please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Took the wife in for a drink to a good pub however she was not impressed with one punter who could not put a sentence together without the f word. Might have to think about going again.
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From the outside it`s a dodgy 60`s concrete box, take the top off and it`s a classic estates bungalow pub. Don`t be fooled by the exterior though, inside it`s what the rather grand Saracens Head over the road should be. Nice comfy and clean, no obvious signs of late night brawling, divided up into small areas for private chat. A couple of nice ales on, friendly barstaff..oh alright then there was a Chav at the bar reading the Sun..it`s a pub! Worth a visit.
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Having read the recent comments placed on this page, i decided to pay a visit to the Red Lion.
Once i had navigated around a group of what seemed to be ''traveller's''selling their wares (mainly dvd's)
I was stood next to a elderly grey haired gentleman (late 50's) and a much younger person whom i can only assume was his son.
It was very difficult not to over hear their conversation, which was like listening to a couple of ten year old's.
I can only assume they will be back at school after the summer holidays.
But all in all a quite eye opening experience.
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Hey
The only shorts on view in the Lion should be the ones in bottles behind the bar .
Whats going on...middle aged gents prancing around with their knobbly knees and what makes it worse is that they tend to gather in what i had previously suggested was the intelligent end of the bar...What next for these sartorially inelegant specimens??? A mini skirt and a rather fetching pink blouse i imagine!!! Shudder !!
Anyway hope to see you all when I return from my hols..Keep on supping !!
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On recent visits the guest ale has been below par. Today I had what was labelled up as Top Totty. It was too dark to be Top Totty and tasted nothing like it. The barmaid investigated and found it was actually Ruddles.
Still, it's good to have 4 real ales on and the food is good value and quality. Can't go wrong with the Cheese & Onion crusty cobs for about �1.30.
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Although I am an old man,night is generally my time for walking....and I can think of no better destination than the Red Lion.
Always assured of a warm welcome it is a haven in the stormy port that can be Shirley on a cold winters evening.
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Happened to read an article from publunch from december..is he really serious when he says he drinks with some of the regulars when wearing his villa shirt???? maybe the ones from the right hand side of the bar as pointed out in one of my previous articles ..
Hope to make another visit at the weekend and might even try the cottage pie as it comes with a very high recommendation from one of the locals who speaks with a very high pitched voice and looks like he has just come down from the mountains of clent !
odd though, every time I see him he orders ham egg (2) and chips...oh and a pot of tea.
christmas is coming folks....
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Had a wonderful weekend in the Lion !! lots of interesting punters wining and dining and having a ball.You can almost feel the excitement of the fast approaching christmas festivities engulfing one and all.
Cottage pies,curries,cobs and pizzas all kept the tills jingle belling
The footy crowd all moved in on Sunday..My, how they cheered when the bacon sandwiches arrived.
I cant wait for my next visit
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I am not saying its a bit pricey in here, but the staff wear striped tee shirts and masks !!
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Has anyone noticed how the intelligence level of the clientele in this establishment increases dramatically as you move along the bar from the right hand side near the entrance,round to the left towards the passageway.?? Hmm !!.
The staff always ready to engage the customers in either light hearted witty banter or more meaningful conversation on topics to test even the most agile of minds..Wonderful !!
Keep it up Red Lion..Every visit is a new adventure!!
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A visit on the first Saturday afternoon after Christmas revealed a fairly relaxed and friendly atmosphere, attentive service and a comfortable, pleasant interior. The screens were busy with the racing from Chepstow which concerned the majority of punters, so I could watch my choice saunter it's way around the course without demeaning himself by breaking out into anything resembling a sweat. If the Lion served ales other than Pedigree, Abbots or Adnams I could offer a more wholehearted recommendation but in any event it is one of the more atmospheric pubs in Solihull (or the Silhillian surburb Shirley if you prefer) and a pleasing contrast to the majority of boozers in the town centre.
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Ive been drinking in here for around 12 months now.
Normally my GF and I go to watch the bands, which have been of a very high standard. The beer is very good, (I drink Strongbow) but there are real ales available. I have only had one bit of trouble in there, Because I was talking about my team (Aston Villa) and some bloke got all agressive. Yes, it is a bit clicky, but I drink with some of the regulars anyway. I went in there last Friday with my Claret and Blue scarf on, Got some uneering looks as I approached the bar, but, some people do get braver or ''more confident'' after a few beers. (This pub is in the main full of Birmingham City fans) But I am Aston Villaand proud. The gaffer has his click in there, but it is nice to be nice. The boozer is very nice, most of the clientel are sound (except for the arsey Blues fans) and the live music is awesome. Im happy :@)
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From what I've seen the only dress code is that the gaffa doesn't like burberry-which I suppose is understandable with the reputation that comes with it.
But I have notice a bit of a relaxation with the door policy recently, the sign mentioned earlier in the thread has gone. I've spoken to some of the bar staff and they seem to think it's because they don't have to watch out for the Sarrers regulars anymore, because they have moved in a more restaurant direction so they don't tend to get the yobs in.
Thegiant's right when he says the pool table's gone but they have bands there now and even have a myspace page! I presume the gaffa isn't involved in that-I can't see him liking computers coz the tills look like they're from the 60s! If you google red lion shirley and myspace you'll find the gig list-some of the rock bands they've had in are right up my street.
Good luck getting in-I'm sure you won't need it.
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Mook, forget the game of pool. The back room has been turned into a function room, minus the pool table.
As for getting in, I can't comment as I only ever go at lunchtime and I don't think anybody gets turned away then.
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I wrote a comment a couple of years ago (about being turned away whilst on leave and wanting to go for a pint with my brother), and I can see that since then a lot of arguing has taken place, which has all been an interesting read and it does seem that Red Lion regulars are actually posting now. I haven't tried to get in there since as I have been away from Shirley, but in advance of returning home I'd like to ask a few sensible questions - to be passed on to the land lord if possible. What is the actual criteria for getting in? Is it dress, if so what is acceptable? Is it a definite over 25 policy, I ask as I am 27 but my brother is 24 - is the age limit flexible if we are blatantly only there for a nice pint and a game of pool?
On a separate note; I think the days of the violence at the Sara's and the Plume are gone now, I agree there was a problem a few years ago and that drove the pubs down the restaurant path, and because of that they have become boring, but they aren't as bad as made out on some of the posts on here. With regards to alcohol I think its all got a bit out of hand, some people enjoy a good real ale and others enjoy a cold pint of carling, for me it depends on my mood, classifying people by what they drink or how much they spend is a bit immature to be fair. No offence to anyone intended.
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Clearly tippler123 has been supping too much eurofizz at the sarrers. Where did the idea of lager drinkers being poor come from? Not from my words certainly. Went in the sarrers yesterday and sadly found it doesn't actually sell beer - it has Guinness, that dreadful smoothflow and loads of cold frothy tasteless lagers, which clearly are its main selling point. I live on planet earth does tippler live on planet "chip on shoulder"?
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i have read many coments on this site and i cannot recall another pub with comments designed to rubbish its local competitors in the way some of the comments on here have .why make a point of highlighting isolated incidents that could happen anywhere? so you claim that a wooden board stuck outside exempts an incident ever occuring at this pub (my god what a great moneysaver no need for expensive security- cctv or doorstaff -just spend �5 on a piece of board saying "regulars only" and stick it by the door -please do get real) these comments are an underhand attempt to gain extra buisness via this forum and i see this as being totaly out of order .
Now nobody would dispute a pubs right to charge what they like for drinks but when you try to justiy this by stating that this shabby pub is special then you leave yourself open to criticism. why not make this place a members only pub; not sell lager and there would be no need to have rude unsociable signs outside this "PUBLIC" house ...PROBLEM SOLVED
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Well the managers of managed pubs get given their beer from the people that own the pub and don't pay rent. Whereas Leased pubs have to pay rent and buy their beer at elevated prices as they are contractually bound to do so by the lease. Therefore many leased pubs have to charge a higher rate for the beer they serve.
Yes the sign outside may be considered anti-social but no-one has been harmed by reading that sign-unlike the violence that I have witnessed at the other pubs I mentioned. I have PERSONALLY called the police to attend the sarrers since it has reopened as I saw members of the sarrers' staff being asaulted by a group of their punters and I have seen both the police and ambulances attend that pub on many an occasion-so no it is not libelous because the perfect defence aganst libel is the truth and I have witnessed the trouble at that pub first hand! The plume is also a place that is no stranger to violence, because a gang beat someone up in there not long ago. Perhaps we should just agree to disagree and you drink at your pubs that I believe are potentially dangerous and I'll drink at the lion which you feel is pompous and over priced-problem solved?
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ok so you say ... "i am more than willing to pay an extra few pence on a pint to be assured that I won't have to watch my back"
do you mean then that this pub has spent extra on hiring security staff or has sophisticated security measures which might confirm the need to cover extra costs ? ...errr the answer is NO!
i do beleive your talking nonsense !also what you said about people consciously calculating that their combined 20pences pieces could make them more drunk elsewhere, doesent add up really does it???
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...."this is to deter the lager crowd from the nearby pubs..." excuse me but what planet are you on? are you suggesting that somebody drinking lager is automatically poor and cannot pay an extra 50p to �1 for a pint? .GET REAL!; the reason the prices at this undesireable pub are so high is so that the owners can make more money out of the people drinking there , please spare us the transparent nonsense
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Best pub in Shirley - yes I know that isn't difficult but the Red Lion really is a cut above. There is a good variety of beers and the staff are friendly in spite of the 'regulars only' board outside - I assume this is to deter the lager crowd fro the nearby pubs.
Worth going to for a quiet pint or to watch SkySports.
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Having lived in Shirley for 19 years before departing to London to complete my studies i return to Shirley occasionaly and when i do i ensure that if i'm lucky enough to go to a pub then i make it the red lion. Fantastic selection of beers and proper bar staff who'll hold a proper conversation with you. Beer prices that i think are reasonable. I think the only thing letting the place down is the way it looks from the outside. However Shirley is a such a miss match of buildings anyway it's hardly out of place with other ugly buildings. Anyway it's the inside that counts and in Shirley there is no greater.
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I've been a customer for nearly 2 years at the lion and I love the place. I've made so many friends and heard so many bad jokes (and chat up lines-you know who you are wobbler!) The regulars that some of you are complaining about are great chaps-especially the veggie who insists that bacon crisps are meat free!!!It's the only pub I'll go into without the boyfriend because I know I can talk to anyone and I'll be safe and confortable. Even the grumpy landlord is quite cute when you get to know him. I'm giving this pub 10 out of 10 because it's my local and I love it-that's what pubs are about.
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Wow! I can't believe all the angst on here! I have moved into the shirley area recently and have settled into the lion very nicely. No issues with me coming in and certainly no rudeness from staff or landlord. Great beer, even some from my native Yorkshire-Kelham Gold in particular is superb!
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I could only wish to be the landlord or a staff member at such a fine establishment! After your previos posting I printed it off and showed it to the landlord and he was exstatic about your review in that it confirms to anyone who reads this board that he has a no chav policy. So he would like me to pass on his thanks for informing all the readers of this forum that they can come along and enjoy a brilliant pint in what is the last chav free zone in Shirley.
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The writer of the previous posting hasn't got a clue what he's talking about, and so should shut up.
As long as the licensee doesn't discriminate ongrounds of race gender religiom etc he can choose who he wnats in his pub. It's nothiong to do with the licensing authorites,andis entirely down to the decision of the licensee (apart from the perameters outlined above).
So if he doesn't want certain people in his pub he is under no obligation to have them in his pub. He makes the rules and people who don't like them should shut up and stop wingeing and whining.
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Ok Mr Landlord or pub employee (sorry I meant to say mr regular of 4 years)
Regarding your first point, a PUBLIC house is a LICENSED premises in order for a private property to operate as a PUBLIC HOUSE it needs to be licensed the licensing authorities may not look too lightly on a public house that on a regular and consistent basis refuses entry to persons for no other reason than �they do not like the look of them� on your other point I have never in my life been �kicked out �of a pub including this dump
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Ok first of all lets get one thing clear-the name "Public House" is a misnomer. A pub is a private property so the issue should not be "how dare the landlord presume to choose which types of people are allowed into HIS pub" but how dare people like you dare to presume you have a RIGHT to enter. The best analogy i can think of is that the decision over whether or not to allow people into a pub is to decide whether you would allow that person into your own house-and if the Landlord at the Lion doesn't feel comfortable with letting "Chavs" into his house, then so be it. I have been a customer at this establishment for 4 years and I believe it to be the most welcoming pub in the area as long as you are not a loud mouthed lout (especially ones with a superiority complex!!!). Yes the beer is a bit more expensive (10-20p dearer than the sarrers across the road) but I can take my girlfriend there and know we are safe-which is more than can be said about the sarrers, the plume and the colebrook! The issues you have with the customers, I feel, is based solely on you being kicked out (I presume this is the case as you are aware of the prices). I have met some of the funniest and most genuine people I have ever known in the lion and as long as you aren't a lout i have absolute faith that any customer will be welcomed by the so called grump of a landlord.
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so you get rid of the chavs who next people with beards? , people who wear glasses?, people who in your opinion dont walk properly?where does it end? its not difficult to tell just from the few words you have written- your general attitude and it certainly validates the previous comments regarding many of the regulars here . what the hell gives you the right to judge others and to dictate that certain so called "types" of people should not have the right to enter a public building (not that they would want to anyway in the case of this place) what a pitiful human being you are. on second thoughts it is perhaps better that people like you congregate in one single place such as the red lion and not amongst other pubgoers with whom you would poison the atmosphere with your "superior" attitude im sure you practice the superior selection process amongst yourselves anyway
anonymous - 15 Nov 2007 21:13 |
One of the last non-chain pubs and the only one in the area I drink in. Yeah the gaffer's a bit grumpy but he keeps the chavs out and anyone who gets their panties in a knot about the "hostility" and would prefer a Wetherspoon should probably find a nice soft play area instead.
I'd rather put my money here than in a chain pub.
anonymous - 12 Nov 2007 23:38 |
by rights this pretentious ,rudely managed pub deserves to have its licence taken away due to the total lack of respect it shows to many would be customers, if you are tempted to enter this place trust me dont bother, it is full of pathetic smug and unbeleivably rude clicky regulars who without logical reason delude themselves they are better than most others . what a cheek- a public house situated on a busy main road displaying a sign saying "regulars only" .As previous comments have highlighted if this is the pubs policy then why not make this venue a private members club. the drinks prices are extortionate. unfortunately this pub does not have a great deal of local competition as the nearby pubs are more restaraunt than pub . what would sort this pub out would be the opening of a wetherspoon type pub nearby with sensible prices which would divert a large percentage of its buisness away and shake it into having more respect from other potential customers not just the click who currently drink in this poorly decorated and dated venue .
anonymous - 2 Sep 2007 12:37 |
Run by partnership. One gaffer OK. The other (Joe) needs a lesson in manners. Pub would be excellent if not for him. Highest beer prices in the area, but not a bad thing as keeps a lot of louts out, as does the over 25's policy. Great place for sport, (if you can gt cooperation from above ignorant gaffer).
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Adding to my earlier review, I've been in quite a few lunch times since. They do a good crusty cheese and onion cob for about �1.10. The beer is still in very good order. The clientele tends to be mostly OAPs taking advantage of the well-priced food.
We experienced one of the local characters holding court and getting reprimanded by the landlady for his language - she doesn't take any crap!
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Went in last friday lunchtime and was followed in by the landlord, held the door open for himas he had bags of shopping with him.
Walked towards the bar and then the landlord bluntly said have you got ID?
Said yes then he said over 25's only in the most rude tone whilst staring in an intimidating manner.
Really is one of the rudest people I've had the misfortune to meet.
The pub itself is a grotty little place.
If they want it to be a 'regualars only' place then why not make it a members club?
anonymous - 1 Feb 2007 14:25 |
I went out in Shirley last week for a drink with my brother and cousin, hoping to have a decent catch up chat and a game of pool. The Red Lion is the only place in Shirley with a pool table and I have been in there countless times in the past and had a good night; I also have friends that work behind the bar (Rachel C. and James B.) and I went to school with the son of the Land Lord (Neil Y.), plus I live about 4 minutes from the pub!!! Apparantly though none of these things constitute me being a local, fair enough I am not in there all the time, but I'm not a piss head and don't go out in Shirley all that much any more. As soon as we walked in the place we got looks of disgust from the "locals", who obviously do go in there every night (and eat and drink a bit too much if may add). The Gaffa (not my mates Dad), think I remember from years ago his name was Joe or John or something escorted us out and said that because he never recognised us we couldn't drink in there! He aid it was regulars only and it as over 25's, we tried to explain our case bt he was having none of t and we weren't allowed back in the door. I'm not quite sure what sort of establishment he thinks the Red Lion actually is, but as far as I can see it is a High Street PUBLIC HOUSE, not a members only social club. I would love to gve the Red Lion a better rating than 4 because it has everything I like about pubs - a nice pint, a pool table, a juke box and fruit machines -but the bloke running it and the stuck up locals need to have a good look at their lives and wake up! If you want it to be a members only club then make it into one, but don't deny me a game of pool with my family on a week night, that's just rude.
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The lion is one of the few pubs I now drink in Shirley.The regulars,the staff and even the grumpy land lord are actually very friendlyas long as you don't laugh too loudly! The beer is excellent and the variety of other drinks is also good. The quiz on a Sunday night is a brilliant laugh with some random noisy clown.
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The Lion is the only pub on Shirley High Street with decent beer - Nice draft pint - yes it's quiet if you want a decent fight I'd try the Sarrers over the road
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I used to drink in this pub about 10/12 years ago. there was a bunch of us that used to stay in the back room and play pool. we were in there pretty much every night. great beer and friendly atnos. i have no idea what it is like now as i haven been in there for a decade!
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Not sure if The Red Lion has changed recently, but can't understand some of the previous comments. It doesn't look the most welcoming place from the outside and there is a sign that says "Regulars Only". However, the inside is warm and friendly and very traditional. A good range of reals ales (incuding one from Cornwall) is served and seemed to be well kept. A good place for a quiet pint and some conversation.
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In response to Troy I have never been barred from a public house in my life.
Its just not a friendly pub and has never had a good atmosphere.
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It is not the most friendly pub and have never had a bad pint there, but if your not a local or know people in there dont go - nowt special.
Troy does your first name start with M by any chance?
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I came to this website to see what other people think of the pubs in Shirley, I originally had no intention of posting a comment. However, after reading the comments made about the Red Lion I feel obliged to defend what is by far the best pub I have been to.
Firstly, the comments made about the atmosphere being hostile are a few years out of date. Since the new owner purchased the Lion there has been a purge of any dodgy characters and a strict "No CHAV" policy enforced (which is more than I can say for the Colebrook).
Secondly, and most importantly, I am posting this comment to contradict the comment made by punchdrunk1975. His comments about the pub are so inaccurate that they can only be a down right lie!
The beer is superb. The current cellar man/owner has previously won the Midlands Cellar man of the Year competition for his work at the Red Lion. Also, CAMRA (Solihull) have their AGM at the Lion. If the beer was so bad why would they come back year after year. If you are left with any doubt go to the CAMRA website and read their review.
As for the Owner being a grumpy sod, well that is correct-but he is only grumpy to people who cause trouble and are therefore barred. I can only conclude that Mr Punch Drunk has been barred from the pub, this is the only reason I can think of anyone wanting to drink in the hole that is the Colebrook.
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I used to live 5 mins from The Red Lion and I would have to say this is one of the worst pubs I have visited in ages.
The landlord is a gruppy sod,the beer is awful and nobody seems to care or understand how to maintain beer or a pub in general its just an all round unpleasant pub.
Best pub in Shirley by a mile is The Colebrook.
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strictly over 30s
good pub for pre-club beers.
a bit moody on Friday
but all good fun.
beer, beer, beer!
Clive Bills - 15 Feb 2005 16:20 |
