I mentioned briefly, in an earlier post, and also referred
to the fact in a several subsequent comments, that there was a pub on board
Queen Mary 2. Admittedly not the most traditional of public houses, but an area
on the starboard side of Deck 2, was set aside, and kitted out as a typical
English urban pub.
There was a bar at one end, which customers could sit, and drink at if they wished, and leading off towards the bow, were a
number of alcoves, furnished with comfortable, leather-type, bench seating, and
each with its own table.
Named the Golden Lion, and complete with its own hanging
sign, the pub was a popular part of the ship, providing not just a place where
passengers could sit and relax, whilst enjoying a drink, but also somewhere they
could be entertained at. This included, live music, from a variety of different
acts, and representing several genres, the Golden Lion also hosted quizzes, and
bingo sessions. Televised sports were shown, from time to time, with football
obviously proving popular, with the large number of both Brits and Germans, on
board.
One afternoon, on a rather overcast
“sea day,” Mrs PBT’s and
I inadvertently got caught up in a game of the latter, but not wishing to
disturb the seriousness of the session, ended up staying as observers. We
didn’t go thirsty, as we made sure that we caught the waiter’s eye, in order
for him to recharge our glasses.
We’d originally called in at the Golden Lion for lunch, in order to sample
the typical pub fayre menu, which included classics such as cod & chips,
beef burgers, ploughman’s, plus a "pie special" that changed daily. The food is
included in the fare, although drinks, both soft and alcoholic incur an
additional charge. Alongside a number of international beer brands, three
signature beers, specially brewed for Cunard by Salisbury-based, Dark
Revolution Brewery, are available.
Sold as
Cunard Gold, Red, and Black 
they are respectively, as their names suggest a
Pilsner-style lager, a
Red IPA, plus a superb dark
beer, billed as a
“Breakfast, biscotti-stout.” The later contains oatmeal, coffee, and vanilla, and at
5.7% abv, isn’t really the sort of beer you’d want
to consume at the breakfast table, although when you are on holiday, who knows?
The Cunard beers are sold in canned form at some of Queen
Mary 2’s other bars, but in the Golden Lion are available on draught.
Regardless of their packaging and presentation, the beers are unfiltered and
unpasteurised, so in effect are cask-conditioned, and as if to add to this
uniquely British touch, the Red and the Black varieties are dispensed by
genuine hand-pumps.
I know these pumps are genuine, as I popped down one
afternoon – purely for research purposes, and sat at the bar, so I could
witness my pint being pulled – and yes, muscle power was definitely involved! The
beers were reasonably priced too, particularly in view of the surroundings. My
pint of
Breakfast Stout, cost me
$7.10, equivalent to
£5.90 at today’s exchange
rate, and before you question the currency, everything aboard all of
Cunard’s
cruise ships, is priced in
US dollars probably because of the large volume of
transatlantic passengers they cater for.
To sum up, the
Golden Lion was a nice place for a relaxing
drink, and given its situation on
Deck 2 being that much closer to the water than the
accommodation and dining decks, you could sit there watching the waves, as the
ship effortlessly glided it was through the seas. Service was largely by
waiter, although as mentioned above, you could sit, or even stand at the bar
and order, if you so desired.
Finally, the Golden Lion pub, is obviously popular with
passengers as the name, plus the concept, extends across all three of Cunard’s
current cruise ships, and may even feature on their latest vessel, the Queen
Anne, which makes her maiden voyage in 18 months’ time.
