has modern laminate flooring, fancy wallpaper, high tables and stools and a huge screen showing horse racing. There's lots of standing room here which has the unfortunate effect of making it feel a bit empty and impersonal. The servery appears here and runs up to the middle level on the right side. The bar has a nice curved, dark wood counter, traditional bar back and a matching gantry, with some art deco style glass panes running under the ceiling, where the room would once have been divided in two. The middle level is carpeted and has a mix of high stools and tub chairs, under large leaden windows that run down two sides. More fancy wallpaper can be found between the two doorways that lead to the upper level, with a disused TV and framed artworks comprising the remainder of the decor. The upper level has lots more seating in a bare boarded room with similar decor to middle level. It has a bit of a dining room feel to it and was empty on my Wednesday evening visit, although I'm not even sure that this pub does food. Pop tunes were playing in the background and only a couple of other punters were still knocking around, and even they seemed to only be there because they were staying in the accommodation upstairs.
There were three cask options to choose from, albeit not the most inspired selection - Taylors Landlord (£5.50 a pint), Youngs Ordinary and Fullers London Pride, with two unused pumps - and the Landlord was in fairly good shape. Two incredibly chipper lads were working the bar, and they gave me a very friendly welcome before one of them performed a valiant job of pouring my Landlord from an extremely lively line.
Surbiton has a couple of very good pubs and lots of decent options that don't quite reach the same heights and this place definitely falls into the latter category. I liked the grand feel of the pub, even if a lot of its more interesting features have been lost, and the service was top notch, but the beer range and lack of atmosphere bump the place back down the pecking order. Worth a quick look, but there are better options elsewhere.
Date of visit - 17th July 2024
On 31st October 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about Black Lion
Quite busy,friendly corner pub.Nice beer garden/patio with tv showing Olympics.Three cask beers Youngs -bitter,Theakstons- grouse beater and a very drinkable Arkells-olympiad
On 20th August 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Black Lion
A lively youngs pub sat prominently on a street corner. Five beers all mainstream,my Youngs Special was in decent condition if not very exciting.A nice enough pub but not a destination I would make a bee-line for.
On 10th October 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Black Lion
The Black Lion is a thin Youngs corner pub that has five hand pumps that, just before Christmas, were drawing Ordinary, Special, Bombardier, Tribute and Youngs Black Lion which I imagine to be some rebadged brew. There was also a standard draught selection and the friendly barmaid served me a decent pint of Guinness without much wait even though the bar was busy. Pub grub is served during lunchtimes and early evenings and on Mondays all food is half price. There are a few plasma screens in situ, but these were all off when I visited and some festive songs were being played through the speakers. I didn’t spot any advertisements for Sky Sports (that doesn’t mean that the football isn’t shown), but I did spot the sign advertising the weekly quiz which takes place from 20:45 every Tuesday evening.
There is a decked and paved beer garden out the back for use on days that are a lot warmer than when I visited.
I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to drink here, but I would use this pub if I lived locally.
On 18th January 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5970 recommendations about 5936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tony Kent left this review about Black Lion
Nice Young's Pub, good beer, looks like it has music nights. Worth another trip
On 10th September 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Black Lion
A rare example of a fairly early Victorian pub this far out in the outer suburbs. Thought to date from at least 1840, when it was already a Young's house,(the Bass mirror therefore is clearly an added artifact) The Black Lion occupies a commanding corner plot. Nowadays the main room along the side houses the bar, the area is semi seperated by a half partition, mind your head and the step down is marked, the rear area having a TV, fireplace and just high tables with stools. The front bar has more varied seating, plenty of the traditional type with banquettes, but also leather wing arm chairs and pouffes. A side room up a couple of steps has a more elegant feel with larger circular tables of good quality, a dresser showing plates and a range of old photographs in frames.
The main area has a couple of big screens, racing on early evening, watched by a genial bunch of mostly Irish drinkers. Service from the Geordie barmaid was quick, friendly and efficient.
The refurb looks relatively recent but is considerate of the pubs history and previous layout, and I do like the place. The windows also have some stained glass inserts, and perimeter coloured glass.
Young's beers still, Ordinary, Special, Waggledance, Bombardier plus an excellent pint of St Austell Tribute. Food looks good and cheap too, sandwiches from £2.50, and most mains at £5.95, mostly stated as being home made too.
To the rear there is a pleasant decked outdoor area.
On 9th June 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Black Lion
Quality Youngs corner pub, good for a session, a meal or a quick one.
On 3rd January 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]