This could be controversial but thepubsofyork.com doesn’t like the Golden Lion. There, it’s been said. We’ve dismissed one of York’s better real ale pubs in a poorly constructed sentence, after a dozen or so visits spanning several years. But, “Why?” we hear you ask.

thepubsofyork.com believe a good pub is fundamentally determined by two main factors;

1) Good beer and 2) a good atmosphere.

The beer bit is relatively easy to judge – a reasonable selection of well kept ales that are flavoursome and reasonably priced = Bingo.

There is always an impressive selection on offer at the Golden Lion and on thepubsofyork.com’s last visit, five taps dispensing cask ale were sat proudly on the bar of this large, single room boozer. The beer is always of a good quality and the guests regularly rotate, so it’s not the beer then that holds this place back.

A good atmosphere is a lot harder for pubs to attain, after all, a good atmosphere is almost totally intangible and wholly subjective. One mans ‘cosy, traditional pub’ is another’s ‘old, shabby shithole’. Some establishments ooze a good ambience without seemingly trying; others couldn’t achieve one in a million years. Unfortunately, the Golden Lion falls into the latter category.

Maybe it’s the dingy, low ceilinged interior that makes the Golden Lion feel shit, or it could be the pubs location on a busy, touristy street, which means you often have to drink your pint whilst looking at a vast array of carrier bags, which have been hastily slung onto the nearest bit of furniture in order to ease the purple blood starved fingers of their holders.

York’s premier pub review website should probably visit this place again in the future to see if it’s opinion can be changed to match that of many of York’s pub goers, but it probably won’t bother. thepubsofyork.com’s thirst for ale houses whose names begin with “Golden” is slated by several far superior pubs nearby. The Golden Ball, Fleece and Slipper have all provided many more hours of beer filled fun.

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