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Detail Pages
White Lion, Stroud Green, N4
N4
N4 3PX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about White Lion
The ale selection has certainly improved since Alan Winfield's visit last year. There are now four handpumps in here - two facing you as you enter, and a couple more around to the left in what was once probably a separate room. The first two were clipped for West Berkshire "Oh, Beehave", (but the taster I was given revealed it to be well past the turn), and Cottage Brewing Sentimental Journey (£4.10 a pint). The two ales available in the other bar were Reunion Brewery (a West London brewery) ales - Incredible Pale Ale and Opening Gambit. Food was available Wednesday lunchtime, with main courses at £10.50 upwards, but weekday lunchtime specials are cheaper - a bowl of pasta is £7.50, as is sausage & mash, with the steak & ale pie at £9.
The pub is now nothing like it must have been when it was a 'spoons. It's now bare-boarded; walls have been stripped to expose the brickwork, most of which would be better left covered up, and there's a fair bit of indigo paintwork around the place. One interesting piece of artwork on one of the walls was a montage of images taken from Marvel and DC comics, mainly featuring lions. Most unusual. Furnishings include sofas and armchairs, but seem to be mainly dining room tables and chairs. The pub goes back a long way, with what looks like a dining room at the back, complete with skylight and chandelier. There is a bit of seating at the front, effectively on the pavement.
So, I guess this pub is best described as a fledgling gastropub. But there were a few pub grub options available and four real ales not from the ranks of the usual suspects is pretty good going. The staff were friendly and helpful (a taster being offered) and I would have no objection to a re-visit.
On 12th July 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about White Lion
The White Lion is a decent sized pub that is set in a row of shops on the main road down to Finsbury Park.
This pub was on my list to do,but i changed my plans and walked down from Crouch End picking up any pubs i came across while walking to Finsbury Park station.
Once inside there is a U shaped room to the front which is bare boarded,there is bench seating and normal tables and chairs.
There is a separate dining room to the rear right.
There was only one real ale on which was Trumans Rio Gold which went down well.
If you like to watch traffic go by there are seats outside which are covered by an awning.
I was happy enough having a drink in this pub.
Pub visited 4/8/2016
On 2nd October 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about White Lion Of Mortimer (JD Wetherspoon)
Situated roughly halfway between Crouch Hill and Finsbury Park stations, this is a shop converted Wetherspoons pub with an unusual internal layout. The pub is essentially a single room set up, but has been split in two by a series of heavy duty pillars and short sections of wall that might actually have been better presented as a continuous wall separating two rooms. The room is predominantly carpeted but has a tile floor space to the front and around the bar. The servery is along the right hand wall and has a simple counter split in two by another pillar. Standard seating is arranged at the front of the pub under large folding doors which open out to some pavement seating, whilst the left hand side of the room has a few high tables and stools. Three quarter high wall panelling can be found through most of the room with the wall above painted in a neutral shade and left blank, with very little on show throughout. To the rear is a nice seating area with some comfier options under a skylight with some decorative tiles and ironwork. I arrived as a large food delivery was taking place, so I couldn't actually explore this part of the pub properly, but I thought I glimpsed a garden to the rear, although I may be mistaken.
There was a cider festival underway when I visited, which meant that half of the ten pumps were dispensing ciders and perries. The remainder had a mix of three 'Spoons regulars and two guest ales from which I selected the Brouwerij T'ij India Red Ale. This was a great pint in fantastic condition served to me by a rather eccentric barman.
This is a pretty good Wetherspoons with a slightly cosier, pubby feel to it than the vast majority of their shop conversions. The excellent beer makes it stand out as well and whilst it still lacks the character of a traditional pub, I could happily enjoy a decent session in here.
On 12th August 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about White Lion Of Mortimer (JD Wetherspoon)
Update 05th July 2013
I came here today as part of the Spoons Compass Points beer festival where this place was representing the Twickenham Brewery. I had a pint of Hornet and a pint of Pale Beauty both of which were in very good order (£2.30). Given the quality of the beer and the fact that they actually seemed to be making an effor here I've upped the rating from 8 to 9.
Visit 14th June 2012
This Spoons is a converted car showroom and is one of their oldest surviving pubs as it opened in December 1986, the same month and year as the Drum in Leyton.
It's small for a Spoons and despite being a former car showroom still suffers from the fact that most of the daylight comes from the street entrance. Given that so many North London Spoons have closed over the years, one wonders how this one has survived while others haven't.
There's nothing fundamentally wrong with it, service was quick and my pint of Old Thumper was in excellent condition. Given past experiences of visiting pubs in the Finsbury Park area this is a good option unless you're one of those people who can't stand Wetherspoons.
One thing I did notice was that the extras from Last Of The Summer Wine brigade normally found on daytime Spoons visits were strangely absent.
On 5th July 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about White Lion Of Mortimer (JD Wetherspoon)
Smallish 'spoons, with a somewhat jumbled layout but a bit brighter than one might expect at the back as there is a glazed roof over was was presumably part of a yard at some stage. The furniture and decor are also fairly modern. Ten handpumps, but as half of these were 'available soon' the choice was pretty limited (but my pint of Itchen Valley Godfathers was good enough at £2.25).
On 20th June 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about White Lion Of Mortimer (JD Wetherspoon)
This Spoons looks a lot smaller than it is as there are lots of pillars and walls that break the pub up into three sections with the bar being on the right hand side and some seating on the left that houses a couple of plasma screens that were showing the Six Nations and Gillette Soccer Saturday on my visit. There is also a large family room at the rear which in all essence is a dining area. The usual cheap prices on food and beer are found here and there is also a good selection of guest beers and ciders alongside the ubiquitous Ruddles and Abbot.
There was a good community atmosphere in here during my visit and I would pop back in again if passing.
On 17th March 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about White Lion Of Mortimer
A compact Wetherspoon's that has changed over the years.Now more modern and appears to be in 3 seperate sections.Fair selection of real ales.
On 3rd May 2007
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]