Braintree
The Red Lion

The Red Lion

The Street, Braintree, United Kingdom

Pub • Steak • British • Vegetarian


"Visited on a beautiful sunny Sunday for drinks. The pub is very quaint and food is good (from previous experience) but that is where the positivity ends. We were told on ordering our drinks at 3:35 that this was last orders and they closed at 4 despite all online literature saying 5pm. Not too much of an issue in insolation really these things happen. My husband returned to the bar for crisps to overhear the land lady complaining that she couldn 't get closed up to enjoy the sunshine as people kept coming to the bar. We all have a moan now and again about work but maybe this should be done in private rather than in front of the customers who are here to support your business? Then it went downhill. Whilst there I potentially lost an important item but didn 't realise until the next day. So on Tuesday when passing I popped in to see if it had been handed in as this was the last time I knew I had it. The pub looked open from the front all signs out and the beer garden door was unlocked. On opening it was dark inside so I just popped my head round the door and called out 'Hello '. After another 'hello ' the landlady stuck her head around a corner and my interaction went as follows: Me: Hi I 'm so sorry to interrupt but I was here Sund.... Her: We are closed (very abrupt and rude) Me: Oh I 'm sorry the door was unlocked can I just ask if.... Her: NO we are closed you have to leave. I am just a chef here I don 't know anything. Leave now. Me: Umm ok I just Her: GO AWAY Me: OK, do you have a number I can call about lost property, its just it is a very important key Her: Find it online now you need to leave. Get off the property!! Me: There is absolutely no need to be so rude, don 't worry I will take my business elsewhere I am still pretty shocked at being spoken too with such unprovoked rudeness. I did not just barge into the pub I popped my head round the door to ask a question. I apologized as I hadn 't quite realized they were closed as you can 't really see in through the door. Also to barefaced lie and tell me she was just a chef? Having been a few times I very well know she is the land lady. It 's ok if you can 't help me but just be polite or at the very least civil. Absolutely disgusted and certainly will not be back. So disappointing as the pub used to be so welcoming a few years ago, we used to go a lot. Local businesses need all the support they can get right now so why on earth would you treat people like this?"

William B

William B

The Street, CM3 2ET, Braintree, United Kingdom

Steak • Vegan • British • Vegetarian


"We celebrated my parents 50th wedding anniversary here and everything about our visit was fantastic from start to finish. My first conversation on the phone was with Amy who was so helpful, our party was for 18 people so I wasn’t sure the kitchen or venue could cater for us all but from the very beginning Amy reassured me it was absolutely possible because they have a separate dinning room “The Parlour room” they could fit us all in. I was able to decorate the room as I wished and I was even sent pictures of the tables when I had questions about the size of them etc. On the day we were served by Albert and 3 other really friendly, smiley staff who all gave fantastic service. Albert was wonderful on the day making sure we all had drinks at all times and organising the staff when he needed to. Then we move onto the food….it was amazing. It all came out at the same time, served by all the staff, it was all hot and cooked perfectly. The presentation of the food is so good and really tasty. We were all really happy with our food. Hats off to the chef it must have been a real challenge getting everything out at such a high standard all at once! They even sent my parents desserts out with a Happy Anniversary message on their plates. When it was time to clear our plates this was done by all the staff, all at once which really helped to speed up the clear up! I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone and especially if you are celebrating a special occasion with family or friends. Thank you to everyone working that day you were all fantastic and all helped to make my parents meal very special."