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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Black Lion, Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard
LU7 1EA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Black Lion
This pub is a real gem and served a range of top class ales, six in all on our visit. The line up was Stamps Rum Porter, Oakham Bishops Farewell, Bass, Cotswold Best, Heritage Oatmeal Stout and Nethergate Suffolk County. The interior is traditional in style and the open log fire down on the right hand side of the bar was a real treat whilst supping away. The staff were so friendly and helpful and the pub had a decent and relaxed atmosphere. There was also a large Gin bar at the rear of the pub and an extensive range of German beers on our visit.
On 4th November 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Black Lion
Enjoyed our visit to this friendly 2019 Good Beer Guide pub entry where we found plenty of cask ales on offer. Elgoods Mortal Wombat and Cambridge Bitter, Nethergate Eons Milk Stout and Suffolk County, Butcombe Gold, Oakham Bishops Finger, Black Country BFG and Bass. If that is not enough choice over 100 bottled beers both British and Continental.
On 18th February 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Black Lion
This place consists of a single room with a wooden floor and a peninsula bar. It's been more than well described below. It was packed on my early Thursday evening visit.
The eight hand pumps had North Cotswold Tumbling Jack, Beartown Black Bear, Nethergate Five Rifles Red, Lincoln Green Hood, Windmill Deckhand, Partners Stout & About, Bass and Oakham Bishops Farewell. Sadly as noted below nothing from any local microbreweries. I went for the Bishops Farewell (£3.50) which was in good nick.
I thought this was a good pub but not a great one.
On 4th December 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Black Lion
ORIGINAL REVIEW Feb 2014.
Purchased by the owners of the award winning Merchants in Rugby,this pub reopened in January after a sympathetic refurb creating a wonderful ale house.The building dates from 1500,with a Georgian frontage and the interior has a low ceiling and many impressive beams.The bar is situated in the middle,to the left there are three levels,each with some high tables and chairs,a darts board and a flat screen which is rarely used,there are many sports bars in town for those that want that sort of thing.To the right there is traditional furniture,a real fireplace and a section which winds behind the bar,with access to a large and impressive beer garden.Breweriana is dotted around the walls. No muzak or machines,just the hubub of conversation from an appreciative audience.
There are eight handpumps with three regulars Adnams Southwold Bitter,Bass and Oakham Citra (£3,well kept).The five guests will normally include at least two dark ales,often a MILD and a porter,and will also feature a range of strenghts.Many award winning microbrewers will be represented at the bar.My Titanic Plum Porter and XT 5 were real stars.There is also a selection of 8 ciders,a solid wine list and a menu of bottled Belgian beers.
The service is terrific,friendly and knowledgeable,and although the pub has only been open in it's current guise since mid January, it has already attracted a wide range of drinkers with a wide range of ages.
Leighton Buzzard has been crying out for a decent real ale pub for decades,and the Black Lion delivers in spades.I am sure it will get GBG recognition and in time many awards just like it's sister pub the Merchants.It is head and shoulders above the other boozers in town,a real must visit .I can't wait for my next trip in here.
UPDATE
A revisit found a rather mundane real ale selection apart from an excellent Oakham Bishops Farewell (therefore three pint test completed) and a decent Bass.I've tempered my enthusiasm and knocked two points off.It's still very good ,but maybe doesnt need to try too hard now that it's firmly on the town crawl scene.
On 25th November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Black Lion
A comfortable old fashioned pub with eight hand pumps crowded onto the small section of bar which is facing on entry. Round the corner is another section of bar with a board listing the beers, which is handy if bar leaners are obscuring the pump clips. The beer list is diverse, from many parts of the country between North Yorkshire and Cornwall, but on the occasion of my visit there was surprisingly nothing at all from local brewers. Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2015.
On 6th November 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Black Lion
Ably reviewed by the two correspondents below, this is an attractive looking pub at one end of the High Street, and consists of a single U-shape room wrapped around a central bar counter.
Décor wise, it is quite cosy and traditional with a few black beams on the ceiling and dark wood panelling on the lower part of the walls with some pale yellow paintwork elsewhere. Flooring is predominantly wood strip, although with some carpeted areas as well. A few black and white photos were dotted around the walls as well as some brewery memorabilia such as branded mirrors from Bass and Flowers. A darts board was tucked away at one end of the pub and a notice advertised some forthcoming live music. There is also a “Knit and Tonic” on the first Tuesday of every month, and the sign advertising this was, appropriately enough, knitted.
Beers are clearly a major focus here and on this occasion consisted of Oakham Bishop’s farewell, Grainstore Rutland Panther, Bass, Adnams Southwold, Flipside Franc-in-Stein, Slater’s Green Hop IPA, Adnams Fat Sprat and XT 6 Rich Ruby. The solitary cider was Stowford Press. A menu on the table listed the beers lined up for the forthcoming Oktoberfest which ran to a total of 56 and included one at 12% (Scaldis Ambrée), although it was not clear which ones were draught and which were bottled.
On 1st October 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1947 recommendations about 1860 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Black Lion
As Mr F. notes below, The Black Lion is an attractive historical building which has been taken over and is being run by the team which has made The Merchants in Rugby such a success. Long experience of the excellence of the Merchants and one quality visit to the Black Lion since their takeover has prompted the 10 rating. I'm sure that they'll make a success of this place.
The refurbishment seems to have gone well with most of the locals only noticing a fresh coat of paint. It certainly feels traditional with wooden floors, furniture and walls along with a real lit fire on a chilly evening. There's also a large garden for alfresco summer quaffing.
The welcome was friendly and, as with The Merchants, the bar staff are encouraged to take an interest in and taste their wares of which there's quite a range. On offer are 8 real ciders, an extensive list of Belgian bottled beers and a reasonable wine list. Strattons pork pies are available at £3.75 and if you fancy trying a few different beers then they can be purchased in 6 x 1/3rds.
There are 8 beers on offer: Oakham Citra, Adnams Southwold and Bass are regulars with the guests on our visit being Titanic Plum Porter, Lytham Lytham Gold, Elgoods Thin Ice, XT XT5 and Burton Bridge Mystery Mild. A good selection and again like the Merchants, there's a willingness to embrace a wide range of styles and strengths. Everything we tried was in decent shape and we didn't feel moved to try anywhere else.
In its current guise The Black Lion had only been open 3 weeks when we visited but already felt established and was busy on our Thursday evening visit with a friendly, laid back atmosphere.
Given the lack of real competition in Leighton Buzzard on the real ale front, I'd be surprised if The Black Lion isn't quickly recognised by the local aficionados including CAMRA and on my one visit it deserves to be. I wish it every success and it will be the first place I visit when in town without any expectation of going elsewhere.
On 24th February 2014
- rating: 10
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about The Black Lion
Attractive old building with low ceilings and exposed beams. Horseshoe shaped bar with a brick fireplace (unused) to the right hand side. There is also a discrete power point by the fire that can be used to charge phones, as I am doing now :-) . Large outside seating area that catches the afternoon sun. Cask Marque accredited but only has London Pride and Doombar. Advertises a non-existent GK IPA at £1.99. Pride is £2.60. WiFi by The Cloud.
On 26th May 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]