The Red Lion, Sturmer

I also was a regular of this pub before the 2010 management changeover. I was put off visiting when I heard that it was changing to a drinking in the local rag.

We had my in-laws over to see a film at the cinema and decided to have a spot of lunch before. They had driven past the pub only 20 mins before arriving at ours and commented how quiet the car park was.

Nevertheless we did try them out. As we arrived there was a party of six outside and family of six sat at a table inside. No other diners or drinkers. We made ourselves comfortable and I went with my mother-in-law to the bar to get drinks and order food. We sat waiting for 10 mins as the drinkers outside paid their tab. We ordered drinks and was told to wait by the landlady as she had to serve food before it went cold. Another lady asked if we ordered but we said we were halfway in the proceedings - she said she would leave us to it to avoid confusion. The landlady returned and I asked to pay for the drinks separately. I was shocked to see that she was stood at the till asking me what we had ordered so she could refer to a list and punch the numbers in. We ordered 3 roasts and a well done steak. The food arrived after a prolonged wait and the first thing I noticed was each plate had exactly the same size and shaped 'roast potatoes'. No crispiness or flavour. The carrots was also quite mixed - some firm yet others soft. The cabbage was over boiled. Overall the cost of �8.25 a head for oven cooked frozen food was appalling.

In summary - no customers, no waitresses, a landlady who cannot remember drinks we ordered or the cost of them, and overly priced frozen food.

6 Mar 2011 22:29