The Pub was originally called the Three Horseshoes but changed names to conincide with Euro 96. Since the name change the pub has become a South Bristol Institution and right at the hub of Bristol City's football community. A visit to this pub will tell you more about Bristol City fc than a visit to the Dolman exhibition hall ever will. Every City fan out there should visit this pub once at least because it is the everything the supporters club could be, should be and is not. The Three Lions feels like a Bristol City museum where the patrons live and drink Bristol City FC everyday. Nostalgic fans can cider in hand wander around the pub studying walls covered in memorabillia of all things Bristol City along with a other sports including a large collection of boxing mementos.
The pub is owned and ran by City fanatic the very reverend Sean Donnelley who is pictured on the pub walls shamelessly smoozing various Stars around the Pub.
Visitors to the Lions have included virtually anyone who has played for City in the last ten years, along with many of the certain squad and a certain A WALSH can be often seen with immaculate suit stood by the bar. Others notables to have graced the Three Lions with their presence include Nigel Benn, Boxing hall of farmer Ken Buchannan, Steve Collins, Henry Cooper, Jane Couch, Danny Dyer, the immortal top cove Stoney Garnett, Gazza, Honorary Wurzel Ricky Hatton, Gary Jacobs, Charlie Magri Alan Minter John H Stacy and a few more on top.
The Lions juke box alone merits a mention. No sanitised Girly pop for gayers here thank you! The selection includes the God like Wurzels, the Jam, the Clash, Sex Pistols, Stiff Little Fingers …..and the mighty Dead Kennedys "Too drunk to fuck!
The Fizzy pops on sale are Fosters and Kronenburg, Beers in the form of Johns Smiths, that Irish Brown stuff, Ciders [no ice] are Blackthorn, Bulmers, Inches [can you take six and half love?], Natch and Taunton traditional [£1.80 Wurzel]. The Taunton traditional in particular is perfect for loosening vocal cords for East End Cider Goggling, Wassailing and random shouting at strangers not playing in red.
Hiroshima strength curries are sold on some matchdays and combined with alcohol have led to a condition known as Sean Donnelley's cramps. Milder Curries are also offered for those stomachs that do not withstand nuclear fission.
The Lions is a proper traditional working mans pub and has done its very best to keep its smoking clientele by providing a novel area for smokers. The Lions does not see smokers being condemned to being left outside in the elements getting wet and dodging buses going through puddles. Nope tucked away in the Lions adjacent alley are tables and chairs, ash trays and pictures attached to the pubs brickwork providing a quite civilised area for smokers and non smokers to carry on socialising. This little enclave sees some fans spending hours out there discussing 4-4-1-1. There is also a patio at the rear of the pub with a cracking view down to Ashton Gate.
The Lions puts on a few nights be it the Wurzels, Sex Bristols or of the more adult variety and even the toilet ceiling bears testament to those who have entertained the City supporting locals plus the one token Gashead [Ferge] allowed in.
If you haven't visited the pub you simply are ignoring part of the fan culture of BCFC. Do it once at least on the last home game of the season when the pub hosts the now part of Bristol City traditonal fan lore ... the LIONS FLAG DAY.
Carlton Leach (center) from Rise of the Foot Soldier at the three lions
The Three Lions 206 West Street Bedminster 01179020056
Three lions on face book
