White Lion

Decided to try the real ale. Staff were rude and too busy with their phones to serve. It was dirty and toilets smell and the "real ale" was awful, I had to take the first pint back, as it was off - much to the disgust of the bar staff and ended up leaving the replacement, as it was just as bad. Don't go!

A great old fashioned bar, lovely "olde worlde" rooms and panelling and a good selection of well-kept hand-pulled beers. Live music, too. What could be better than that? Friendly and helpful staff, that's what. And this place has them, too. A really good night out. Highly recommended.

The White Lion on London Road in Heeley is open again after a shock closure before Christmas. The popular pub, steeped in Sheffield's history and dating back to at least 1781, sent shockwaves through its community when it announced an abrupt closure on 28th November 2023, citing an immediate shutdown due to a burglary over the weekend that resulted in smashed windows.

The announcement was made via the pub's Facebook page and despite the unexpected closure, a holding company responsible for overseeing the pub, which had just undergone a six-week makeover and reopened in June 2023, provided assurance that plans were underway to reopen the historic venue as soon as possible.

The burglary incident led to the closure, with eight panes of glass damaged. The holding company, acting on behalf of the owner, Star Pubs & Bars, promised to replace the damaged elements swiftly to restore the pub to its former glory. And now new managers are in place to run the establishment.

In a statement, the holding company emphasised the commitment to preserving The White Lion as a vibrant music scene venue for Sheffield. They stated, "We don't want Sheffield to lose one of its best music scene venues. We want to get the doors back open as soon as possible but we want to make sure the pub's right, safe and ready for trading again."

Outgoing managers Danielle Crutchley and Anthony Judge expressed their sadness about the closure on Facebook, thanking patrons for their incredible support. They explained that the decision was beyond their control and expressed gratitude for the memorable moments shared with patrons.

The Grade II-listed White Lion stands out with its charming stained glass windows, glazed green brick facade, and cozy snugs with fireplaces inside. A small beer garden adds to the allure of this historical pub. The venue, part of Heineken’s Star Pubs & Bars group, has a storied past, with notable landlords such as celebrated cricketer Jonathan Woollen and Sheffield Wednesday legend Billy Marsden, contributing to its legacy during different eras.