The White Lion — Restaurant in Bristol

Disappointing Experience – Avoid This Place!

I’ve visited this establishment a couple of times, and I can confidently say that both experiences were far from satisfactory. However, my last visit truly took the cake for all the wrong reasons.

We stopped by for lunch with a friend before heading home, opting to sit outside on a hot, sunny day. To our dismay, there were very few umbrellas available on the terrace, leaving us to seek shade. Later, I noticed that all the unused umbrellas were just leaning against the wall, completely ignored!

My husband went to the bar to order food and drinks, and that’s where the troubles began. When he asked for suggestions on refreshing non-alcoholic drinks, the only recommendation he received was for an IPA! He settled for nothing more than orange squash.

After ordering our food, we waited in the garden chatting. After 30 minutes, still no food had arrived. My husband went to check, only to be told it was “just coming.” Another 15 minutes passed before he insisted I check. When I approached the food counter, I was met with a lackluster response from the chef, who claimed our food—two simple dishes: a pizza and mac and cheese—had only been ordered 47 minutes before. I was incredulous! With about 30 covers in the garden (and that’s being generous), it was hardly a bustling crowd.

While I will say the pizza was decent, my friend’s mac and cheese was a disaster—tasteless, cold in the middle, and clearly came from a packet.

It’s no surprise that this place has a low star rating; we definitely won’t be returning. A little care could go a long way—like putting out the umbrellas on hot days! Additionally, the ordering app doesn’t work, leading to long queues at the bar.

Good luck to anyone else considering this place. It seems to rely solely on its view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, as it certainly offers nothing else worth...

This is a hard one as we experienced two completely different sets of service when we arrived.

We initially walked in to the "pub side" of the White Lion. We had a reservation made and couldn't wait to have the stunning views of the bridge (we had visited previously a few years ago).

Upon entering the pub, we had not one, not two, not three but FOUR members of staff ignore us and walk straight past. I had my phone on me looking at my reservation so it was obvious this is what we were doing. One member of staff was organising cutlery, one was at the bar not interested, one (in a shirt and trousers so I can only assume was the manager?!) walked straight past us and one member of staff in sunglasses, also walked past. We went to the bar to get someone's attention and again FOUR members of staff (two serving) didn't look up. The rest were hanging around the till and looking at something. It took us to ask if anyone was going to acknowledge us (we had been here a while now) and one staff member looked and said "we're preoccupied with something, what do you want?" I showed him my reservation and he said "yes, so what do you want" at which point I nearly lost it and said MY RESERVATION.

The manager was here at this point and walked off???! We were informed we needed to go to the other side of the hotel.

I've worked in hospitality for 10 years and I have NEVER experienced anything so rude in all of my life.

We were met by a lovely lady the other side who we had told our experience too and she was clearly very embarrassed and hugely apologetic. She was phenomenal and gave us amazing service. The food was unbelievable and we were happy from then but the initial start of my visit, well, I won't forget for a...

Great view, shame about everything else.

I continually go here and expect better and am always disappointed. Bar staff are dismissive and distant Poor selection of beers at the bar, no cocktails and when we where there no hot drinks, so cokes around then. No variation on food choices, e.g. no salad all really heavy, really greasy options. No real GF/DF/vegetarian or vegan options. Only pizza and burgers. Served in cheap plastic baskets impossible to not eat with your hands No seating options, everything reserved inside (where is is super dark and oppressive) and never tables free outside (where you really want to be) on their huge ageing chunky paint-flaking wooden furniture. Most importantly NO AWARENESS OF ALLERGENS. Clearly ordered a GF and DF burger (checking with multiple staff that was okay and checking on the final till order as well), I was fully expecting a basic burger and salad combo (my fault for being allergic to nice stuff) what arrived was a tiny cheese burger. Had to send it back, no apology. Next burger arrived, slimy meat with a tiny slice of brown bread on top. If your going to do something, do it properly. This was an insult to burgers and a potential death sentence to anyone with allergies who would like to eat what they have ordered. Will never be eating here again and will warn others of this.

Come for the view, use the loos (which are fab), then leave and go to some of the wonderful pubs and bars in the local areas. These guys are just there to pull pints for the crowds on the weekends. Such a shame as it has so.much.potnetial. it just doesn't work...