Old Black Lion, Northampton

The Old Black Lion is the closest pub to Northampton Station so it is very handy for a quick pint whilst waiting for a train or as a meeting point for travelling football or rugby fans. I found the staff and locals to be very friendly during my visit early Saturday afternoon and the Guinness was spot on and reasonably priced (I am a Londoner though!). Alongside the standard draught selection are four hand pumps and although one of these was off Greene King IPA, Abbot and Frog Island’s Natterjack were all available. There is a plasma screen that was showing snooker on BBC and I saw no advertisements for Sky Sports. The pool table mentioned in the previous review seems to have gone, but there is a fruit and quiz machine at the right hand side of the bar before some steps down to a sunken seating area. I didn’t spot any food advertised, in fact the only posters I saw were advertising an Ann Summers night that occurred the night before my visit. Some picnic tables for smokers can be found in the yard out the back and there is a separate function room that is available for hire. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit here again, but as I said before this pub is in a handy location.

Split-level pub, with the main bar and pool table area at the higher level and another room with more tables down a few steps in what must have been a separate building in the past. There are also a few benches in the yard out the back. Three handpumps - all local brews, with two from th Frog Island Brewery plus Phipps NBC IPA (£2.50, but a bit 'end of the barrel'). Very handy for Northampton station if waiting for a train connection.