Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The White Lion, Colston Avenue
There is a small hole in the wall at the White Lion which shows a section of Bristol’s original medieval wall which used to run behind the pub.
Close to this unique piece of history is another: the spiral staircase down to the gents are from Bristol’s former prison, the New Gaol, now the site of Wapping Wharf with just the gatehouse now remaining on Cumberland Road.
Within more recent times, this small one-room pub was known locally as ‘the cheese pub’ as a display of different cheeses was permanently on display behind the bar.
is needed now More than ever
The White Lion is not just small: it claims to be Bristol’s smallest pub.
Its owners are Wickwar, whose other pubs in Bristol include the Punchbowl in Old Market, the Cat & Wheel on Cheltenham Road and the Masonic in Bedminster.
A section of Bristol’s medieval wall can be seen at the White Lion – photo: Martin Booth
On a recent Monday evening, the BBC News Channel was playing on a television as a couple of drinkers sat outside the pub opposite where skaters were still practising their tricks despite the ‘skate stoppers’ on the floor of what used to be known as Magpie Park.
At either side of the bar are flags for Bristol Bears – well, one for Bristol Bears and the other when they were plain old Bristol Rugby – with photos of locals pinned to a board.
This being a Wickwar-owned pub, their own beers Bob and Star were among the choices on cask, with a coffee machine also on one side of the bar next to a selection of pasties and sausage rolls.
One regular walked in soon after 9.30pm, greeting the barman by name and buying him a drink.
Just ten minutes, he had finished his half pint and was gone from this tiny pub with a huge amount of history contained within its walls.
The White Lion, Quay Head, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 1EB
www.whitelionbristol.co.uk
Explore the route of Bristol’s medieval city wall on a walking tour with Martin Booth of the Old City and Castle Park. Find out more at www.yuup.co/experiences/explore-bristol-s-quirkiest-corners
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- The hidden river flowing underneath Bristol city centre
- Nutmeg to open second restaurant in Bristol
- This small Bristol road once had almost 40 pubs
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