THE GOLDEN LION - 99 Alresford Road, Winchester

Last week, to celebrate a family birthday, we visited The Golden Lion. We also had a dog in tow, so a canine friendly pub was essential. Luckily, The Golden Lion fulfilled all our needs, so a table was booked and our destiny decided.

This is a good sized pub, with a good sized car park and a fair sized garden out back. This pub has the rare quality of making you feel immediately welcomed, transporting you to a wonderful pubie world, where the warm lighting and polished wood protect you from the stresses of the world outside the reassuring walls. The menu read well, with a good range of food, including a specials menu. There are also gluten free options for those of you who are that way inclined.

Amongst our orders were steak and ale pie, homemade chicken keeve with bacon, and a chicken burger. I suppose on paper that doesn't sound very exciting, but upon reading the menu, it becomes clear that this is not average pub food. The attention to detail is obvious and the food here is freshly made.

When the food arrived, I am happy to report that the pies were indeed proper pies, none of this pastry lid nonsense. Having ordered a simple chicken burger, I was presently surprised with the effort and imagination put in to the presentation of my humble food choice. The burger stood proudly next to several items you would more usually find in the kitchen. My chips came in a little metal basket, like a mini frying basket. And my substantial salad was served in its own little colander. Everything was dished up with a high level of care and attention, and that was also evident in the eating of the food.

Everyone enjoyed their food, and we certainly couldn't fault the service, especially when they came out with a birthday cake, fireworks irrupting from atop its iced glory. Maybe they weren't fireworks, but they were quite impressive. If you happen to be wandering the Winchester area in search of a pub you can visit with your four legged fluffy monkey, give this pub a go. You'll come out the other side better for the experience.

Atmosphere          8

Service                 9

Food                    8

Value                   7

Verdict                 4*

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