White Lion Bar and Terrace

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.

This place is all about the view. I would recommend this place for anyone who’s bringing visitors to Bristol and want a good view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge over a spot of ‘average’ lunch.
Whilst the food is OK, it’s not somewhere I’d intentionally want to go unless the weather was good and you could sit outside. I wasn’t wow’d by anything but the view and the food actually takes a while to arrive at the table (been here a few times) which doesn’t make it an ideal lunch venue if you’re on a tight schedule.

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!

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).

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.

I would give this place a 3.5 star rating overall — it’s a perfect place to have a pint in the afternoon, overlooking the suspension bridge — hands down the best view I have ever had at a pub in my life! 5 stars during the day. Also, really liked the fact that they had a pieminister stall outside as well, nothing beats having a good pie as well with your beer!
However, as the day turned into night, the patrons changed for the worst. The inside changed into a club, and suddenly the terrace was filled with douchebags on their stag and hen nights. A group of obnoxious guys sat beside us, spilling their beer everywhere, yelling, pushing each other into people at our table. There were women with giant inflatable penises (peni?) screaming and also being super obnoxious. It was unpleasant to say the least.
I know next time to go during the day, otherwise avoid at all costs at night (besides, you can’t see the bridge as well at night.)

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 façade’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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.