The White Lion

A great view and location on a sunny February lunchtime. Beer battered Haddock and chips (£18.50) was delicious, though the accompanying mushy peas were too sloppy, and there was no need for so much tartar sauce. The Mac ‘n’ Cheese (£10.50) seemed a small portion but was very tasty and just served in too big a bowl. Couple of points though, I ordered truffle topping on the Mac n Cheese and it came without. Only as I was eating it did I remember, so too late to ask. And our Bitter and IPA drinks were served in tall Heineken glasses, which, considering the bar prices (£7 a pint or so) is not what we would have expected for a lovely place like this.

We stopped here for lunch on a beautiful and warm and sunny Sunday afternoon. The line to get food and drinks was almost out the door. The staff did the best they could but truly it seems like they could use 10 more people working here. Many of the reviews say the same thing over the past 10 months, and I can't understand why this problem hasn't been fixed. Also they were out of many foods including no hamburgers, no pizza and no fish and chips. It is an absolutely stunning and beautiful terrace for sitting to view the gorge and the bridge, but there seems to be a management problem. They didn't even have enough people to clean the dirty dishes, so many customers were cleaning their own tables just so they could sit down. We ordered two of the fried chicken sandwiches and actually they were very good. Who are the owners of this hotel or the managers? They need to hire more people or pay them more to stay and work here.

This is a pub with a large indoor area and an even larger outdoor patio where lovely views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge can be seen. We dropped in for a couple of welcome drinks after a long, afternoon walk. There is a small outside bar serving those using the patio where queues can be quite long.

The bar staff are lovely, but they are so overwhelmed and stressed their assistant manager quit on the spot today and walked out leaving them with no one in charge! When I asked there was no other manager around! The staff seem so miserable and stressed. They are keeping a brave face for the public! This seems like an horrible places to work! As the staff are so busy they don’t have time to collect glasses. I even saw a customer wiped down her own table. This seems like a management problem. When I went to go order a drink, a tap was left unattended which meant the glass was overfilled and the liquid then fell onto the floor. It was a waterfall of beer, again due to no management and staff who aren’t trained properly. It’s a shame as it such a beautiful place to watch the sunset. Its hard to enjoy when you see works around you suffering. Do better.

We popped by White Lion Terrace for a pint and wow the view stole the show. You really can't beat sipping a cold drink while overlooking the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge. It's a bit of a touristy spot, but rightly so. The terrace had a relaxed atmosphere, and despite being busy, service was surprisingly swift. Prices are what you'd expect for the view, but totally worth it for the vibe. Great for a chill afternoon drink, especially if the sun's out.

The food is actually really good! Standard pizza and burgers and chips but I’ve had from there a few times now and enjoy the food every time. Service is decent but getting a clean table outside can be a challenge, and the queue to order food and drinks is a nightmare on a nice day! The view though…wow! Amazing! Worth going for the view alone! Definitely will be back again!

Very impressed with the service and food, l got a little confused as l know l was meeting people in the White Lion and there is a small bar in the hotel lobby and thought that was it but discovered a much bigger pub when l thought l was Billy No Mates!

This place smacks of wasted potential. The location is stunning, and the terrace overlooking the Avon Gorge is lovely. However, it's let down by two quite important things - the service and the food. The service was best described as sullen, and one guy was downright rude. No welcome, no explanation of how to order, the app didn't work, and it turned out there was one queue for bar and food. The food was pretty basic - I had chilli, which was not properly cooked and was full of fat (see pic, that's the fat from one portion). The other mains were described as basic and low on flavour. We were charged £115 for four mediocre mains, two sides and a round of drinks. My advice would be to have a drink, enjoy the view, then eat elsewhere.

One of the other reviewers described it best as a "three star pub with an eleventy billion star review." We were visiting and staying in the Clifton area for just one day, and several friends recommended checking out the historic suspension bridge, then going to the "shit pub" next to it for some lunch with the view. While I was expecting a dive, the indoor dining area was more like a nicer restaurant. It was a colder November day, and we wanted to sit on the large patio to enjoy the views. The female server seemed to very stressed and unnerved. She seemed to get angry at us when we tried to order at the bar, but also didn't want to seat us ("NO! You need to tell me your table number and THEN I can place your order. I need the table number first! I won't know where to send it out!") when we didn't know the process. Throughout the ordering process, she just seemed annoyed by us. She rushed us, didn't even show us the full menu (I didn't see it until I was outside) and we were looking forward to going outside just to get away. I was happy to see Patron XO Café on the shelves and ordered that with coke and lime, and we took our drinks outside to wait. We took pictures with the scenic background, and waited, and waited. Finally, after 45 minutes (no one else was being brought food either), I went inside and asked the male server (I didn't want to deal with her anymore) about our order. He apologized profusely and told us he would check on it. We explained that we had limited time before going back to our hotel and if they hadn't started on the food yet, just to cancel the order. The order was brought out a few minutes later, and he offered us another round of complimentary drinks, which was nice. The food was actually very, very good! We ordered a cheese plate and a French onion soup, which was better than any of the French onion soups we'd ordered in France. Because of the location and view, I'm sure this place attracts plenty of patrons as it is, but it has potential to be so much more.

3.5 stars A modern pub on the edge of Clifton Village with a great terrace that overlooks the Suspension Bridge. The open plan layout attracts families on the weekend lunchtime. The food is ok - pies with chips and mushy peas, soup of the day with bread. Nothing to shout home about really. Come on a sunny day and hang on the terrace may give this a 4-star rating, but we came on a rainy Boxing Day 2012.

This is a charmless, pricey, modern sports bar, albeit with a decent looking food menu. To be honest, despite serving one ale (Butcombe) I'd be extremely unlikely to come back..except maybe on a very nice day, because the view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge from the rear terrace is quite stunning and a quiet pint with scenery usually appeals.

Unless you're out for a summer afternoon drink on the bar's extraordinary Terrace, the White Lion Bar itself (adjoining Avon Gorge Hotel) is nothing that special. Its Terrace, however, is an entirely different story, its cliff-side position facing right over the dramatic Avon Gorge and overlooking the historic Suspension Bridge. This is a top spot to take visitors when they come to see you in Bristol, showing off one of the city's most staggering views. You can get food here, too (from 12:00 noon until 22:00 daily), and despite the plush surroundings and rather smart staff, most customers are fairly casually dressed.

This is a 1 star pub with a 500 star terrace and view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge I'll start with the good. That view! Man, that view is so good! We had some friends down from London for the weekend and wanted to show off a bit of Bristol. So we went somewhere else in Clifton Sillage for some food and then took them here to show off the view of the bridge. It is so impressive! It makes me smile taking people there and watching their reactions. I love showing off the most famous and beautiful landmark we have in Bristol. it was dark when we were there and it was still lovely. In the summer, I don't think there's many better places to sit for the afternoon than on the terrace at the White Lion. But walk in those doors and into the bar, and it changes instantly. It has a funny smell, the service is slow, miserable and painfully awful. I haven't eaten here for some time, but that's because it was so bad the last time I did. For some reason the White Lion attracts a completely different bread to anywhere else in Clifton. Not nice different! It's such a shame that the best place to see the one of the best parts of Bristol is attached to The White Lion. I'll be back, but only to show off Bristol. Not because I like it!

A three star pub with an eleventy billion star view, this is the terrace that every little terrace wants to be, every big terrace wants to marry and every old crumbly terrace wants their young fresh facade'd terraces to one day become. The terrace envy is tangible. Have I mentioned the view? Well it's even more breathtaking with a pint in your hand and the sun on your face, believe. Ironically on the date of my visit there was a footie match on, leaving the terrace and all of its vitamin D soakage/view gasping glory to me and my own devices... proving once again that views or no views, White Lion Bar is still your bog standard average pub. Which is just fine in my book.

From the outside you might not expect much, the inside is a little dull and dreary, but their outside terrace is a whole different matter. Don't bother coming here unless you plan to sit and enjoy your food and drink overlloking the beautiful gorge. The pub is a little pricier than usual but definately not extortionate as other clifton bars...it is a pub and proud of it. They do great burgers which are only £6, so grab a bite and admire the wonders of Bristol. Just don't drop anything!

The White Lion Bar is part of the Avon a Gorge Hotel and I think fair to say the more informal eating and drinking part. Defiantly one for a sunny day and he view over the suspension bridge is superb and the terrace is very spacious with plenty of seating. This makes the slightly steep prices (£4.75) for a Blummers) well worth it. Not sure I would come here on a rainy day to sit inside. The terrace also hosts a cider bar, fast food and ice cream stand - meaning you don't have to head inside and queue at the main bar. Bar menu food was served and looked very presentable. Prices seemed to start from around £7 for a baguette upwards for hot meals (we did not eat). There is some parking at the rear of the hotel (on a steep-ish hill).

The White Lion is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon. It has a massive terrace facing onto the gorge and overlooks Clifton Bridge. Nothing better than a bit of sun, a drink and a lovely view with some favs.

Before reviewing this place, you must know - the view here on the terrace is spectacular...other than that, this is one of the worst places in town - that is ALL it has going for it. Firstly, their beer selection is horrible and their prices are worse...personally, I really dont enjoy paying £4 for a pint of fosters! Secondly, my girlfriend and i and another couple came here to enjoy their much advertised and anticipated £5 curry and a beer deal on tuesdays. We thought, geez for a fiver this has to better quality than Wetherspoons, its a 4 star hotel in Clifton village right? Dead wrong. First of all, the barman had no idea what the 'deal' was with curry and a beer despite there being a massive banner on the door and posters throughout the pub advertising it, Secondly, my friends being vegetarians ordered a vegetable curry option and after the barman spoke to the chef, he said 'no, only chicken curry.' Instead, they had to settle on a £9 piece of luke warm rubbery quiche. When our curries came out, we knew immediately why they denied a veggie option. The curry was probably cooked in a massive vat - then the chef then spoons out the watery, disgusting looking chicken substance onto a bowl of half cooked rice and a burnt piece of Naan bread so bad that Sainsbury's Naan puts it to shame! That being said, Wetherspoons or about ANY of the cheapest, worst restaurants in town beat this place by a mile. It is downright shameful what this place is doing - they have the view, so they dont care about quality of food, drink or staff in the slightest...don't go here, you will be very disappointed.

Grand and imposing, this bar unashamedly flaunts its cliff side location, with stunning views of Clifton suspension bridge. That is its chief selling point really, and drinking a gin and tonic on a warm evening taking in the view makes for a glorious, very English, experience. As can be expected, and forgiven, it's slightly over the top with its efforts to seem posh and sophisticated. I would much prefer if the staff were just competent and friendly; there's no need to for twirling bottles and such. The actual clientèle it gets doesn't quite match to be honest, with a fairly diverse range of people coming to Clifton for a view of the bridge. So don't feel you have to dress up for the White Lion, although it might be quite fun to.

With one of the best views in Bristol, the White Lion can take a few liberties, as they know trade is always going to be strong. It looks over the Clifton Suspension bridge, just next door to the avon gorge hotel. It's quite a nice place though, with a bar in the centre of the main room surrounded by a number of comfy seats and sofas. The thing to rave about, though, is the terrace outside, with the best view of the bridge possible. In the summer, having a drink here makes you really appreciate the utter beauty that Bristol contains. It does get really busy in the height of summer though, especially on the weekends, when all the yuppies and generic Bristol Uni students come for drinks. The foods a pretty reasonable price and serves a fairly standard pub/bar menu. A good place to take a friend visiting the town, or come and feel a little patriotic about Bristol.

There's only two words needed to sell White Lion Bar and Terrace and that is The View. A panoramic sweep of Bristol Icon the suspension bridge in all its glory, set amidst the natural beauty of the gorge - it doesn't get much better than that. Aside from the view, the White Lion is a fairly standard bar, and a highly overpriced one at that. A pint or glass of wine will send you back close to £4 minimum so unless it's warm and sunny outside I wouldn't bother making an appearance. But the instant you're outside, surrounded by breath-taking views illuminated by the afternoon sun, then every penny spent will seem worth it.

I completely agree with Laura N, 'A three star pub with an eleventy (?) billion star view'. That really does sum it up perfectly. As just a pub there is no real reason to come here, unless you like 40 minute waits at the bar, but for the location alone I think there is more reason to come to this pub that most anywhere in the world. This bar is also referred to as the Avon Gorge as it is part of the Avon Gorge Hotel. The setting of this bar is notorious; the huge terrace is set into a cliff top that boasts one of the best views in Bristol; looking directly onto Brunel's Suspension Bridge. It does feel like the White Lion Bar relies on the terrace and the view of the bridge to bring them business rather than great service or great food. The food is better than average pub food, the burgers are amazing, but the prices are too high for what you get. And there is no choice at the bar! When the lady next to me enquired about some Pimms mix for her jug at the bar I have never seen such a blank expression of confusion as the one staring back at her. The White Lion Bar in high summer is always really busy but they never employ enough staff to deal with the high numbers of customers they get. This bar could be truly fantastic, but I feel like because they are guaranteed business because of the location they do not always try hard enough. And most people are only there to pose in their large, expensive sunglasses and show off their clothes with the picture of a man, with a stick on a horse...some sort of sport for the wealthy I presume. This place is a must see, on a warm day I could happily spend hours on the terrace enjoying the food and a jug of Pimms, but it could be so much better.

Like its sister restaurant (The Bridge Cafe), the White Lion has a fab terrace with fantastic views across the gorge and suspension bridge. The bar has a continental style and feel and as you can imagine, the place is heaving during the summer. It is well worth getting a good table, especially when they run their BBQ nights. Perhaps we are 'drink snobs'... but given the positioning of the place, we feel its a real shame their choice of drinks is so limited and mainstream...

Another startling discovery - this pub hasn't been reviewed! I'm going to begin with saying this pub is very, very pricey. The crowd can be quite pretentious and there never seems to be quite enough staff to handle the volume of people and I've been left waiting for some time at the bar numerous times. However, there is a beautiful feature to this pub that makes it well worth the visit especially in the summer. There is a huge decking area outside that is well decorated with hanging baskets and picnic tables with huge umbrellas to protect from the rain. Fairy lights are wrapped around the umbrellas, giving evenings a great ambience and good place to take your partner. The best part however, is the great view of the bridge you have from the decking, which is perfectly positioned to admire the full view of bridge, which is beautiful when illuminated. It can make for a real magical evening, just so long as you have patience at the bar!

1 star for the view. We had some (4) friends to stay for the weekend, so this place seemed like a good idea, so they could see the bridge. On arrival, it took us a long time to get served, as the staff were all pretty slow and listless. When we chose and then ordered food at the bar, we asked for them to split payment for one order across 2 cards. This incredibly complicated feat of mathematics seems to ruin the barman's day, as he tutted and moaned his way through the transaction like a stroppy teenager. After a 1 hour wait, our food hadn't arrived, so we asked after it. We were informed by bar staff that it had gone to the wrong table due to a number mix up, and that they would send it out to us. When it arrived, it was stone cold - obviously because it had been sat on a sideboard somewhere for 20 minutes while someone tried to figure out what to do with it. I went and got the manager. He came over and 'apologized'. When I say 'apologized', I mean he didn't give a toss that we had waited 1 hour to eat, only to be given cold food. His attitude was apalling, and while we were calm and collected, he ended up stomping off in a hissy fit - thus antagonizing the situation even further. I went and complained again. We got a £20 refund from the £70 bill. Conclusion - never eat here. Good for a drink and the view, if you don't mind the terrible staff. As someone mentioned above, this place could be so much more. What a wasted opportunity.

The White Lion is definitely great for an outdoor drinking, superb view on the suspension bridge, a lot of space. Apart from that... not a lot to say! The food is "eatable" but I definitely won't eat there again. Not a lot of choice, no taste. If you want to take the sun and enjoy the view, go for it! If not you would better find somewhere else!

Obviously you can't fault the views, which are incredible. It's all downhill after that. Terrible service, long long queues to get a drink. Horrific carvery lunch that you wouldn't feed to a dog. Everything about this place is chaotic and messy.

Honestly the worst meal I have ever had in my whole life.... We waited 45 mins for our food to arrive and that was only 1 of the meals, when it came it was cold..... Then another 15 mins and after I had to ask a clueless waiter where our other meals were, he argued with me for a bit about supposed busyness, before going to enquire. The other meals finally arrived.... COLD. I had a steak and ale pie it was fridge cold inside I complained to two different waiters who didn't know how to react all I had back was a "the manager said he's sorry and will improve for next time" there most definitely will not be a next time.... I would never go again..... My advice would be sack the manager, sack the chef ... And probably most of the waiters! Awful awful awful!

Wow! what a location. I am almost tempted to leave it at that, because other than that this place has nothing in particular about it. The food is average the interior is pretty naff but the staff seem nice enough. Although all of this countered by the phenomenal location pretty much hanging over the gorge, with the suspension view to your right and the rest of Bristol to the left. But none of that matters because of the location and view which makes it my favourite place to spend a summer evening, and a great place to go following a walk on the bridge.

In case you haven't noticed, the White Lion has an INCREDIBLE view. It is worth experiencing it at least once just for its unique selling point. There are however an abundance of other reasons to come here. Child friendliness is in force; they have a wii for kids to waggle their arms in front of. The screens are not just for gaming however. They screen every match of every sport in their large bar area and you can usually find a seat. Pints are on the wrong side of three pounds and a half of lemonade will set you back about one pound fifty, but you are paying for a phenomenal view and for other premium trimmings

Because of the rear terrace with a view of the Clifton suspension bridge this place is incredibly popular. However because of this place doesn't have to 'try', drinks are over priced and service is slow - mainly due to being understaffed especially at the weekends. For example I visited on a saturday, the place was full, some watching the football on the tvs and projector, others enjoying the view and sunshine outside on the terrace, probably between two and three hundred people, four staff behind the indequate bar and an hour wait for food. Go if you don't mind a wait, maybe a week day evening is better. Minimum spend is £10 on a card, you cannot set up a tab and they won't round up to the tenner, so if you've popping in for a quick drink, bring cash!!!

The outside terrace with views over Avon Gorge makes this possibly the best location in Bristol to sit and have a drink in whatever sunshine we might get. I just can't understand why the management have squandered this location on a pub with overpriced drinks and appalling service. It really is a let down and spoils what could be a fantastic place. Several times I have visited here for a drink and a bite to eat. While the menu is quite pricey I am usually happy to pay as you're paying for the location and the food is pretty good - when it arrives. However every single time I've been the service has been beyond slow, even when the place is half empty. Meals have arrived with half the advertised constituent ingredients missing and even ordering a slice of cake can take the best part of an hour. Many of the staff don't speak great English so trying to explain what's wrong is confusing for everyone. Even ordering a drink can involve a long wait while the staff wander around aimlessly and re-arrange the glasses on the shelves rather than serve customers. Needless to say on a hot day this can result in some frayed tempers and a less than friendly atmosphere! That said, it's worth a visit if you've not been - on a quiet night where you can watch the sun set in peace this has the potential to be quite an experience.

If you're from the States, you'll probably find this to be one of the more epic bars you will ever visit. Although the selection of English microbrews is a little lacking in comparison with some other neighborhood pubs in Clifton, it's more than adequate to pleasure your palate. Absolutely absurd location perched on the edge of the Avon gorge with amazing views of the valley and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Beatiful view, terrible manners from bar staff, half the beers unavailable, many meals off the menu, no flexibility on menu, overpriced below average meals. Left feeling a return would be very u likely- real shame