The Red Lion, Upper Basildon

Had a good meal there on a recent Friday evening. The courses were well-spaced and the young male and female serving staff provided a perfectly-balanced attentive service (although the female waitress was dressed a little scruffily but otherwise faultless).

The landlady was not around and it's true that she can come across as rather hassled and disorganised.

The food was good as always and I had a particularly good mushroom and butternut squash tart with celeriac slaw.. In fact, I've always found the quiche / tart option to be very good. My husband had fish which, again is always perfectly-cooked with tasty unusual sauces.

We regularly take advantage of their take-away fish and chips and always ask for chunky chips as they are perfect every time.

Just need some attention to detail now. Warmer lighting in the rather coldly-decorated dining room. And to paint over bare patches on walls. If you sit facing away from the bar in the dining room it does feel like you're staring at a vast coldly-painted wall. Looked better when the red Xmas decorations warmed the atmosphere.

Recommended pub and restaurant. Just needs the interior to be a little more attended to. and would love it if they re-introduced live music. So many locals miss the chance to see a band and catch up with neighbours. If the live music legislation is relaxed, hopefully it'll happen and make this pub more popular again.

21 Jan 2012 11:17