The White Lion image

The White Lion

Bar Pub

😠 Worse ever food we had ! Had to wait for nearly 1 hr for the order and turned up as huge disappointment. burnt frozen peas matched with Cod and chips cooked likely in a stale oil with no doubt. Had to leave the peas and chips. Chips likely just heated up and cooked maybe ages ago . small portion of... People often mention staff, Sunday, chips, village, lovely, table, roast, Lovely,


Address

White Lion, 31 High St, Walkern, Stevenage SG2 7PA, United Kingdom

Contact

+44 1438 545840

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.30 (244 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Sunday: 12 to 10:30 pm
  • Monday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Tuesday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Wednesday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Thursday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Friday: 12 to 11 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: staff (11) Sunday (8) chips (7) village (7) lovely (6) table (6) roast (6) Lovely (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 A T. 1 year ago on Google
    Worse ever food we had ! Had to wait for nearly 1 hr for the order and turned up as huge disappointment. burnt frozen peas matched with Cod and chips cooked likely in a stale oil with no doubt. Had to leave the peas and chips. Chips likely just heated up and cooked maybe ages ago . small portion of fish what I ate made my tongue taste funny very likely from old stale oil that has been used to cook it. I feel this place need a health check and review and I would escalate it to food safety authority. Felt awful and sorry for my friend I took him there who was visiting. Unfair really !
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Steve M. 10 months ago on Google
    A home from home gem of a pub welcomes dogs which is rare today. The family loving landlady is the best we have had in years and is doing wonders. The village pub is getting back to its best and the beef baguette I had yesterday from the new chef was restaurant quality food. Keep up the great work
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Paul R. 1 year ago on Google
    The only pub in the village and my local. Great beer quality and the scotch egg today was amazing.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hartley H. 10 months ago on Google
    Great village pub. The new landlady is lovely as are the staff, always going above and beyond to make sure all the customers are happy. Also doing really top notch weekend entertainment now ❤️
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Jacob C. 1 year ago on Google
    Poor communication and service. If your guests book a table for 6 people for a Sunday roast, but you don't have the food to make it with, please let us know so we can make other plans. You really wasted our time and didn't leave us with any confidence that it will be worth going back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 steve h. 3 months ago on Google New
    Lovely roast dinner with friends on a Sunday. The staff could not do enough to accommodate our 2 young children. Will be back again soon, many thanks!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Paul W. 5 months ago on Google
    Lovely ‘local village pub’. Owner and staff greet all as friends and support the village. Last night they laid on a buffet and looked after a group of about 25 of us from the local play, Shape of A Cat. This was as well as Karaoke and their usual Fish Friday. Needless to say, it was a great evening. Big thanks to Kerrie, Lisa, Lisa and the Karaoke team👍
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lisa P. 10 months ago on Google
    A lovely homely village pub who always welcomes the dogs before the owners 🤣 Friendly staff, they go out of their way to make sure your visit is enjoyable. The food is amazing and the garden sitting is perfect especially for families who have children. Keep up the good work The White Lion xx
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 richard H. 10 months ago on Google
    Went down today for lunch with my partner. I had the Lion Burger and chips and have got to say it was amazing will definitely be eating there again. Friendly, welcoming and very kid and dog friendly.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Victoria I. 1 year ago on Google
    I booked a table for my nieces birthday 6 weeks in advance. I got a message a few days before the booking asking us if we wanted food and drinks as they had 2 other big bookings in. When I said I wanted food as per my email when I booked, they asked us to pre order. Which I have no issue with. We arrived and instantly felt extremely unwelcome. If you’re not a local I wouldn’t go here as clearly they don’t like outsiders. The staff were rude, when I gave them our booking name they just waved to where the table was and didn’t show us over so we had to guess. We were shoved in the corner and split over 3 tables despite there being a whole restaurant free. The food was TERRIBLE. One of our party had 1 bite and didn’t eat the rest. The sides I pre ordered never arrived. Wouldn’t recommend
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rachel J. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely Sunday lunch, was excited to try and the new chef did not disappoint! Will be returning.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rob O. 2 years ago on Google
    Booked for a Sunday roast for 4 adults with two kids and a baby and have to say the service and food were amazing! Really lovely Sunday roasts, and the kids portions were very generous. Cosy and friendly inside, a big garden with a kids play frame outside and plenty of space for them to run around. Will definitely be coming back soon!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Lynne L. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice young girl serving and taking pre orders for a group of walkers ..really old pub .good toastie.

  • 5/5 Katie W. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely little pub. Stopped in for some lunch yesterday after a walk and was pleasantly surprised by the open fire. The landlady was lovely and the pizza was amazing. I highly recommend

  • 5/5 Emily S. 1 year ago on Google
    Came here to meet an old friend for a drink and sat next to the fire place… I didn’t want to leave such character and lovely staff. Just be careful of your head as the ceiling to the bar is very low x

  • 4/5 M B. 6 years ago on Google
    Had the bangers and mash and the chocolate cake for dessert and they were both delicious! Very cozy and welcoming as well. Overall great atmosphere for a Sunday lunch.

  • 5/5 Michelle C. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely pub,friendly staff lovely big pub garden would definately go again.

  • 2/5 S L. 9 months ago on Google
    Thought long and hard about whether to post this, as it is a village pub, but we all feel so let down and wasted money on atrocious food. Such a shame….definetly not what was advertised on their menu. Lion burger, 2 skinny beef patty’s not big enough to fit the huge roll given, bacon that was disgusting and chips that were not a full portion and only just about cooked. The side salad was despicable, a few limp leaves….no tomato etc or even a simple dressing. Such a shame as really wanted to like it here but on this occasion it was a long wait for food and not up to standard and not worth the money paid.

  • 3/5 Neil O. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice inside, beer garden large but “industrial” layout. Friendly staff, no food (other than crisps).

  • 1/5 Fred S. 2 years ago on Google
    Lamb shank raw on the bone, felt sorry for my friend who took us yhere having read the supposedly good reviews. And the beer glasses were streaky white. Not impressed. F

  • 4/5 Matt R. 2 years ago on Google
    Great venue, especially for football tournaments such as the recent Euro matches, with plenty of outdoor seating. Has an app to order food and drink in COVID times.

  • 5/5 Paul T. 2 years ago on Google
    Fantastic food wonderful staff great ambiance what more would you want in a wonderful English pub.

  • 5/5 Ian D. 4 years ago on Google
    A Sunday lunchtime visit with my partner, initially just for a drink, turned into a very pleasant meal. Plenty of friendly, attentive staff, pleasing ambiance and lots of seating available. Garlic mushrooms starter VERY generous, together with nicely garnished calamari, were followed by ham, eggs and chips with a scampi and chips. All the meals were fresh, hot and excellent quality. The pub filled up considerably prior to us leaving around 2:30 pm. Busy and buzzing by then. We’ll definitely return to try more on the menu.

  • 1/5 Fran G. 4 months ago on Google
    If I could rate this place with minus scores I would! Absolutely shocking ! Over an hours wait for a Sunday roast! Menu offered was one of two meats, nothing else! After over a one hour wait we were “served”. I am lost for words! Our table of 8 was served sporadically over a 20 min period. The meat was mostly raw! The server slopped the food over edge of plate and declared he didn’t know which was the lamb and which was the gammon! Avoid at all costs ! To top it off it was overpriced.

  • 1/5 amanda h. 4 months ago on Google
    We had a table booked. When we go there we was told they had booked a 40th ruby party when taking our booking. And so we had only beef roast we said ok. Then sat at a table. It was soooooo cold in there sadly We where told they where waiting on the roast potatoes a hour later our dinners arrived. Every one of hour yorkshires where black I mean black charcoal burnt. We had minimal potatoes one carrot sliced one parsnip sliced the tiniest Brussels I have ever seen. The gravy was full of lumps and the beef we couldn’t chew. Yes we spoke to the manger we got £30 off the £101 bill. Woukd we recommend. Sadly not. The service wasn’t good. A child was helping collect the glasses he said can we have your wine glass it was empty. Because they where running out of glasses.

  • 5/5 Mai M. 5 months ago on Google
    Lovely staff and new chef doing great job with food love the homemade pies and fish and chips!


Call +44 1438 545840 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Food
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Dancing
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Food at bar
    • ✓️ Free water refills
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Outside food allowed
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

Trends



Last updated:

Similar Pubs nearby

The Port Jackson - J D Wetherspoon image
1
The Port Jackson - J D Wetherspoon
Pub
Modern chain venue known for its range of ales and beers and its simple British pub menu.
$ $$$
4.20 (2.6K reviews)
The Six Templars - JD Wetherspoon image
2
The Six Templars - JD Wetherspoon
Pub
Airy pub with wooden dado-panelling, meeting rooms and TV screens, outdoor seating and all-day food.
$ $$$
4.00 (1.5K reviews)
Waterside Inn Ware image
3
Waterside Inn Ware
Pub
Bright space with large windows offering British eats, vegan offerings & a garden-style patio.
$$ $$
4.00 (1.4K reviews)
Beefeater Ware image
4
Beefeater Ware
Steak house
😐 I was staying with my partner at the Premiere Inn next door when we came for food here in the evening. The prices were reasonable and the food was quite nice, nothing amazing but I guess that's why it's not expensive. It's definitely the kind of place you could come regularly without breaking the b...
$$ $$
4.00 (1.4K reviews)
Coach & Horses Thorley image
5
Coach & Horses Thorley
Pub
Updated pub with brick fireplaces, wood-framed mirrors and garden, plus British/Mediterranean fare.
$$ $$
4.40 (1.2K reviews)
Last updated:
()