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Detail Pages
The Golden Lion, SW1
SW1
SW1Y 6QY
Pub Type
Greene KingReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Golden Lion
The tall, slimline Golden Lion was built in 1900 on the site of a similarly named pub that dated back to 1762. Until 1957, when it was controvertially demolished, the St James Theatre stood next door and its presence is still celebrated in the Golden Lion (the upstairs bar was originally the Theatre bar).
The main bar is a small, bare floored, narrow room with the bar taking up about a third of the total floorspace making it a bit cramped but not without plenty of character. The rich burgundy patterned ceilings stand out as do the spectaucular curvy bay fronted windows that contain some fine coloured glazing depicting a Golden Lion crest and comedy/tragedy masks in line with its theatrical past. The bar canopy also contains some fime tiling. A coat of arms adorns the wall at one end of the bar and a tapestry hangs over the arched wndows that gaze into the narrow passageway outside where overspill drinkers converge.
The 6 hand pumps contained 4 real ales on my most recent visit; Adnams Explorer, Hogs Back T.E.A., Gales Seafarers and Harveys Sussex Best. Quality was fine, service prompt, and prices about average for the area.
There are not that many pubs in the immediate area but those that you can find are generally very good with the elegant and quite secretive Golden Lion being among my favourites.
On 15th October 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Golden Lion
Very narrow inside with limited seating consisting of a few high tables with stools and a drinking shelf opposite the bar on a side wall. I liked the leaded windows with the stained glass inserts including the golden lion motif in the curved front bay. Further windows above the shelf face onto the side passage. The bar is attractive with carved detail and a green tiled gantry with flower/leaf designs. There is what appears to be a Royal coat of arms on the side wall next to the bar almost hidded from view. I'm not aware what the significance of this is unless someone nips in now and again for a sharpener or two!
Two banks of handpumps, in three's. The choice of two was repeated, being Twickenham Grandstand and Gales Seafarers, with the third reversed.
I didn't visit the upstairs theatre bar.
On 28th February 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Golden Lion
What this pub lacks in size it more than makes up for in looks as it is a lovely little well kept traditional boozer. The barmaid was extremely friendly and my pint of Guinness was spot on. Sussex Best, Seafarer and Doom Bar were the ale options and Amstel was available alongside a standard draught selection.
There is a ‘Theatre Bar’ upstairs which I did not investigate, but I did utilise one of the high tables located in the alley down the side of the pub whilst I had a smoke.
There is a plasma screen which was showing Sky News which was muted to give way to some sedate background music.
This place is well worth a visit, especially for traditional pub fans – check out the impressive lead lined windows!
On 3rd February 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5268 recommendations about 5236 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Golden Lion
There has been a Golden Lion tavern at this location since 1762, and this one was completed in 1900. It is a very attractive pub from the outside with exquisite lead lined windows with the large bow front being the centre piece.
Then inside, a dark wood panelled interior which, although probably not original, still gives the place a very traditional feel. Not very big inside but benefits from the covered passage way outside for al fresco drinking.
The St. James's Theatre was situated next door until demolished in 1957 but the theatrical theme is represented in the pub, especially in the Theatre Bar upstairs, which houses some of the artefacts from the former theatre.
It used to be a Nicolsons House and I believe it still is. The beers on during my visit were Sharps Doombar and Red Ale, Admans Green beer and one other I cannot now remember, and the Adnams green Ale made a pleasant change.
All in all this is a good place with a bit of character and probably preferable it to the other Lion in the nearby Crown passage, but it's a very close thing..
On 17th December 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2126 recommendations about 2001 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Golden Lion
Very attractive exterior aspect, including an extraordinary ‘bowed' lead light frontage with picked coloured glasswork; I can only imagine it originally curved around an interior pillar (and the ceiling markings may support that). Enter to dark wood panelling, bar to left with old tiled raised surround, bar-back of wood and etched mirrors. Nice large arched windows opposite bar, flush-bolted to each side, but unfortunate mock panelling in centre with poor finish & wrongly directed grain bringing a damning verdict from my carpenter pal. Peripheral tall tables & window drinking ledges, decent soundtrack – Lennon Come Together, then mellow jazzy blues. I failed to investigate the upstairs ‘Theatre Bar' but the ground level was small but very nicely formed, quiet Sat pm. Pint of TT Landlord & halves of London Porter & HogsBack TEA came to £6.30 (my round, ouch!), the halves were in very good nick, but the pint was pretty average, Pride was the other beer on tap.
On 1st December 2008
- rating: 7
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Golden Lion
This is a fairly small Capital Pub Company pub. It features some rather impressive leaded lights windows, but it was not clear to me whether they were original features or a more modern addition. It also had an unusual tiled gantry that was no doubt a fairly modern addition. But it’s a nice enough little pub with some fairly decent ale – Sharpe’s Doom Bar; London Pride and Hogsback Summer Ale (I had the Sharp’s Doom Bar, which was fine). The only really negative point for me was the fact that the only seating was high stools around either ledges by the windows or high tables. I just don’t like this type of seating, but that is just my opinion – I suppose there must be some valid marketing justification for it as the trend seems to be spreading. It’s good for vertical drinking though, if that’s your preference. OK for a pint if you happen to be passing, but it won’t become one of my regular haunts.
On 12th July 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]