Once upon a time there were two gentlemen named Tink and Pricey; they hailed from across the big pond. Tink played discreet about the origins of his nickname claiming that it was mispronouncing “tank,” but Pricey, on the other hand, was eager to tell me that he had once been an exceptional gigolo who was incessantly raising his rates. A simple case of supply and demand.
All jokes aside, it’s these two lads who have recently opened the doors to Shorewood’s newest addition, Three Lions Pub (4515 N. Oakland Ave.) Their goal for the previous home of North Star American Bistro is a welcoming and authentic English establishment. Because they are still several weeks from a grand opening you’re only privy to the bare essentials; fresh paint, a handcrafted bar and a wall-mounted breathalyzer machine near the back hall. Their outside sign was still a printed banner. The only things setting it apart from The Village Pub down the street are the futbol games on the big screen and a couple of foreign jerseys tacked to the wall.
Let down but still ready for a drink, I sat down with my mates and asked for a tour of their drink menu, hoping the options were a little more genuine than the décor. Pricey pushed the UK original Banana Bread Beer for my companion and I opted for the Pear Cider since banana-flavored anything makes me more nauseated than riding in the backwards facing seat of a station wagon. We happily consumed both while Pricey prattled on about the forthcoming fireplace, couch and a bar menu that will feature fish and chips, bangers and mash and some other items I either can’t pronounce or couldn’t translate from his thick accent. Dare to dream. Should this all come to fruition they could probably star in their own rendition of Bieber’s “Never Say Never.” I asked about the namesake, secretly wanting a romantic correlation about how this specific feline is the king of the jungle and how these guys were to become the rulers of all things surrounding drinking and being awesome. But it’s a play on the English sports crest, which obviously enough features three lions.
I would eventually cave under peer pressure before vacating the premises and can now gladly speak on behalf of Banana Bread Beer and the places that serve it. If you’re like me, the fireplace and comfy couch caught your attention since teetering on top of a barstool just isn’t conducive to my New Year’s resolution of “don’t break any bones.” It’s probably best to follow Three Lions Pub on Facebook to be kept in the know about the arrival of these items and the official grand opening date. Just do not get your hopes up regarding the complimentary board games. Tink and Pricey got taken by a little old lady at a garage sale and their version of Operation failed to contain any of the necessary parts, and only buzzed if held upside down.
