About This Pub
Ah, The White Lion – it's one of those classic pubs that you stumble upon and think, 'This could be a gem.' From what I've gathered, the outdoor space is an absolute treat, especially if you're after a bit of fresh air with your pint or a meal. The food really shines through in the reviews; that mac and cheese sounds like a proper winner, and other dishes like pies and puddings get a thumbs up for being hearty and satisfying. Plus, the staff come across as genuinely friendly and eager to make sure you're having a good time, which always makes a visit feel more personal. On the other hand, it's not all smooth sailing – there are mentions of the place needing a good scrub, with sticky bits and webs attracting wasps, which could put a damper on things. Service tends to drag, even on quieter days, and you might end up with food that's not piping hot, which is a bit disappointing. Overall, though, it's got that warm pub charm going for it, so if you're in the area, I'd say give it a go, but maybe pop in with an open mind and keep an eye on the little details.
Pros and Cons
Pros
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The outdoor space is really lovely, making it a great spot for a relaxed drink or meal on a nice day.
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The food is generally spot on – think delicious options like mac and cheese that's spot on for a comforting pub grub fix.
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Staff are welcoming and seem genuinely focused on ensuring everyone has a good time, which adds to the friendly vibe.
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Drinks are well-received, offering a solid selection to pair with your meal or just enjoy on their own.
Cons
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It could do with a thorough clean, as there are reports of webs, sticky surfaces, and even wasps that might spoil the experience.
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Service can be a bit slow, even when the place isn't packed, which might leave you waiting longer than you'd like.
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Seating arrangements aren't always ideal, like being directed to bar stools for a proper lunch, which feels a tad off.
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Some dishes arrive lukewarm, which is a shame when the food itself has potential to be brilliant.
Contact Information
Chalk Hill, Houghton Regis, Dunstable LU6 1RS
+441582853959
Pub
Opens at 12:00
Opening Hours
| Monday | 12:00 - 20:00 |
| Tuesday | 12:00 - 23:00 |
| Wednesday | 12:00 - 23:00 |
| Thursday | 12:00 - 23:00 |
| Friday | 12:00 - 00:00 |
| Saturday (Today) | 12:00 - 00:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00 - 22:00 |
Recent Reviews
Stumbled across this one randomly on the way back from my daughters football game. Really nice outdoor space, could do with a bit of a deep clean as a lot of webs and sticky bits so the wasps were distracting, we'd have stayed longer. Food was great as were the drinks. Mac and cheese was SOO GOOD
We arrived and the place was evidently not busy, the male waiter led us to some bar stool seats which I thought wasn't appropriate for lunch, he then sat us on another secluded seat by the bar area, the table was dirty and not set. I approached another waiter and questioned why we are being set away from the dinning area, she apologised and agreed there were several tables available and we were eventually moved.
Besides the unacceptable treatment the food was okay but some small portions.
The food was nice enough, except for my scampi and chips – initially, the wrong chips were served, and everything was lukewarm. The service was really slow, despite the restaurant not being particularly busy. It seemed like there was one waitress per table, yet empty plates were left on the table for ages. A couple of waitresses walked past and just ignored them. Also, there were no check-backs – such an easy win for a pub or restaurant! Wouldn't go back again for dinner there based on the experience, would do a 1 course lunch as food was enough, and wouldn't be to bothered so much about service and plates laying around.
I have to sing the praises of the new Management team at The White Lion on Chalk Hill. We met the young lady today who is working her own pub (always a hit with me) She was lovely and very welcoming, we had a great chat. I love that they are so focused on their customers having a great experience. We ordered off neat and clear menus. I had the sausage and mash, My son the mixed grill and my wife the steak sandwich and chips. Steaks were cooked to perfection (hats off to the chef) the sausages were flavourful with a creamy mash and nice thick gravy. The decor is delightful now, very classy! A definite destination foodhouse. And the best part of all was the price. Nothing was overly expensive, we have eaten at different establishments who don’t have such high standards for similar and often more money. As someone who runs pubs I’m quite hard to impress so well done to this fantastic young couple who are doing such a great job.
Had a Valentine Day meal with wife and daughter. I went for Prawn Cocktail, Pie and Mash and Apple Crumble while wife had humous and half chicken. Daughter had steak and sticky toffee pudding. The food was good and we didn't have any issues with them.
But it's didn't look very busy for a Valentine Day night and I have to say it was half empty even though they were telling us it was fully booked. Also tables were not being cleared away as one table next to us was not cleared during the entirety of our meal. The pub looks to be a bit in disrepair with cobwebs in the dining hall and the toilet definitely needing a deep clean. For God sake put some bleach in the cistern. My wife enjoyed our evening and she recommended this restaurant on a previous visit but she said she won't come back again. Think this place needs another refurb or it will be closed again.
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