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The Golden Lion, York
York
YO1 8BG
Pub Type
Taylor Walker (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve C left this review about The Golden Lion
The Golden Lion is a Greene King pub that was busy with people who have no idea what a good pub is during a recent Thursday afternoon visit. The open plan floor boarded interior is split by a short central screen with beer shelves and high stools on one side and tables the other. Seating runs under the front windows and up the right-hand side. The bar counter on the left wall supports standard and premium keg alongside five hand pumps. One of them was being used to advertise the 10% CAMRA discount, so the cask options were GK IPA (x2), Abbot Ale and Lilley’s Bee Sting Perry. I went for the IPA which was almost as terrible as the service from the miserable barmaid who tried to palm me off with, literally, ¾ of a pint. Televisions throughout were airing muted cricket via Sky Sports whilst some background music played. This is an awful pub that would have closed down if it wasn’t in such a tourist hotspot.
On 8th June 2023
- rating: 2
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Graham Coombs left this review about The Golden Lion
I must have struck lucky compared to previous reviewers as, on a quiet weekday afternoon, this proved to be a not unpleasant place and the barman could not have been more friendly and helpful. The furnishings are clearly from the 'traditional pub' catalogue but the overall effect is fair, if unexceptional. Like many of the Greene King pubs locally, the beer range has sadly diminished to IPA, Abbot and a guest - in this case Old Peculier - but the condition was fine. Not a pub for a serious drinking session but quite adequate to drop in, especially if out shopping.
On 11th May 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Golden Lion
I reckon Brainy Pool nails it with “charmless”. Consider the facts: owned by Greene King, on a tourist hot spot street in a tourist hotspot city, usual half trained bar staff, five warm sad cask beers two of which are from GK, usual suspects kegs, the short measure was a blessing. All that was missing was the chip fat and vinegar smell typical of these places.
On 17th November 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Golden Lion
Called in here last month and chose Isaac Poad A Knight's Ale from the cask selection available.
On 12th August 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Golden Lion
Charmless sort of city centre chain pub full of tourists and loud sweary twenty somethings. Reminds me of those generic pubs that you get everywhere in the middle of London. stinks of food as well and pint of Dishwater IPA set me back £4.15 in here.
On 18th April 2019
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alex Conway left this review about The Golden Lion
A Taylor walker chain pub and one of two in the center of York, Personally i prefer the other. This is a busy city center pub that gets very busy on evenings and weekends especially if there is a big sporting event.
since Greene King acquired spirit pub company (and thus Taylor walker branded pubs) the Cask ale selection has worsened. Greene King IPA now sits permanently on the bar and a selection of guest ales hand picked by the brewery that are not the best. on my visit three were not in use leaving only Greene king IPA Taylor walkers house golden ale or london glory, non of which really appealed that much to me, I opted for a Guinness at a very expensive £3.75
A bit of a touristy place that can get over crowded and thus suffer in their drinks offerings and service, some of the measures they were giving out were scandalous. An ok pub to visit on a trip to York but usually avoided by locals.
On 4th October 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 457 recommendations about 457 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Golden Lion
A traditional looking pub just around the corner from The Shambles, it looks reminiscent of many of the Victorian pubs in central London, and I had high expectations of a suitably authentic interior. Unfortunately it’s clearly been “renovated” at some point, and whilst the style might perhaps still be described as traditional, it has none of the authentic charm or period features that I had hoped for.
It’s a single room pub with some wooden balustrade and partitioning used to break it up in to different sections, some of which are a slightly higher than others. The walls had mostly dark wood panelling on the lower part, with gold flock wallpaper above. Flooring was mostly carpet with some wood strip near the bar area. A couple of plasma screens were showing a sports channel, although the volume was down when we visited so this was not too intrusive. A forthcoming fixture list was displayed though, so I suspect that this is not always the case. A few obligatory old black and white photos completed the interior. There was apparently a rooftop terrace garden, although we did not investigate this.
The menu looked to be of the “pub grub” variety and offered an extensive selection of pies, burgers, sandwiches, jacket potatoes and sharing platters, with most of the mains being priced somewhere around the £8 mark. We didn’t eat on this occasion though, so can’t comment on the quality.
Beers on tap were Old Peculiar, Eclipse and 1730 from Taylor Walker, Brass Castle Cliffhanger and Rudgate Grain Check. The solitary cider was Aspall’s Suffolk.
On 6th April 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Golden Lion
Not a very inspiring pub but at least there were four real ales on and the staff were friendly.
On 11th April 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Golden Lion
Popped in here early doors, in fact they had only just opened, so couldn't really get the atmosphere of the place. This is a one room pub, with the bar over on the left-hand side and a staircase to the rear, with a sign up to the roof garden. The deco is fairly non-descript and for the middle of York, quite boring. There were 5 ales in use, I went for the Tring Brewery Side Pocket for a Toad, which was good.
On 8th August 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Golden Lion
A Taylor Walker pub with 5 real ale taps 4 on.
On 18th May 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]