The Lonsdale

A traditional pub with a large outside dinking area. It attracts a more local crowd than some of the pubs in the area.

The Venue
There was local opposition when this pub was built on the site of a row of shops in 1951, but any animosity has long since died away and it’s now a very popular locals’ drinking den. It’s black on the outside with gold writing and as it's set back from the street it leaves a big terraced al fresco drinking area out the front with wooden benches.

There's a black and white tiled entrance, and carved wood panelling on the lower half of the walls while the top half is adorned with pictures of old city scenes as well as brass-bracketed wall lamps. It's lit with a sort of orangey hue and there are fruit and cash machines and a pool table. The carpet’s a bit dodgy but that goes with the traditional-pub job description. There’s an upstairs room which is available for hire and there’s a plaque on the side wall outside describing the history of the area.

The People
This is where the diehard locals go, leaving Osbourne Road to the middle-class students. It comes into its own in the summer when a big crowd pack the terrace at the front, only popping inside to replenish their drinks or to use the loos. There are also screens showing live sports so it gets packed on match days.

The Food and Drink
You’ve got Foster’s, Brain’s, Everard’s Sunchaser, Strongbow, Carling, Beck’s, Guinness and John Smith’s (£2.03 a pint) on tap and the usual selection in bottles. They go in for cocktail pitchers here with a Pimms and R White’s lemonade for £9.25 and a Bacardi Mojito for £9.75.

There are half a dozen whites and reds from £9.95 to £12.70 a bottle, including a Sunrise Merlot which is £3.10 for a small glass, £4.30 for a large one and £11.85 for a bottle. The food is fairly standard pub fare with burgers, salads, grills and sandwiches. It’s £5.49 for a New York burger and sausage and mash is £3.99. A chicken tikka masala is £5.89 and it’s £3.89 for a triple club sandwich.

The Last Word
A local watering hole a little removed from the jumped-up hotel bars of Osborne Road.

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