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Blue Lion information

Independently run pub The Blue Lion offers a weekly-changing seasonal food menu alongside a variety of cask ales, ciders and wines.

Ranked #17 of 2091 pubs & bars in London
"The Blue Lion is an independently owned pub, popular with the lunch-time and after-work drinks crowds. Our kitchen serves real food, cooked from scratch using fresh ingredients and our menu changes every week. During the week we are especially known for group bookings as our large layout with central bar offers a variety of great spaces to eat, drink and mingle. Our pool table is another draw, and can be reserved in advance. Our local area is quiet at weekends and on bank holidays so we offer the whole pub for private events."

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Opening Hours
Opening Hours
MON

12:00 - 23:00

TUE

12:00 - 23:00

WED

12:00 - 23:00

THU

12:00 - 23:00

FRI

12:00 - 01:00

SAT

CLOSED

SUN

CLOSED

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What did you think of Blue Lion?

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Blue Lion reviews

DC


By David C.
Posted on 05/06/2017

I booked the Blue Lion for a Saturday afternoon for 100 people. The booking process was simple and any queries were answered promptly. On the day there were plently of staff who were friendly and accomodating all afternoon, the food was excellent and many of my guests commented on how good it was. The pub itself is a very good size and layout, it was also a very warm day but it was lovely a cool inside. Although the pub is in the centre of town it is in a quieter part of town. A fantastic venue which I'm sure I'll be using again.
JH


By Jo H.
Posted on 10/05/2017

Cheryl and her team could not have been more helpful and accommodating in helping us to arranging a joint birthday party and the Blue Lion. It's a fantastic venue in a really central location. I simply cannot recommend it highly enough.
DB


By David B.
Posted on 03/04/2017

We hired the Blue Lion for our wedding party and it was a fantastic day. Cheryl was super helpful through the whole process, helping us to choose the right food and making sure our day was perfect. On the day the food was great, the drinks flowed and all the staff were really helpful and ensured we had a wonderful day. The sound system worked brilliantly and we had amazing fun. Thanks to all at the Blue Lion. I can't recommend it enough
EE


By Elizabeth E.
Posted on 06/03/2017

Lovely little pub! Friendly staff, nice 'old pub' feel, great food, real ales and the pleasant surprise of a pool table tucked discreetly round a corner. What more could you ask for?
AL


By Adam L.
Posted on 19/01/2017

The communication with Cheryl, from the first enquiry and visit, through to the party itself, was brilliant - she was very helpful, accommodating and patient as we finalised our plans. The pub was in a perfect location, catering for guests travelling from across London, the UK and beyond, thanks to its close train and tube stations. It was also a great size for our 100 guests, was very comfortable and had a well stocked bar. The staff working during the evening were lovely - despite being rushed off their feet at times - and the chef provided exactly what we were hoping for with the buffet. We were able to meet the minimum spend comfortably, making the venue very good value for money! The space was really flexible and we were able to go to town with the decorations, allowing us to create a nice party atmosphere. The big screen for photo slideshows and video clips was also brilliant, while the pool table went down very well with our guests. The only downside was that while our DJ was able to plug into the pub's PA system on the evening, that did limit his volume levels to the extent that the dance floor was a bit sparse at times, which was a shame. The staff told us that this was the loudest it could be, but it wasn't ideal. Overall, we would definitely recommend this venue for parties - Cheryl and her team will go out of their way to make sure it is a special night!
LC


By Louise C.
Posted on 14/11/2016

Held my 50th birthday party at the Blue Lion recently and couldn't be more happy with the venue and its staff. From the outset, manager Cheryl answered my enquiries clearly and promptly so I felt absolutely confident that I was in good hands. Everyone was so helpful and the whole night ran like clockwork (but more fun!). The food was great, really nicely presented, and my guests loved the Blue Lion; from the pool table and dance floor, to the varied seating arrangements and characterful decor, it was the perfect venue. I'm so pleased to have found it because it really made the evening work.
JW


By James W.
Posted on 21/10/2016

We hired the Blue Lion on a Saturday for our wedding reception. The communication was excellent, the staff on the day were really good, the beer and wine/cider/spirits selection was great. We ordered a buffet and the quality was very good and the quantity was outstanding. The sound system was excellent and the pricing of food and drink was brilliant, particularly given London prices. I cannot fault the Blue Lion and would give them 10/10.
MM


By Mary M.
Posted on 20/06/2016

Great experience, private hire

We hired the Blue Lion for 21st party and had a fantastic experience. We hired the whole pub for a Saturday evening and had an excellent veggie/vegan buffet which received compliments from many of the guests attending. The staff on the night were super-friendly and helpful and went out of their way to be accommodating to our requests. The owner Cheryl was an absolute pleasure to deal with, very helpful and made planning the event extremely easy and stress-free. We had a wonderful, fun and relaxed evening with friends and family and the location of the Blue Lion is an added bonus, being close to Kings Cross and many other transport links. We would thoroughly recommend the Blue Lion for any kind of event or party, large or small; it is a lovely and well-run venue.
LP


By Lisa P.
Posted on 09/05/2016

Fantastic venue and staff - open, flexbible and helpful. Felt I could trust Manager Cheryl from the word go. Great food too - in terms of quality and value. Also, well located for out-of-towners coming via Kings Cross/Euston. Thoroughly recommended.
ET


By Ed T.
Posted on 19/04/2016

We arranged to have private use of the whole pub on a Saturday night and it worked perfectly. Great location for a mix of Londoners and non-Londoners, perfect size for between 70 and 100 people, really nice atmosphere and the staff were really friendly and looked after all our guests. Thank you Blue Lion!
EM


By Erika M.
Posted on 07/04/2016

Amazing wedding reception party in a relaxed and fun environment with great food and drinks!

We celebrated our wedding reception at the Blue Lion last weekend and it was a great success. Cheryl, the landlady, was incredibly helpful right from the start of organising the event, and was happy to answer all my questions in the run up to the big day. She advised us on what food and drinks to order and we received really positive feedback from our guests about the food. They also loved the venue as it’s such a good size (we had 110 people there and it was ideal) and also had a lot of cute features and little nooks and crannies for people to sit and chat. There was also space for a dancefloor. We had a lot of international guests and they loved the English pub feel of the place, while the British people also commented on how much they loved the décor and how light and airy the pub is. All in all it was a perfect party and we would highly recommend the Blue Lion for a party or an event. We wanted something low-key and fun and the Blue Lion was ideal. Thank you!
HS


By Helen S.
Posted on 25/02/2016

booked the blue lion for a engagement party. Found the owner and staff extremely helpful at all times. They went above and beyond when we needed to find out the width of the doorway so our friend who uses a wheelchair could gain access. On the evening of our party the pub was already set up for us so we could just set up the record decks and get on with partying! The range of beers and spirits that were on offer made everyone happy!! The bar staff were fast, friendly and professional, also no one was kept wait more than a couple of minutes to be served. I would happily use the blue lion again and would recommend the venue to everyone.
PJ


By Pamela J.
Posted on 23/02/2016

Lovely pub in a great location, perfect to hire for an event. The staff are friendly and flexible and the food is great! I would definitely go back time and time again.
HS


By Hitesh S.
Posted on 14/12/2015

Booked this venue last minute for a private party on Saturday 5th of December. The owner was very helpful in organising everything with only 2 days notice. Answered all questions in a timely manner and was really helpful. Upon arrival the staff were very friendly and as most of our party arrived late they were happy to accommodate bringing the food out later then originally planned which has caused me problems with other venues in the past. Very friendly service, good food and atmosphere. We connected our own music up to the system and due to on site WiFi streaming was easy and there were never any problems. I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for something private where all your guests can enjoy themselves and have a good time. Hitesh
SW


By Simon W.
Posted on 20/07/2016

Great place, but not wheelchair accessible.

Have been the pub before and it's great, except on this one occasion. Having phoned ahead to enquire about wheelchair access I was informed that the pub was very wheelchair and disabled friendly - why wouldn't it be, it's a friendly bunch of people who work there.

However, on arrival it was clear that wasn't the case as there is a reasonable step into the pub and no ramp to be provided. While staff did their best to help, it was a lost cause and we had to move on.

Despite this, I'd recommend the pub but if you're with someone disabled and in a wheelchair either bring your own ramp or be prepared to sit outside on the busy, noisy and pollution-filled Grays Inn Road!
MM


By Michael M.
Posted on 09/02/2016

The Blue Lioj is a fantastic venue and pub. I have drunk here during the week when it is open to the public and hired the venue at the weekend for a party, both times the beer and whiskey selection was great, food awesome and staff friendly. Definitely worth bearing in mind d you are looking for a party for between 60-100 in central London at the weekend. Plan to use them for my next event.
SW


By Sharon W.
Posted on 29/09/2015

I held my 50th birthday party here and it was a fantastic experience. Cheryl was extremely professional to deal with, answered queries quickly, had helpful advice on planning the arrangements, and made sure the evening ran like clockwork. The staff were friendly and helpful and the buffet was amazing and very good value for money. It's a lovely venue with space which can be flexibly configured and a relaxed atmosphere. I'd highly recommend The Blue Lion for a private party.
AR


By Adam R.
Posted on 27/08/2015

I hired the entire pub to host my birthday party this year and was very pleased. Communication with the manager Cheryl was always quick, easy and efficient and she was very easy to get hold of and pleasant in person too. The system for hiring was quick and efficient and my deposit has been returned to me promptly since. As for the night itself the food was lovely and the bar staff very helpful. The pub is such a great space, more than enough room for my guests and we all had a great time dancing the night away. Would recommend and indeed have booked again!
JK


By Jack K.
Posted on 23/08/2015

We booked The Blue Lion for a London wedding reception following a ceremony abroad and it was perfect. The staff and management were incredibly straightforward, easy to deal with and very accommodating to our requests (including advice on how to decorate, organise music, food choices). We had 90 guests and it was busy but by no means full. We had a selection of food from the platters and buffet which all went down well. We would strongly recommend for those looking for a similar type of event in central London.
TP


By Tamara P.
Posted on 19/08/2015

We hired the Blue Lion for our office summer party and it was absolutely fantastic. It is in a great location and there is a ton of space for guests to dance, play pool or just sit and chat. From the initial inquiry to the actual night Cheryl was extremely helpful and accommodating – even though I had a thousand and one questions. The food especially was amazing – we had burgers for everyone and sharing platters to go round in three separate servings and everything came out hot and delicious! Everyone commented on how good the food was. Good selection of beer and wine was available and everything was very reasonably priced. We had a wonderful time and I could not recommend the Blue Lion and their staff highly enough for anyone who wishes to hire a private venue.
AD


By Annabelle D.
Posted on 15/06/2015

I hired the Blue Lion last weekend for my husbands 40th. In the run up to the party I met Cheryl as hadn't ever seen the venue and in the months leading up to party emailed her numerous times. She was so helpful and accommodating for my requests and responded promptly each time even though I probably drove her mad! Everything on the night was perfect, the food (we ordered the £5 per head buffet and topped up with some of the additional £1.50 dishes) was just delicious and really well presented, everyone remarked on what a great spread it was. The bar staff on the night were just lovely and so polite and friendly, and the wines, beers, spirits were also very reasonably priced and a large selection to choose from. I can't rcommend Cheryl and her team enough, the venue is perfectly suited to large and small groups, we were a group of 25 people and I was a bit worried we would feel a bit lost in all the space, but it worked perfectly for us as we had lots of different areas for congregating/eating/dancing. In fact, I'm already looking at rebooking for my 40th in a couple of years time!
SM


By Shakeel M.
Posted on 05/06/2015

I had a 50th birthday party here. My friends loved the venue, as it is spacious and comfortable. It is close to convenient tube stations and parking is easy on a weekend. The host, Cheryl was friendly and very helpful in helping set up the party. I had a great time and recommend this place for parties and even just for drinks and a bite.
LT


By L T.
Posted on 20/05/2015

We had our wedding reception at the Blue Lion on Saturday and it was absolutely great. We had 100 guests and it was the perfect size - good atmosphere without being too full. It's a lovely pub with lots of different spaces and some sightly quirky decor. The 'rustic buffet' was really lovely. We added lots of the additional items on offer and it was a really good amount of food and all very nice - a lovely range of breads, etc. Lots of compliments from our guests on the food. Overall, we'd definitely recommend the Blue Lion - staff were very helpful and accommodating, food was really nice and good value and there was a great range of drinks.
HW


By HELEN W.
Posted on 07/05/2015

Lovely old pub with lots of character! We had Private hire on a Sat night for my parent's 60th birthdays and it was perfect! Cheryl the manager is very helpful and accommodating and the bar staff were fab! Food is excellent too - we had a rustic buffet which was reasonably priced and well presented.
TB


By Tom B.
Posted on 07/05/2015

We held our wedding reception at the Blue Lion and Cheryl and her team were absolutely fantastic. From the first meeting until the end of the wedding itself Cheryl was in control of everything. She liaised with the DJ and the decorators. The food that was put on was brilliant as well. Everything ran smoothly. We could not recommend highly enough. Thanks Cheryl! From Tom & Jo
FS


By Felicity S.
Posted on 20/02/2015

I hired the Blue Lion for my 30th birthday party a couple of weeks ago. Everything about my night was fantastic! The venue itself was absolutely perfect, I brought a DJ with me and had a dance floor area at the back, leaving the front by the fire a lovely place for people to relax and chat. I ordered the basic buffet of cheeses and meats, which was absolutely delicious. The staff were so friendly and couldn't do enough for us. Cheryl is so lovely and made everything so easy to organise, always extremely helpful and prompt in responding to my many queries. My party had a 90's theme and Cheryl kindly let me decorate the venue and bring in various 90's sweets and a cake etc. I still cannot believe this place is free to hire! Such brilliant value, and the booze is reasonably priced too! My 80 guests had an absolute ball. It's an absolutely brilliant venue and I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of having a private party.
HP


By Heather P.
Posted on 03/02/2015

Such a great find! We booked the Blue Lion to celebrate our wedding with our friends and family and we couldn't be happier with the results. I cannot recommend the venue highly enough. From our initial meeting with Cheryl right through to the actual party was a very stress free and simple process. On the actual night Cheryl and her team looked after us very well. They were very attentive and their attention to detail was great. We had so many compliments on the buffet from our guests, some stating that it was quite possibly one of the best buffets they had ever had! High praise indeed but totally warranted. My husband and I were absolutely thrilled with our party and that is a testament to Cheryl, her team and a great pub.
PP


By P P.
Posted on 06/12/2014

Such a lovely pub! We booked out the Blue Lion for a party on a Sunday evening and had such an excellent time: lovely and helpful staff; a great range of ales; very tasty food; a really warm atmosphere - and very reasonable prices. Would recommend wholeheartedly.
PP


By P P.
Posted on 06/12/2014

Such a lovely pub! We booked out the Blue Lion for a party on a Sunday evening and had such an excellent time: lovely, helpful staff; great range of ales; tasty food; a really warm atmosphere - and very reasonable prices. Would recommend wholeheartedly.
JS


By Jeremy S.
Posted on 02/12/2014

We looked around various pubs with rooms for our engagement party before stumbling across the Blue Lion which offered much better value and had a menu that looked tasty rather than fancy. We couldn't be happier with our choice, Cheryl and her team made everything very easy. The food was delicious, plentiful and came out in two servings just as we asked. The pub is comfortable and has a good selection of beer and wine at decent prices. Can't recommend it highly enough.
PO


By Peter O.
Posted on 25/11/2014

Having just organised my joint 40th birthday at the Blue Lion I wanted to publically thank Cheryl and the team for the fantastic night. It couldn't have been better organised, Cheryl came back on our queries quickly and the party went like clockwork! The venue worked so well, the food was fabulous (guests are still commenting on it two weeks afterwards) and we had a fantastic night. I couldn't recommend this venue anymore!
SS


By Sarah S.
Posted on 21/11/2014

Booked the Blue Lion for a family celebration. They provided an afternoon tea with a cash bar for 65 people. The food was very nice and served on vintage china, the staff pleasant and the surroundings congenial. They even lit the log fire at my request. Would recommend the private hire to anybody.
HE


By Helen E.
Posted on 22/10/2014

My husband and I hired The Blue Lion for our 30th birthday party! Cheryl, the bar manager was great and repsonded to all our e-mails and questions promptly and thoroughly. On the night, the bar staff were friendly and accommodating and a really great, relaxed atmosphere was created. Our friends and family had a great night and were so complimentary about the venue. Thanks to all at The Blue Lion!
KM


By Katie M.
Posted on 24/09/2014

I held my 50th birthday party at The Blue Lion and could not have been happier with the way Cheryl and her team managed the event. Not only were they extremely accommodating and helpful both beforehand and on the night, they made a range of useful suggestions on layout, buffet etc. The pub itself is lovely and just the right size for c100 guests. It also comfortably accommodated a dance floor and DJ. I cannot recommend The Blue Lion highly enough.
EZ


By Emma Z.
Posted on 21/08/2014

I had my 30th birthday party here last weekend and I couldn't have asked for more from a venue, and landlady. The pub is beautifully refurbished, and the staff were excellent, and were willing to cater for any requests. Thank you!
JA


By Joe A.
Posted on 06/08/2014

I celebrated my 50th Birthday at the Blue Lion in May 2014 and the whole event was just about perfect.. Excellent buffet, excellent craft beers, excellent surroundings = lots of very happy friends... A huge thanks to Cheryl and her team for looking after us. I can't recommend The Blue Lion highly enough...
VH


By Valerie H.
Posted on 01/07/2014

We held a birthday/anniversary party at the Blue Lion in June. We had around 60 people there, a mix of family and friends. The pub had exactly the informal and buzzy atmosphere we were looking for. It was ideal for our number of guests we had. Everyone was able to mix and mingle; they could sit down comfortably to chat and eat the buffet; and then we had a dance area at the back of the pub. Nothing was too much trouble; everything was set up excellently on the night. The buffet in particular was fantastic - and all of our guests commented particularly on that. The staff there on the night were extremely helpful and did a great job in looking after us. I would not hesitate to recommend this as a venue for a gathering such as ours. It made for a most wonderful party that we will remember for many years to come.
SP


By S P.
Posted on 14/05/2014

I was looking for a venue in London which was centrally located and within a small budget, which I didn’t think I was very likely to find until I came across this on View London. The venue was perfect for our engagement drinks and the minimum spend was very achievable. We loved the atmosphere and feel of the venue (no decoration required!) and the board games were an added bonus. Cheryl was always available to answer any questions we had in the lead up to the event, and everyone commented on what a great venue it was.
RB


By Rob B.
Posted on 08/05/2014

I recently hired out the Blue Lion for my 30th birthday party and I must say we had an absolutely brilliant night. The pub itself is a perfect venue, the staff are fantastic and everyone commented on how amazing the food (cold meat and cheese platters) was. I would definitely recommend this place for any parties you may be holding, it's just awesome.

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