Finding a good pub in Bristol isn't a hard task. The city is packed full of them. whether it be a trusty local or a swanky spot offering all the bells and whistles.
And, if you prefer the latter - you're bound to be acquainted with Clifton's White Lion. I suppose it can be seen as more of a bar than a pub - making up part of the Avon Gorge hotel.
Whilst the menu variety offers nothing to complain about, the real reason the White Lion is so popular is the huge terrace it boasts. Offering uninterrupted views of the Avon Gorge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge it's the perfect place spend an afternoon, when it's not raining anyway.
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On the day I visited it was a humble 16 degrees, the skies were clear and despite it being early in the afternoon people were flooding it. This could be perhaps be credited to the fact that it was graduation day for many Bristol University students.
It's not a surprise that this was their chosen spot to celebrate, inside the bar is lovely - with the hotel having been refurbished in 2018, which also gave a new lease of life to the White Lion. Whilst the view is the main attraction outside, the bar is easily the star of the show indoors, offering a rustic look that's complimented with gold accents.
Of course, with the White Lion being located in Clifton and offering the perfect place to enjoy such exclusive views, you'd expect the menu to ask you to pay the price. As well as offering your usual pub drinks, the White Lion has a cocktail menu as well as a complete food menu.
Some of the food offerings include the more casual burgers (£15.95), hot dogs (£10.50) and pizzas (£11.95-£12.95), which are certainly pricier than your average. It also sports a section for 'Classic Dishes', including meals such as Baby Back Ribs (£16.95), baked Mac and Cheese (£10.50), and a house salad (£10.95).
It doesn't take a mathematician to work out that dinner here certainly isn't cheap. And whilst Bristol is home to pricier restaurants, these aren't the prices you'd pay for your typical pub grub.
I decided to give the £10.50 hot dog a taste to see if it was worth the price tag. It's named a 'New York Deli Dog' and offers a beef deli sausage, pickles, swiss cheese and sauerkraut in a brioche roll. It didn't take long to come, despite the White Lion being busy with graduates.
It was a nice hot dog. Nothing particularly mind blowing - although the cheese was a nice touch. But, at £10.50 I couldn't help but feel as though I'd been robbed, perhaps some chips on the side would have softened the blow.
The food menu being on the pricier side made me fearful for the drinks menu. However, I'll admit - it wasn't that bad. There's an expensive wine menu, as you'd expect - which could set you back over £200 for their most expensive bottle of red wine (not quite within my budget).
I, instead, opted for a bottle of Old Mout Cider which cost me £5.50; a lot more expensive than the Tesco alternative but around the average price in a pub. A glass of wine will set you back between £4-£6.50, which you can't complain about.
They offer a fair few cocktails too, which are priced cheaper than your average city centre bar; ranging between £7.75-£12, with the most expensive option seeming pretty posh. Despite being part of a chain, the White Lion offers some local drinks at their bar which is a nice touch.
The real tell-tale is the price of a pint. At Clifton's hotspot you'll pay £5 for a pint of Thatcher's Gold and £5.50 for a pint of Heineken which is pricer than the average local but reasonably standard for this side of the city.
Despite the higher than average prices, the terrace and views are unmatched and on a summer's day in Bristol where better to grab a drink with friends? Some things are just worth feeling as though you've been left a bit out of pocket, I suppose.
