please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Reasonable pub which has aspirations to being a restaurant and may yet match them. Not to be confused (as I did) with the Red Lion in Twickenham, a former jazz pub which is now no longer a pub at all.
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This looked promising; big pub with two screens showing sport, pleasant staff. Except that it was more a creche than a pub. At one point, three boys ran around, slamming the door to the garden, knocking our table and shouting, whilst Dad sat in a corner with his pint. One girl, a toddler, screamed throughout and ran around. If a pub is serving food and welcomes families, then there will be kids - but on a sports Saturday, with no food on offer? Not one member of staff said or did anything.
So, we won't be back for the rest of the 6Nations, & we won't bring friends as we planned. I make that around £200 lost business overall. Is it worth it for a few soft drinks & a bag of crisps..............?
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Decent enough, nice grub, warm welcome too.
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Great Beer , Great Food especially the Roast & great service.
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what... no potj or red lion chef leaping to the defend the honour of there pub....its gone quiet,very quiet...
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After looking at a few places in the Twickenham/Teddington area, myself and a friend decided the Red Lion would be the perfect place to hold our 30th Birthday Party. We organised everything and booked it up but unfortunately it didn't go quite to plan. We were not told initially that although the room was free we would have to order our buffet through the pub. It seemed a little on the expensive side but we had a �300 budget for this (to cater for around 60 people) and tried to negotiate some kind of menu based on this with the chef, who did not seem keen at all to budge on his menu... We later went down to see the manager as our calls were not being returned and he agreed that we could come to an agreement regarding food to suit said budget and would get back to us when he had spoken to the chef (who was on holiday). We also discovered then that the outside decking area would not be reserved for our sole use as previously discussed but they "might" be able to reserve half. Also the late licence that we had discussed was not available either as had "already used some and had to keep some for later dates". We left a bit disappointed but hoped that the party would go ahead as planned. We waited for a call from them and rang several times, each time being told that we would be called back, but never heard anything. A couple of weeks before the party we had had enough and decided to change the venue....which we are so glad we did as we never got our call back until the day before the party!! Not very practical or professional! On the plus side though we had a fantastic party with our 150 guests and the bar had the best night they had had all year. I just wanted to provide an insight to people interested in having their party here as it caused us quite a lot of stress to change venue etc and was very frustrating trying to deal with the staff.
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wasnt going to comment on this site again,but can see that U.B.O.EGHAM.has decided to have a go plus giving 0.points,please give them a chance, potjana feels strongly about her pub,the original comment came about false postings,and he/she decided too have a go back,well pubs are like children,we defend them,so apart from the name calling and the childish posts she/him/it. made against me i would like you all please,not to post on this pub unless you have been there....( nothing to shout about,a middle of the road pub with average pub food)..but give them a chance, may improve!...without false postings......review policeman(in fact a lover of well kept english bitter and well run pubs)...thank you and for the last time(i hope)goodbeerintheevening...no rating given
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and that just knocked you down to 4.8
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review police..mmmmm dont think so,no people who can see through the lies....a big fat zero potjana
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oh well,keep going on and see how many people jump on the bandwagon,and you will and up like so many other sites that people post on,just to get a rise out of you and all post a zero,i have not been rude to you (unlike your post of the 10th of march) nor will i drop down to your level of abuse and name calling.yours guv..no rating given...review police (in fact a lover of well kept english bitter and good well run pubs)without managment/staff posting bogus reviews...thank you and goodbeerintheevening.
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just had a look potjana,all your last comments made in one day???? do you not realise that everybody does not like your pub!!!!!!once again no rating given.
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dont like stella,just good ale,just try harder..no rating given
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middle of the road pub,nothing to shout about.
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Hi, what to say...
Great food, although the pub isn't really my cup of tea/beer - it was a little cold, sports TV, few geezers hanging around and had to sit on a tall chair.
7/10 for the food
2/10 for the pub
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o.k redlion chef i apologise,i did not rate the pub because as you pointed out i have not been there.and i will make the effort to sample your cooking and try the ales the weekend after next (so it had better be good) yours guv 1.
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As you can see from my username I am the chef at The Red Lion.
I am the person whose hard work you have chosen to rubbish without even knowing whether the food is good, bad or indifferent.
I am the person who, since the beginning of December, has been trying to build a business under very difficult trading conditions, working six days a week, cooking all the food from scratch, not buying it in and reheating the same old rubbish.
To then have to read your dismissive and uninformed comments regarding the reviews of two of my customers is very disappointing. One wonders whether you have nothing better to do.
For your information watscooking is the head chef at on of the best dining pubs in Surrey, having won many awards over many years. I imagine he is much more qualified to pass comment than most as firstly he has been a chef for twentys years and secondly, and I feel more importantly, he has actually been to the pub.
I you have anything else to say why not come and rubbish my work to my face. You know where I'll be Tuesday to Sunday.
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yep shame really,also look at watscooking,so obvious,agree with guv1 we look on site and then wonder is it worth going?i think not!and dont get me started about the chips,or the stunning roast.
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it makes you wonder why they do it,it is sooooo obvious,and they do themselves no favours.....by the way how are the chips?
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Is this now Chips in The Evening Rainbeau ? and do tell whats the gravy like Der.
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How much is a burger these days.
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rainbeau = owner/manager/staff no rating given
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Please don't eat at this pub...you will love it, it'll get busy and we'll lose our undiscovered gem!!!
Best steaks in London, let alone Teddington, amazing home-made pies and don't get me started about the chips!
Stunning roast last Sunday, can't wait until tomorrow...
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Went here for lunch today, really nice pub. Friendly staff, nice atmosphere and freshly prepared food. Menu was well balanced and well priced -traditional with a few twists, nice touch with the free food for kids when dining with adults and the pies were amazing! I liked the spacious, casual and comfortable feel to the place, will definately be going back.
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This local pub is about to fall victim to the developers. The lovely garden is about to go. There is a planning application in to build 4 properties in the garden. Same fate as the Waldegrove and the Royal Oak - all victims of the pub companies who just see the pub as development land.
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The majority of comments recently regarding this pub have been positive and I believe Mc Cartneys comments to be unjustified. This pub offers a lovely garden, live music, a good range of beer and wins and I have eaten there on a couple times and found the food very good. As far as a burger being �8 well I would ask the question as to whether Mc Cartney has eaten any where else in Teddington recently as I think you will find that is pretty standard especially when I was told by a member of staff that all the meat is delvered fresh that day from the local butcher and everything is made on site!
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Those running the place are rude ... food extremely ordinary and rather expensive ... over �8 for a hamburger?
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great family pub one to visit this summer, friendly staff & good beer.
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I agree with JamesDLord's comment, the landlord is indeed extremely trying ... as for the rest of the place ... may have been refurbished, but my experience of the food, prices and atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired
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I visited this pub recently and found any negative comments on here to be unwarranted. The decor is tasteful, the staff friendly and the wine list quite impressive. As a smoker, I also really appreciated the decked seating area that forms part of the gardens. This area is not only covered but well heated. I was also told by one of the bar staff that they have a live band on most Friday nights, which I may well give a go! I say this place is well worth a try.
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Greatly improved,
nice decor, smoking deck outside,
a few idiots but the landlord is trying.
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What a nauseating place.
anonymous - 29 Aug 2007 14:51 |
Rubbish all round!!
anonymous - 30 Jul 2007 14:23 |
Not sure about this place at all ... hardly welcoming and expensive!
anonymous - 4 Jul 2007 14:39 |
The 'old' Red Lion was tatty, very basic, and the only women you saw in it were usually the barmaids. Local lager drinkers, students and people with no homes to go were the usual crowd. You were able to buy food from the local take-aways then eat it in the pub with your pint. I drank there regularly, Gerry was great and was very popular but appeared to spend virtually nothing on the the place, just content with letting it virtually fall down around everyone. Wobbly floors, awful toilets, dimly lit and sticky seats where the springs would poke you in the backside when you sat down. He must have made a killing when he sold up. The new owners have probably spent a fortune to produce a pub that now appeals to a far wider audience, is children friendly in an area where lots of young families live, and also feels safe to go to. Owners and staff I've always found friendly and attentive and the few bar meals I've had are admittedly a little expensive but the chef produces good food and uses quality ingredients. There is also a good choice of wine and bitter, but again they are slightly expensive. However, this all points to the fact that it's obvious what crowd the owners are trying to attract and it's not the majority of Gerry's old regulars. Basically, it you liked it before, you probably won't now, and if you didn't like it then, you probably will now!
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I'm sorry to say that I never went to the "old" Red Lion before the makeover but have been assured it was a bit of a spit n sawdust place. Well, those are the better types of pubs, so why so many dens have to go all gastro is beyond me. I've been drinking here on and off for a few months now, mainly because theres nothing else close to my gaff, and the staff are very friendly, the beer seems nice and the garden is relaxed in the summer. It just seems a shame that its so wooden inside. Still, thats the way its gone and I don't want to slag the place off because its so far been very hospitable. I haven't eaten here yet but thats only because I can't keep out of the Bengal Brasserie next door. Quite simply the best curry I've ever had
anonymous - 23 Apr 2007 14:17 |
Another nice afternoon spent here with family and friends. Good beer, good food, and good service - what more can you want from a pub?
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Used to be an awful pub but really quite good since the new owners took over. Very clean and tidy, good beer and food.
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Tried it ... we suggest you give this place a wide berth!! Disappointing all round.
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I have to say I thought this pub was OK. The staff seemed friendly to me and te ecor is really nice. I am glad there is a cople of good pubs in the area now.
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I went to the Red Lion the other Friday for an impromptu drink after work. Ended up having dinner there and the food was beautiful! I was so impressed. I had organic chicken with these lovely little potatoes and Corgettes and my boyfriend just had a cheese burger and we both loved it. The decor is also really nice, such a change from what I remember the red lion to be like years ago. A lovely bottle of Rose and excellent service made it a perfect evening. Great place to go on a date, with the girls, or the family. I will definitely be back.
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I find all the comments about this place very odd! I have been there many times when Gerry had the place and since the new owners have taken over and I can honestly say it is now a superb pub. Living in SW London and moaning about �3 a pint! Give me a break! Obviously by how busy it is now the "new owners" know a bit more about running a pub than some of the old locals! If you live in the area try it out, great pub, good food and above all great atmosphere.
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Rubbish pub.Dull and uninspired food & music is very humdrum. Don't bother!!!
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Visited again 16th September. The place was packed and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The band Blue Beyond were playing and were excellent. Another party night. The owners have done a real good job getting rid of the low life. So Anonymous stay away, you're not missed here and maybe you will feel more at home with your wino mates on the park bench
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What a disappointment in every respect. Rude staff, inedible food and it�s like walking into chav city. Steer clear & don't waste your money.
anonymous - 7 Sep 2006 11:04 |
Come on guys, the reviews about this pub are getting stupid. I was a regular when Gerry was there and the pub was great....but things move on. So lets get some things straight. The managers are NOT chavs they are both in the film industry so call them Luvvies, and they are both extremely polite and a warm couple. Anyone who says that the food is rubbish has not tried it, the hog roasts were a fantastic addition. The live music (when on) is brilliant. The only problem is that it no longer shows football. But hey, you can catch the results on the wireless LAN.
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I cant believe how quickly and down hill a pub can go. was a true fine pub but now the drink is bad, the staff are ALL rude and i'm sorry to say - possibly the worst pub in the land.
anonymous - 23 Aug 2006 09:43 |
We were passing and thought we'd give this pub another go. What a disappointment!!! We won't be returning and suggest you give this a wide berth - staff unpleasant and prices over the top.
anonymous - 15 Aug 2006 17:32 |
Visited for the first time at the end of July 2006. made to feel very welcome by the landlord,barstaff and other pub users. Enjoyed the food, drink and the atmosphere. Can't understand the negative comments posted previously, but it seems to me the landlord isn't a chav but has got rid of the chavs. Park bench with cans of tennants for you boys then!
Pub can't be that bad as it was very busy. They had a band playing who were basically two guiarists and two girl singers. They were very good and generated a party atmosphere. Would go again. Would like to try the Sunday BBQ with the family and would make an effort to get there when that band are on again.
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I quite like this pub and I was also a regular when Gerry ran it previously. The recent refurbishment means I can now take my family and friends here which wasn't really possible before. I and many other dads had a great Fathers Day in the beer garden recently and everyones children were made more than welcome. I also know of several families and couples who drop in on Sundays for the barbcue. This pub now is a world apart from how it once was and people who wouldn't visit then now do and enjoy it - what's wrong with that?
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Arrogant licensees who're chav-like and know nothing about running a pub or customer care. Prices are outrageously high & food is VERY ordinary. Plenty of other good places locally. Give this one a miss.
anonymous - 20 Jun 2006 14:56 |
Total waste of time, A pub trying to be something it is not. Beer rubbish and overpriced and the staff useless. Use the bus stop outside to go anywhere else! Best �1.50 you'll ever spend!!!!
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What a sad demise of a pub many of us called home for years. It shows the secret of 'The Red' all these years has not been location or lack of other options but the characters who ran it i.e. Finbar & Gerry and their families.
Your better off having a jar with the wine'os in Kingston, they may have no teeth but at least they smile....
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I so agree with the previous comment. The new people who're running the place are pure chav and the food is rubbish ... We thought we'd give it a try ... but we're telling people not to bother and to go instead to The Old Goat (old Fulwell Arms). The place isn't worth a visit.
anonymous - 19 May 2006 16:49 |
Not worth commenting on how bad this pub has become. If the owners are trying to raise the profile of the clientele they should look at themselves first, chavs in pikey clothes!
anonymous - 17 May 2006 14:32 |
I was a regular here to watch the football when Gerry was manager and liked the place but it was a lads pub (similar to the old Fulwell Arms) and not really a place to take your wife/girlfriend or family/friends to. It has totally changed under the new management and is now wife/friends/etc friendly. I've always found the bar staff welcoming and yes, the drinks are a bit pricey but I'd rather drink here now than how it was before. Along with The Old Goat (ex Fulwell Arms) this end of Teddington now has two decent pubs to take someone to for the first time in the seven years I've lived here.
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I found this place a welcome surprise having driven past it for months thinking it a bit of a scary locals pub. The food smelt lovely, although I think the kitchen staff were slightly underworked! I liekd the atmosphere and the owner is lovely, friendly and welcoming, give this place a chance you may like it...
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Thought I'd give the place another shot - its been refurbished yes, but the new style is more Covent Garden than Teddington. The owners are as unfriendly as ever and the staff couldn't care less.I get the feeling they think they're quite grand. In addition, I think they're charges are way too high!!.
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I think the prices are nonsense and the refurbishment is rubbish. In my view Gerry's departure means the end of a fine old establishment. Many of us were hoping for an improvement, sadly not. We believe its pretentious and the new owners/licensees haven't got a clue.
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Although the refurbishment is a predictably bland, pub-interior-by-numbers sofa and beach affair, it's an immeasurable improvement over the formica and swirly carpet "Murderer's Arms" dive of the past. Prices have rocketed (�3 pint Kronenbourg, �2.50 pint IPA), according to the staff this is a deliberate ploy to change the clientele. It might be working, judging by the early evening suited crowd happily sitting by the windows. Very friendly American barman exchanged a very poor pint of IPA for 2 free drinks: a good sign, providing the off-beer was a blip. Could be good for the area, let's wait and see...
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They've finished the huge renovation, but somehow it doesn't look any better(the dark green was a mistake) and if they were hoping to attract a differnt sort of clientele - not so far, from what I could see. Shame, a good quality local pub here could do very well but this won't be tempting me back.
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Whole pub smelt of Bleach..made me hungry for their menu
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Since my posting below on 28th Sept, the Red Lion closed on 6th Oct for refurbishment (coincidence I think and not as a result of my observations!) and the window signs claim it will be open again in about 4 weeks. The inside is already completely gutted so 4 weeks could be on. The Fulwell Arms up the road has also just closed for refurbishment so it's looks like the area is getting what appears to be 2 new pubs in the next couple of months. Lets wait and see what we get!
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I was a regular here when Gerry was landlord but have only been a few times since he left. I'd been limiting my visits to 'beer garden weather' as the inside was no longer welcoming. However, this soon stopped as it was not without it's dangers. Although the beer garden is huge, the pub has a dog which is allowed to use the garden as a toilet, the landlord didn't clear the mess so it was ankle deep in dog shit. It just sums the place up.
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i used to be a red lion regular but i recently have been using the fulwell arms. its got a nice friendly clientel friendly staff etc... i got talking to the landlord the other day and he has told me about the raise in the profits since they took over and the way all the old red lion regulars have started to use the arms since gerry left the red. He also saidn that the arms has been sold and is being turned into a bar come restaurant on the 21 sept. I was thinking maybe it would be a good idea for the new owners of the red to take note and try and get them down to run the red as they already have a good local following i.e gaelic games english football sunday dinners etc... maybe the red could get back to the good old days !!!!!!!!!!!
anonymous - 14 Sep 2005 13:17 |
I agree with the previous comment. Not a pub to visit to either relax or enjoy. The new people know nothing about running a pub and make everyone feel unwelcome. Service and atmosphere lousy. My advice, steer clear.
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I'd be surprised if most new visitors to this pub got as far as the bar. This place is scarey! It should be my local but I'd never consider going there unless I fancied a fight. Sounds like it might have been a decent boozer once but it's god-awful now
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I find the new owners aloof and unfriendly - the now that Gerry has left, there is little to entice me back
anonymous - 27 Aug 2005 22:00 |
Went to watch the Champoions League football on Tuesday evening and there was a sign on the door sayin that it was closed for training. I know that people need to learn the ropes but closing a pub in SW London when Chelsea are on the box is not a good sign.
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Unfortunately Gerry has left. New governor and wife has not got a clue and looks like he should be running a cafe/bar on the Costa's. It seems like it will prove a sad demise to what was a great boozer.
anonymous - 31 Mar 2005 10:17 |
Great manager, great staff, two huge tv screens, live music, two pool tables and once you get past the original cold shoulder of some of the cliques, great locals too.
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Great Family Pub with friendly staff and locals. Shows loads of sports including Gaelic games. Live Music at weekends!!
anonymous - 9 Sep 2004 16:33 |
