Lion Now Ranked #1 By Tripadvisor!!!!!

We cannot believe it.......and it probably won't last........but as of today, the humble Lion is ranked the number one attraction in Nottingham by Tripadvisor..........some of the reviews, from clearly new customers to the pub are detailed and extremely satisfying to read..........but you are only as good as your last game, so we won't get over excited and press on with some more improvements...............

............Like the gents toilets.......the refurbishment works start in August which will see new ventilation, doors, decoration, tiling and flooring........they will be almost as nice as the ladies loos!!

Great feedback from you on the new signs.......gone are the old red Batemans signs, replaced by a new style which matches our other marketing images........giving a fresher image but still retaining traditional pub values...........

Rock 'N' Roll burgers have been flying out this week.........if you over at IKEA, then why not try the Hayloft for lunch.......they also are a Rock 'N' Roll burger pub now and the response here has been just as good as the Lion...........Hayloft also has a new range of cask with Blue Monkey permanent now.

Surprisingly few comments from interested parties regarding the Late Night Levy passed by Nottingham City Council this week..........City centre policing will be paid for by any pub, club or bar that opens after midnight even for just one night of the year...EXCEPT those in the Nottingham BID scheme..........that means The Lion will pay for policing in the city centre but Walkabout will not..............( The Lion is not allowed in the BID, neither is Bunkers Hill)............are they completely stupid.......don't forget YOU vote for these people.

Worth making the trip to the Hop Pole, Chilwell, to check out the trams progress......the new stop is virtually outside the pub and is sure to have a big impact on custom..........

Excellent live music tonight and Sunday lunchtime jazz tomorrow.

See you over the weekend
John and Josie

Black Iris proving very popular as July brewer of the month. Kelham Island from Sheffield is August 's featured brewer

New micro brewery next to the Lion.........

The rumour mill has been running fast and now we can confirm that an established micro brewer is relocating to the industrial units next to the Lion and opposite the Shipstone St Tram Stop...........we have formally met with them but in no way want to steal their thunder.........very exciting and experienced brewers who will do to Nottingham what Brewdog have done to the brewing world generally, only they will be cask, cask, cask!!!..........they will make an announcement shortly...........but for the Lion it gives us a perfect new dimension and of course they can count on our support................

The new pub signs are now in place, just some finishing touches to make and the response to the investment made in the patio and the external appearance has been tremendous.........it has given everyone a lift...some pics on the website.....

Black Iris brewery continue as our July brewer of the month.......proving very popular, drawing in a slightly younger more experimental crowd......could be seeing more of their beers on a permanent basis...

The  Rock n Roll Burger menu goes from strength to strength.......loads of new folk trying it.......now served until 8pm every day and from 3pm on Sundays........although we are looking at the Sunday food offer and will keep you updated.....

Beers on the bar tonight include.....Bass, Harvest Pale, Infinity, Bishops Farewell, Galaxy, Jaipur, Easy Rider, Shipstones.......plus three others, ten real ciders and three craft ................a very acceptable choice!!

Gold Rush and Old Nick are the live music attractions for Fri and Sat......both long standing and very popular bands at the Lion.......great to have them back.

See you at the pub for a tea time beer and a pie....free buffet from 4pm.....

John and Josie
Pump 8 £2.45 til 8pm
CAMRA discounts all day every day

Amazing Comments on Lion Tripadvisor!!!

Running pubs is a tough old game..... you are at the mercy of all and sundry who know they can do a better job at it than you..........then along comes social media and specifically Tripadvisor..........uncontrollable and can be soul destroying for many landlords...........it is with great pleasure however that we can read the Lion Tripadvisor and, whilst we won't get complacent and carried away, just take a pinch of pride in the truly independent comments..................it's nice to know we do get some things very right occasionally!!!!! Google us and have a look!

The new patio is complete and fabulous. It has made such a difference to the tram stop elevation........you must come and have a look....... pics will be on the website later.... www.thelionatbasford.co.uk

Black Iris Brewery from the Flowerpot in Derby are July's brewer of the month....watch out for single hop Citra, single hop galaxy, red eye ale and NZ stout... the posters promoting the beers are excellent......check them out in the pub

Live entertainment this weekend is awesome with Loaded Dice tonight and Airbourne on Saturday..........what could be better  burgers, beers and top live music

Nottingham CAMRA have been busy organising another ale trail...... An IPA trail will run in August..... we will be on it along with the Plough and Bunkers Hill..... more details to follow next week.

New signs go up next week and the gents toilets will be refurbished soon aswell !!

See you for a beer and pie this tea time

John and Josie

New patio ready to open at the Lion

Check our Twitter and Facebook feeds to see the excellent progress the lads have made on the patio refurbishment this week. Local builders RMS from Basford have been on the case and they have made a fine job rebuilding our outside area......even the famous giant step has gone.......so no more spilt drinks or worse!!!...............with a bit of luck and if the weather just holds we should be open by late afternoon today...............a little bit more decoration to complete and the new signs are booked in for fixing on 7th July...................next up are the gents toilets and we have a plan for them.............

Ringwood Brewery have proven extremely popular beers as our brewer of the month.......they will move aside and July sees Black Iris Brewery from Derby take centre stage..........based at the Flower Pot, a well know cask and live music venue they are a well established micro with a reputation for strong ales.......they travel well and can often be found in and around Sheffield and Chesterfield.

Rock n Roll Burgers are still flying out and attracting custom from far and wide.........The Lion was the first but you can now find them at the Rutland in Chesterfield and Keyworth Tavern, Keyworth.........next venue will be Hayloft in Giltbrook, where Blue Monkey Beers will have a permanent position from next week.

Top live entertainment this weekend. Old friends Navacross tonight and our Neil Young tribute, Rust for Glory on Saturday

see you tonight
John Josie and the team

Your New Look Lion Is Right Around The Corner!!!

 It's all happening here next week! You may have seen on Facebook and Twitter our patio has been completely demolished and is being remodelled, it's been long overdue but we can finally say goodbye to those steep steps... you may even make it to the beer garden with dry hands!!

Also from next week we are having new signs erected! The old faded Bateman's signs are going and being replaced with shiny new signs emblazoned with our new logo. So far we've seen the renderings and we cannot wait... everyone going past on the tram will be reaching for the button to get off!!

The Rock 'n' Roll Burger Co. menu still seems to be the number one reason to visit us in the week and work has already begun on version 2.0 of the menu! We're working closely with our drinks supplier and pairing the burgers with new American wines and craft beers. We already have the Monday and Tuesday "Beer & Burger" offer with Harvest Pale but that has proven so popular we're extending it across the range. We'll keep you posted on the progress.

Playing live tonight are Parker, formerly known as El Duderino, their set consists of a wide range of styles performing songs by artists such as: The Clash, Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles to The Jam & many more. Tomorrow night we welcome back Mod Story, a big live sound Weller himself would be proud of!

Just a quick mention about our current Brewery of the Month, Ringwood Brewery, from sunny Hampshire for June. Look out for Fortyniner, Boondoggle and Old Thumper amongst others. An excellent brewery with well established beers that are hard to find north of the Watford Gap! In July we can look forward to hosting beers from Black Iris Brewery based at The Flowerpot pub in the heart of Derby, a pub not so dissimilar to The Lion in fact, so they should go down well.

See you here at the lion later teatime beer garden beers!

John, Josie & Team Lion

New Customers For New Burger Menu!!!

If you have not tried our Rock N. Roll Burger menu, then what's stopping you???..........we have had loads of new folk travelling to the Lion to try the burgers........ And then come back for the beers and entertainment!!!........the Lion has always had to encourage customers to travel from the suburbs and the burgers have definitely helped this along........we now have regulars from Bridgford, Wollaton, Beeston, Hucknall and Arnold............Burgers are served from midday to 8pm every day...........don't forget our Worksop butcher also provides the meat for our excellent Sunday lunches........

RINGWOOD brewery from Hampshire are Junes focus brewer.......quite rare to see the likes of 49'er, Old Thumper and Boondoggle........

The Hop Pole in Beeston is now cut off.......the tram works mean the next six week will be a real challenge.........if you are over that way, call in to say hello to Karen..............

The Maltshovel Beeston is also struggling by as Union St is also virtually closed by tram works on middle street........the Shovel has Oakham ales on permanently and their home made food is very popular at lunchtimes.

The Hayloft at Giltbrook will be stocking Blue Monkey Beers on a permanent basis from July and a new deal has been struck......a new range of handpulled ciders are also on the horizon

The Plough next to the Nottingham Brewery in Radford are accepting bookings for brewery visits with Phil Darby.......an excellent evening is promised for groups of 10-20, some sampling, a game of skittles and sandwiches.........aswell as the full range of brewery beers for sale. Contact Mel at the Plough

Back here, the patio will be out of action for two weeks from Monday as it is finally upgraded.........and the signs will follow on......some external decoration has been completed this week...........

See you here at the Lion for a Friday teatime beer
John and Josie

Lion Music Festival Roaring Success!!!!!

A massive thank you to everyone who supported us last Saturday. The annual Summer Gathering Music Festival at the pub was the best ever.......many new faces at the Lion and new friends made.......great thanks to the bands and musicians who played their hearts out in support of the British Heart Foundation............and a big thumbs up to our excellent staff who were dead on their feet at the close of play.......a really brilliant day............

Exciting news.......the patio is finally about to be upgraded and work will start in the next couple of weeks, together with some new signs and our battered tub chairs are being recovered.........we will almost look like a new pub!!!

Ringwood from sunny Hampshire are our brewers of the month, so watch out for their best bitter, Fortyniner, Boondoggle and Old Thumper........excellent and we'll established beers that are hard to find north of the Watford Gap..........for a regional brewer, they will be very popular.....CAMRA discounts apply at all times of course.....

Don't forget we have ten real ciders on sale at all times.......we have been amazed at the genuine feedback on these products.......clearly the Lion has the best range in Nottingham and actually one of very few pubs that take these great products seriously.......they are becoming very popular with a variety of customers who are tempted to try something completely different..........we will be providing more tasting notes and information on the products in the next few weeks......as well as some sampling to tempt disbelievers !!!!!.......THE LION IS NUMBER ONE FOR REAL CIDER!

The weekends beer range is also on the website.  wwe.thelionatbasford.co.uk  Join our Twitter feed for daily updates on beers and Rock n Roll Burgers and entertainment.

John and Josie