Part of Stonegate's "wet led" (no food) Craft Union brand, the Lion (or simply Lion as Craft Union are attempting to name it) is a traditional/old fashioned manly pub with a friendly landlady who wishes she could serve food because people keep coming in looking for food, and have to be turned away. Has standard cask beers, but is a fairly boring place in a vibrant area. I struggle to find a reason why people would choose to come to Bedford Place and then choose to go to the Lion. The Cricketers offers a much more welcoming traditional pub environment, and does food, and has a decent beer selection.
Popped in with Sibs Who Lunch, but soon left because of the lack of food and atmosphere.
Date: Feb 2023 Score: 4
The place is knocked through into one space, though the games room is distinctly separate. The customers on my visit were energy deprived older men who were quite comfortable to sit quietly and sup their beer, or to have a bit of idle chatter about dogs and holidays. It is a low key, and reassuringly old fashioned style pub for those who want it, and offers something different in the otherwise buzzy student atmosphere of the Bedford Place area.
Popped in with Sibs Who Lunch, but soon left because of the lack of food and atmosphere.
Date: Feb 2023 Score: 4
The Lion is an attractive looking building from the outside, and in December 2022 reopened after a £190K refurb. It was built around 1860 in the then fashionable Mock Tudor style as Ye Red Lion Hotel. It has changed names and style a few times over the years, and used to do food and have more quirky character. Now it is mainly aiming for a mature male clientele. Which is what I found on my second visit.
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| General ambiance |
There is generous selection of popular kegs - lagers, ciders, Guinness, John Smith's, etc.
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| Keg selection |
The cask selection is more modest, but well chosen with the easy drinking and ever popular Doom Bar (not available on my visit) and the delicious, award winning, and Madonna favourite Timothy Taylor's Landlord.
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| Two casks offered |
The place is knocked through into one space, though the games room is distinctly separate. The customers on my visit were energy deprived older men who were quite comfortable to sit quietly and sup their beer, or to have a bit of idle chatter about dogs and holidays. It is a low key, and reassuringly old fashioned style pub for those who want it, and offers something different in the otherwise buzzy student atmosphere of the Bedford Place area.
Date: March 2023 Score: 4
1 Bedford Place
Bedford Place
Southampton
SO15 2DB
Open 11am to 11pm
No food
* Lion
* WhatPub
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