The White Lion offers traditional pub charm, attracting tourists like bees to honey.

The Venue
Small in stature, the White Lion spreads itself across two floors to make the most of its space on St James Street just outside Covent Garden tube. The facade fails to jog you with any originality but the tidy look gives mass appeal.

Inside, the pub follows the design charms of the old fashioned publican with wooden booths separating themselves from the less intimate tables. Leather cushions add comfort to the simple layout and the size allows for a cosy compactness. The dining room bar on the fist floor matches carpet with soft furnishings for a quaint mealtime suite.

The Atmosphere
An upmarket air wafts over the White Lion, pleasing well to do tourist families, happy to spend their money paying over the odds for simple pub food in the heart of Covent Garden. Setting the families aside though, the clientele is a mature one. The pub tends to be busy throughout the day (especially over school holidays) and there is some semblance of a lunchtime and after work crowd.

The Food
The menu boasts a list of uninspiring classics from BBQ chicken and bacon to sausage and mash priced at an average of £8 a dish. However, the selection of pies available from the kitchen saves you from overdosing on the bland and boring. The range includes home-style game, chicken, and steak and kidney pie, which all look tempting.

The Drink
The White Lion stocks a good selection of wine and spirits that is in keeping with most other pubs in the area. The lagers on draught are a positive touch with Heineken, Amstel, Stella, Kronenbourg and Erdinger on tap. Timothy Taylor, IPA and London Pride sit in casks below the bar.

The Last Word
The White Lion is an average public house with the blessing of an excellent location and pleasing choice of beer.

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