The Three Lions 206 West Street Bedminster

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.

Its wonderful and fans can cider in hand simply wander around the pub studying walls covered in memorabillia of all things Bristol City along with a other sports including a large collection 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 and a certain A WALSH can be often seen with suit stood by the bar. Others notables to have graced the 3 Lions with their presence include Nigel Benn, Boxing hall of farmer Ken Buchannan, Steve Collins, Henry Cooper, Jane Couch, Danny Dyer, the immortal Stoney Garnett, Gazza, Ricky Hatton, Gary Jacobs, Charlie Magri Alan Minter John H Stacy and a few more on top.

The Fizzy pops on sale are Fosters and Kronenburg, Beers in the form of Johns Smiths, that Irish Brown stuff, ciders are Blackthorn, Bulmers and Taunton traditional of a consistently high standard at £1.70. The Taunton traditional in particular is perfect for loosening vocal cords for East End 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 available 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 juke box alone merits a mention. No sanitised pop here thank you and the selection includes the Wurzels, the Jam, the Clash, Sex Pistols, Stiff Little Fingers …..and the Dead Kennedys "Too drunk to fuck!

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 allowed in.

Tradition will once again be observed again on the last match of the season with the 3 Lions hosting a flag day from 12.00 onwards V Preston and a fans will be photographed outside and the picturers displayed in the pub alogside previous years line ups . Bring a flag people if you have one, put it up outside the pub and celebrate the teams and Gary Johnson's remarkable achievements this season come what May