Come into the Lion's den (Lion Hotel Shrewsbury)

Name: jo@145

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Product:	Lion Hotel Shrewsbury
Date:	22/04/08 (134 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Close to town centre with some parking

Disadvantages: Creaky floors, oldy worldy

Forty years ago as a student at a catering college, I went to work along with several other friends as a waitress at a ball at a prestigious hotel in Shrewsbury. For this I earned the princely sum of £1.00 and a meal! Extortion comes to mind!

Things have moved on and last week I went to the same hotel, now under new management and this time I was waited on, and enjoyed the experience much better.

The Lion hotel is reported as being a 16th century coaching inn, situated at the top of Wyle Cop, a hill leading into the town, just after crossing the English Bridge and it is a Grade I listed building. It is a great situation for exploring the lovely streets with beautiful black and white houses and shops. Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire in the West Midlands and is a historic market town.

As you enter from the main road there is steps down to the restaurant on your left and the Tapestry lounge on your right, a little further on is the Oak Bar, opposite Reception. I actually entered from the car park which is partially covered, and leads out onto Town walls, at present there is a one way system operating in Shrewsbury around the hotel, so I found parking here was useful. My entry led me past the stairs to the Ballroom and the toilets. I did take a peek into the function rooms which are popular places for weddings and the Adam Room can cater for up to 140.

There are 59 rooms and a double room costs about £92 for Bed and Breakfast per room. All with en suite facilities. As I didn't stay here I can't comment more, except that the floors do creak, so I imagine it could be noisy, but that is typical of old buildings. The breakfast menu is like most hotels these days with a good choice and costs £7.95 for continental and £10.95 for cooked.

I enjoyed a lovely lunch and the service was good, and was lucky enough to return the following evening for dinner. Again the food was cooked well and presented nicely and the products were local as far as possible. Well starched white linen and modern cutlery made the tables look good.

The dining room was fairly quiet to begin with, and one waitress coped with taking new customers to the tables, taking orders and serving the diners, until it got too busy for her and another waitress arrived to help. I felt it was either very quiet in the hotel or guests had chosen to eat out. I had expected it necessary to book a table, but people just walked in and were served.

We had the Table D'hote which was £16 for 2 courses or £22 for3 courses. Guess which I had! You're right 3 courses!

Asparagus with poached egg, and a lovely dressing, Roast Lamb and roasted vegetables with Red wine jus, and Baileys Cheesecake, washed down with a very nice Chardonnay. There was soup, stir fried duck or melon for starters, and salmon, pork etc for mains, and a selection of other sweets. Water was brought without asking, which I thought a nice touch as so many places try to sell you bottled water these days, and of course the usual rolls and butter.

I doubt if I will ever need to stay here as my sister lives near by, but I would only recommend it to older people as the hotel was decorated to suit it's age and history and although they had updated some of the chairs to modern leather ones, it still has a "period" feel to it. I saw three young men check in and they appeared to being celebrating perhaps a Stag party, they did look rather out of place to the other guests!

Still it was good enough for Charles Dickens, King William IV and Madame Tussaud's, so it can't be too bad!

If you want to learn more check out the website at www.thelionhotelshrewsbury.co.uk

Summary: Hotel in Shrewsbury with good restaurant and ballrooms