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The White Lion, Aldershot
Aldershot
GU12 4EA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The White Lion
The pub is reopening on Friday the second of June 2023 after three years of closure. There has been a long term campaign for the pub to be reopened by the local community. Still owned by the same individual who has failed to get redevelopment plans for residential flats approved so now leased out to the former landlady of The Red Lion a little way up the road.
Feb 2016
Have been trying to get here for some time,parking is an issue but I've sussed that now.
A two bar pub,as Aqua describes and very much what I would call a proper pub,very male orientated and as I am one of them it was ok with me and some decent banter was going on.Six Hand pumps on the bar,disappointingly two were unclipped but of the other four three beers and a cider were available, Triple fff Altons Pride and Moondance along with Weltons Thou is I, the Moondance was top notch and would have easily made three pint status had I not been driving, and at £3.40 a pint good value in this area.I was surprised to note that I was the only bloke drinking real ale with about ten or eleven others present,may why two pumps were vacant. The slightly daft yappy dog was on form and I would say is totally nuts but harmless.This is the best pub in Aldershot I have encountered to date,I doubt very much I will find better.
On 29th May 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1875 recommendations about 1848 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The White Lion
Well described by Aqualung below, this GBG-listed town pub is probably Aldershot’s best beer outlet. The welcome wasn’t particularly friendly, from locals or the landlord, and the pub dog was also a bit hostile on this occasion. On draft were fff Alton’s Pride and Team Spirit, Welton’s Horsham Old and an Addlestone cider, while Pressed Rat was available in bottles. The beers were in excellent condition, the GBG accolade was well-deserved. I’ll certainly come back for the beer next time I’m here.
On 28th January 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3289 recommendations about 3254 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The White Lion
This was an Ind Coope pub according to my old Hampshire beer guide, probably Friary Meux due to the close proximity of Guildford .
It's a small corner local that was only just opening up when I arrived at 13:00 on a Friday. The front bar is narrow and runs down the side of the pub. There is effectively a small square snug at the right of the bar up a few steps. At the left side of the main bar is a TV Screen, a dart board and an old CD Jukebox which looked good value at 5 plays for a quid. I didn't put anything on as there was a radio playing in the background. The TV screen was off apart from the landlord having a look at something or other.
The bar has six hand pumps one of which was unused and one with Addlestone's Cider. The rest had the three Triple fff beers Alton Pride (£3.20), Moondance (£3.30) and Pressed Rat & Warthog (£3.00). There was a guest but it was from the dismal Cottage brewery Oarsome (£2.80).
I tried the Alton's Pride which was excellent, a superb cooking bitter. At this point I decided to abandon the plan to visit another pub miles away and stay here for a while. I went onto the Moondance, a beer which I've enjoyed several times in the past but now seems to have even more hop flavour than I recalled. It sailed through the three pint test.
I really liked this little place and would gladly return.
It is a long trek from the station but in daytime the half hourly number 3 bus and the quarter hourly 20 "Kite" bus go from outside the station and stop at the Sainsbury's Local round the corner.
Apparently the small, likeable and slightly daft yappy pub dog is OK with dog visitors but I suspect it would make itself scarce if a Great Dane or the like came in.
On 7th June 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The White Lion
A friendly and welcoming little pub, certainly worth the mile or so walk from the town centre. It is the sister pub to the other Triple fff pub, The Railway, in Alton. Four on Saturday lunchtime, Moondance, Alton's Pride, Half Time Orange, Devil in Disguise plus a real cider which I failed to note unfortunately. Two rooms, the bar is to the front of the larger room which is boarded with the lower walls panelled. Regular style seating also with a few pew benches, the TV had the test match on, there were papers in a rack and further entertainment provided by the small pub terrier chasing reflections on the floor. There is a dartboard towards the back of the main room.
Judging by yesterday the pub is away fan friendly for those visiting Aldershot Town, a good number of us were in and the service and welcome was first rate. It looks like the owner is a Hammers fan rather than a Shot as a few bits of memorabilia were on the walls, décor also included iconic Italian scooter pictures and models and a Help for Heroes display. An old AA sign for a Madness concert hangs over a doorway.
The general consensus suggests Aldershot is not exactly a destination town for pubs, this one certainly bucks the trend, recommended.
On 10th August 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The White Lion
Basic two room boozer owned by Triple FFF, 15-20 mins walk downhill from the station. Pale wood flooring and half wall cladding much like the Railway in Alton. Darts and an old style jukebox spotted. Piped local radio. Four pumps, three FFF from and a guest from Cottage. My half of Moondance was very good. If you’re in Aldershot for the football this is a winner but it didn’t sell itself to me as somewhere I’d make the trek back for specifically.
On 6th April 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5107 recommendations about 5090 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The White Lion
Good traditional local selling the triple fff brewery beers and all that I tried were in good condition.
On 25th July 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The White Lion
Decided to pay a visit to this pub prior to a match at the nearby Recreation Ground. It's about a 15-20 minute walk from the station/stadium, but it was well worth making once I got there.
Showcasing beers from the Triple fff brewery, there were six hand pumps serving Moondance, Alton's Pride, Pressed Rat and a beer from the nearby Flowerpots brewery among others. The Pressed Rat was only £2 a pint and the Moondance was outstanding.
The pub itself is quite clean and modern, with a nice wooden floor and some kitsch scooter memorabilia on the walls, especially in the small front room.
Food was also on offer. I saw a small pizza menu offering four or five classic pizzas which looked very tasty as they were brought out under my nose. I think there may have been a more comprehensive menu as well, but someone pinched it before I'd had a chance to read it.
Aldershot is generally a terrible place for pubs, but this is a real winner and I'll be sure to make the trek down there next season.
On 5th February 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]