British Lion Public House

The British Lion Public House is a traditional free house pub located in Devizes, Wiltshire, England. It describes itself as "a drinker's pub, specialising in the value of REAL Ales and Ciders," and positions itself as one of the last of its kind in Devizes — a pub and nothing more, with no food service, no televisions, no live sport, and, in its own words, "no gimmicks." The pub's offer is built entirely around well-kept cask ale and cider, served in a historic building that is several hundred years old and has likely traded as a licensed premises for much of that time. The British Lion is a free house, meaning it is not tied to a single brewery and can source beer from a changing range of producers. Four real ales are usually available, with no permanent fixtures, so the beer range changes regularly. The pub has appeared in the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) "Good Beer Guide" every year since 1995, is listed in "The Real Ale Pub Guide," and holds the Cask Marque accreditation for beer quality. The landlord is a Fellow of the British Institute of Innkeeping, and the local CAMRA branch has presented the pub with numerous Certificates of Achievement over the years for both the number of different ales stocked and the breweries featured. In July 2021 the pub received the 50 Years of CAMRA Golden Award, one of only 32 pubs in the country to be so honoured. Physically, the pub features what it says is the largest beer garden in town at the rear, along with a covered, heated smoking area. It accepts cash and all major credit cards. The pub is run by Michael Dearing and his team, who invite visitors to "a proper pub with a welcoming atmosphere." Although no food is served, the pub offers a selection of nibbles, nuts, crisps, and snacks. The building's history suggests it was probably originally a coaching house with stabling and yards at the rear; documentation shows that during the second half of the 18th century it was owned by Wild and Company Brewers of Estcourt Brewery, and paperwork dated 1897 refers to the "British Lion Inn." The British Lion operates as a single-site independent pub rather than a chain or branded group. Its identity is closely tied to the traditional British wet-led pub model — a drinking house focused on cask-conditioned beer, conversation, and community rather than food, entertainment, or other ancillary offerings. This makes it a notable example of the classic free house tradition in a market where many pubs have diversified into food-led or family-oriented formats.

The building housing the British Lion Public House is several hundred years old and has likely traded as a licensed premises for all that time. It was probably originally a coaching house with stabling and yards at the rear. Documentation shows that during the second half of the 18th century it was owned by Wild and Company Brewers of Estcourt Brewery. Paperwork dated 1897 refers to the "British Lion Inn" (formerly known by another name). Over the 20th and 21st centuries the pub established itself as a traditional free house focused on real ale and cider. It has appeared in the CAMRA "Good Beer Guide" every year since 1995, and is also listed in "The Real Ale Pub Guide." The pub holds the Cask Marque accreditation and its landlord is a Fellow of the British Institute of Innkeeping. The local CAMRA branch has presented the pub with many Certificates of Achievement over the years for both the number of different ales stocked and the breweries featured. In July 2021 the pub was awarded the 50 Years of CAMRA Golden Award, one of only 32 pubs in the country to receive it. Under the stewardship of Michael Dearing and his team, the British Lion continues to operate as a wet-led pub with no food service, no televisions, and no live sport. It maintains a changing range of four real ales with no permanent fixtures, a large beer garden at the rear, and a covered, heated smoking area.

• 2021

  Awarded the 50 Years of CAMRA Golden Award, one of only 32 pubs in the country.

• 1995

  The pub begins its continuous run in the CAMRA "Good Beer Guide."

• 1897

  Documentation refers to the premises as the "British Lion Inn" (formerly known by another name).

A traditional free house 'drinker's pub' focused on real ale and cider, with no food, no television, and no gimmicks.

• Real ale (cask ale)

  Four real ales are usually available with no permanent fixtures, so the range changes regularly.

• Real cider

  The pub specialises in the value of real ales and ciders.

• Snacks

  No food is served, but a selection of nibbles, nuts, crisps and snacks is available.

1. 1Welcome To The British Lion | Genuine Free Housebritishliondevizes.co.uk
2. 2British Lion Public House - Wikidatawikidata.org