Traditional pub grub, Adnams ales, efficient friendly staff & a proper pub feel about the place.The home made fish pie was very tasty, stuffed with fish and very reasonably priced.The beer, as you would expect in its brewery's home town, was simply excellent.
Lloyd Housley
Had a fish there today which had horrid soggy batter and just about enough fish with which to make 2 decent fish fingers. The skin easily outweighed the meat. Chips were nice though.
604keilap
Visited last night. Menu basic after being told there could be more specials on the board consisting of fresh pie, steak etc. On arrival, menu was just the bog standard burger/scampi no fresh additions. Was told that the pie hadn’t arrived in time…obviously not freshly made on site. After the meal we went and sat by the fire as we were still wet from the storm, to which the landlady, came along and said “it’s stifling in here” and turned the gas fire off. Never mind your customers who are paying to supposedly have a meal out. Some people just should not work in the hospitality industry…the clue is in the name. Will never visit that pub again.
vglynn2015
Rude staff, unwelcoming, didn't bother to stay. Advertised dog friendly but not really. If there had been even a welcoming greeting we might have stayed.told that we had come through the wrong door.....
Moira Ward
Thank you for an excellent New Year Eve dinner. Scrummy food and excellent service. See you next year on New Year Eve. All the best for 2022. Terri Ward
valgoodman88
Arrived 18.00 first Friday in December with family and friends, we walked round looking for a table and was told by a male member of staff “you can not go in there” we worked out that was because we had a dog with us. We sat outside and went to the bar for drinks to be greeted by a stare, drinks were ordered no please or thank you, I am still waiting for the requested receipt - too much trouble for the unpleasant staff. We had the one drink then moved round the corner to the more welcoming Nelson. Leopards do not change their spots.
Philip H
New Years Day so allowances can be made for the long wait. But the menu was basic and even then two choices were unavailable. The scampi I eventually received was pretty awful - a non-descript mush in deep fried coating. Drinks took ages and second round didn't even arrive. One staff member fine, one - to be honest - pretty ill-equipped.
tedjrr
It's New Year's Eve, the Lion is purring. The food here is really varied, fresh and delicious. Well done for the best of 2021... roll on 22...
tiffanyfF1838JM
Unwelcoming landlord. We only wanted to have a lovely pint and a packet of crisps and wish we had not bothered. Ruined our Boxing Day. Miserable man
Emma Mills-Wallace
Had a great meal with my husband and toddler. I'm dairy free so was pleased to find a vegan burger and a vegan treacle tart. The staff were really helpful and sorted out a little pot of peas for my daughter to eat.
Restaurantji Recommends
7152eaton
Great food for coeliac as my wife suffers from finding food to eat so I asked the staff if they do g/f options and must say it was one of the best g/f beer batter fish and chips she had had in a long while thank you red lion
Andy S
Had light lunch here of sandwich and chips. Generous portions and really great homemade chips.
BEANBD
Popped in early evening to ask if there was any tables available for food this evening (baring in mind we could physically see empty tables in the bar area and out the back in the restaurant BOTH SIDES!!) to be told ‘nah we don’t’ I wanted to clarify as was such an abrupt and short answer so asked was there absolutely no availability for food this evening at all ? and the barman said ‘no we’re full right now’ I replied ‘so you’re fully booked all night you have no availability for food this evening at all ?” As it was only about 6pm and the barman said “yeah pretty much” not really to sure what ‘pretty much’ means but from where I was standing it seemed like this barman couldn’t care less about helping us and clearly he didn’t want our custom, didn’t even bother to ask if we would like a drink… we would have been more happy to return later if there was no tables until later as was still early or would have actually sat and ordered a few rounds of drinks & bar snacks while we waited but as we were greeted with such a moody & rude member of staff and not even offered to order a drink we didn’t even bother stay for a drink, I wasn’t about to waste my money in a pub with such crap & rude service . Majorly put off we won’t bother coming back. Such a shame do better Red Lion
Steve E
The Red Lions hardworking tenants have now taken over the cooking in the kitchen and the improvement in quality is evident. The menu is more imaginative and the food is excellent. Service always comes with a smile and its great that we can continue to eat in Southwold’s best pub.
peter02102018
My wife and I had a great afternoon in the bar yesterday, drinking with the local regulars, and friendly landlord and landlady, great afternoon on a blowy autumn day, highly recommended.
Traditional pub grub, Adnams ales, efficient friendly staff & a proper pub feel about the place.The home made fish pie was very tasty, stuffed with fish and very reasonably priced.The beer, as you would expect in its brewery's home town, was simply excellent.
Had a fish there today which had horrid soggy batter and just about enough fish with which to make 2 decent fish fingers. The skin easily outweighed the meat. Chips were nice though.
Visited last night. Menu basic after being told there could be more specials on the board consisting of fresh pie, steak etc. On arrival, menu was just the bog standard burger/scampi no fresh additions. Was told that the pie hadn’t arrived in time…obviously not freshly made on site. After the meal we went and sat by the fire as we were still wet from the storm, to which the landlady, came along and said “it’s stifling in here” and turned the gas fire off. Never mind your customers who are paying to supposedly have a meal out. Some people just should not work in the hospitality industry…the clue is in the name. Will never visit that pub again.
Rude staff, unwelcoming, didn't bother to stay. Advertised dog friendly but not really. If there had been even a welcoming greeting we might have stayed.told that we had come through the wrong door.....
Thank you for an excellent New Year Eve dinner. Scrummy food and excellent service. See you next year on New Year Eve. All the best for 2022. Terri Ward
Arrived 18.00 first Friday in December with family and friends, we walked round looking for a table and was told by a male member of staff “you can not go in there” we worked out that was because we had a dog with us. We sat outside and went to the bar for drinks to be greeted by a stare, drinks were ordered no please or thank you, I am still waiting for the requested receipt - too much trouble for the unpleasant staff. We had the one drink then moved round the corner to the more welcoming Nelson. Leopards do not change their spots.
New Years Day so allowances can be made for the long wait. But the menu was basic and even then two choices were unavailable. The scampi I eventually received was pretty awful - a non-descript mush in deep fried coating. Drinks took ages and second round didn't even arrive. One staff member fine, one - to be honest - pretty ill-equipped.
It's New Year's Eve, the Lion is purring. The food here is really varied, fresh and delicious. Well done for the best of 2021... roll on 22...
Unwelcoming landlord. We only wanted to have a lovely pint and a packet of crisps and wish we had not bothered. Ruined our Boxing Day. Miserable man
Had a great meal with my husband and toddler. I'm dairy free so was pleased to find a vegan burger and a vegan treacle tart. The staff were really helpful and sorted out a little pot of peas for my daughter to eat.
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food for coeliac as my wife suffers from finding food to eat so I asked the staff if they do g/f options and must say it was one of the best g/f beer batter fish and chips she had had in a long while thank you red lion
Had light lunch here of sandwich and chips. Generous portions and really great homemade chips.
Popped in early evening to ask if there was any tables available for food this evening (baring in mind we could physically see empty tables in the bar area and out the back in the restaurant BOTH SIDES!!) to be told ‘nah we don’t’ I wanted to clarify as was such an abrupt and short answer so asked was there absolutely no availability for food this evening at all ? and the barman said ‘no we’re full right now’ I replied ‘so you’re fully booked all night you have no availability for food this evening at all ?” As it was only about 6pm and the barman said “yeah pretty much” not really to sure what ‘pretty much’ means but from where I was standing it seemed like this barman couldn’t care less about helping us and clearly he didn’t want our custom, didn’t even bother to ask if we would like a drink… we would have been more happy to return later if there was no tables until later as was still early or would have actually sat and ordered a few rounds of drinks & bar snacks while we waited but as we were greeted with such a moody & rude member of staff and not even offered to order a drink we didn’t even bother stay for a drink, I wasn’t about to waste my money in a pub with such crap & rude service . Majorly put off we won’t bother coming back. Such a shame do better Red Lion
The Red Lions hardworking tenants have now taken over the cooking in the kitchen and the improvement in quality is evident. The menu is more imaginative and the food is excellent. Service always comes with a smile and its great that we can continue to eat in Southwold’s best pub.
My wife and I had a great afternoon in the bar yesterday, drinking with the local regulars, and friendly landlord and landlady, great afternoon on a blowy autumn day, highly recommended.