Our newest gastropub, The White Lion, just a short drive or stroll from Leamington town centre, is putting its best foot forward this season with it’s superb new food and drinks menus, an exciting calendar of events and a glorious garden that make a trip to the pub completely irresistible.
The beautiful, thatched pub in the heart of the village is the perfect place to enjoy delicious things to eat and drink in relaxed surroundings, whatever the occasion. Tucked behind it is a spacious, secluded garden that’s full of spring blossom and comfortably furnished with plenty of spots to soak up some welcome sunshine.
Enjoy a top-notch lunch or dinner
Our new spring menu uses the best of the season’s bounty, from Cornish lamb and spring greens, to Devonshire crab, daily market fish and English asparagus. Sip on a Rosé Spritz, a refreshing, summery combination of El Bandarra Rosé Vermouth, prosecco and soda, before enjoying a watercress broad bean and pea soup with crème fraîche and ciabatta or hand-picked Devonshire crab with cured salmon, apple and cucumber.
British coppa with celeriac remoulade and watercress or twice-baked Cheddar and Comté soufflé with rocket and walnut salad are also delectable, especially when paired with a glass of fresh Vinho Verde, a citrusy blend of Portuguese Loureiro and Alvarinho grapes.
If you’re looking for a dish, completely vegan, enjoy our adventurous beetroot tartare, butternut yolk and pea salad or a lovely salad of roast heritage carrot and bulgar wheat laced with preserved lemon, pomegranate molasses and hazelnuts. For something more traditional, enjoy a favourite such as free-range chicken schnitzel with garlic and parsley butter, rocket, Parmesan and fries, or 14 hour braised beef and ale pie with buttered mash, greens and gravy – there’s a dish for everyone.
New season Cornish lamb cannon with spring greens, pea purée and rosemary jus is not to be missed and neither is the classic fish pie packed with king prawn, hake, loch trout and smoked salmon!
Head Chef, Stefan Elliott, also creates a selection of daily changing specials using excellent seasonal and local produce. Some of his recent dishes have included Jimmy Butler’s onion bhaji Scotch egg, baked Cornish lemon sole with Wye Valley asparagus that’s at its seasonal best and brown crab Hollandaise and Aubrey Allen’s flat iron steak with patatas a lo pobre, pesto, Parmesan and rocket!
Start the weekend right
For those making the most of their weekends, start your Saturday or Sunday off with breakfast. Poached eggs and basil pesto, prosciutto and rocket on toasted sourdough from the Bread Factory – or the chilli fried free-range egg and halloumi on a brioche roll with baby spinach and Bloody Mary ketchup. Plus not forgetting the classics, enjoy a full English with free-range bacon and sausage, eggs benedict or smoked salmon and scrambled eggs! Perfect with a Big Tom Virgin Bloody Mary or something a little stronger. Book in and join us soon.
Sip on something great…
There are plenty of new arrivals on The White Lion’s drinks list, too. Treat yourself to an expertly mixed cocktail, like the deliciously different Praline Martini, a velvety combination of Cotswolds cream liqueur, chocolate hazelnut, Martel V.S. Cognac and Ketel One vodka or the Banana Colada with zero waste Discarded Banana Rum made by infusing Caribbean rum with banana peel for a rich banoffee pie character, combined with Havana Club 7 Year Old Rum, pineapple and coconut.
The list is full of interesting wines that are the perfect partners for food as well as for enjoying on their own. Try the new Sentidiño Rías Baixas Albariño that’s lively and delicious and a great match for seafood, or the Orange Natural Wine from the Recas Estate, Romania, a rich characterful drop that’s full of apricots and orange zest and something a little bit out of the ordinary.
General Manager Lianne Sargent and her friendly team will be on hand to give you a warm welcome, whenever you visit. Relax in the cosy bar or wander into the garden, the only place to see in the longer, warmer days and enjoy a Tuesday night treat of two steak and frites and a carafe of wine for £30.
Pub Club Events
There’s a wonderful season of events coming up to take you from spring into summer.
Friday night means only one thing and on Friday 9th June, the pub’s pairing it with quality sparkling wines from around the globe. Fish, Chips & Fizz brings a choice of starter and a fish course finishing with The White Lion’s Chippy Tea – Cornish lemon and herb monkfish scampi, battered haddock, pil pil king prawns, triple cooked chips, tartare and minted mushy peas – all alongside a wine tasting hosted by the pub’s wine supplier Tanners of Shrewsbury.
Sunday 18th June is the day to show Dads just how important they are. Treat them to the best with a top quality roast with beef from Aubrey Allen, Jimmy Butler’s free-range pork, or a superb delicious vegetarian wellington with all the glorious trimmings.
The pub will be making the most of summer and celebrating the iconic Wimbledon tournament by serving up a pudding board perfect for the occasion. Settle into the garden and enjoy English strawberries and gin jelly with a jug of Pimm’s on the side for the ultimate indulgent treat. Pimm’s on the Lawn is from 3rd to 16th July.
On Thursday 24th August, Head Chef Stefan will be sharing his love of Spanish food with his special Spanish Supper. For one night only, he’ll be bringing some of his favourite tapas dishes to the terrace, from croquetas de jamón to patatas bravas, paella and tortilla.
After another top bank holiday weekend in August, there’ll be the chance to stretch your legs and explore the beautiful countryside on the doorstep by joining in a bracing pub walk. Book for breakfast before heading off at 10.30am on Sunday 24th September.
Head for The White Lion and find one of the best places around to enjoy great hospitality and great food and drink in the surroundings of a fabulous village pub. Sign up to keep up to date with all our latest news!