Lamarsh Lion in Braintree

We were a group of 11. All very pleased with the food and we had a gòod choice of beers. Service friendly and efficient. Gluten free was well catered for and understood.

We had a lovely Sunday Lunch Sunday 12th May. The portions were huge and very tasty. We were served by Nicole and Dylan. Two lovely young people. We will definitely return.

This is a proper country pub, really good food, old buildings full of character and a warm welcome from the staff. Plus a lovely rural location. Highly recommended

We had a very enjoyable Sunday lunch at the Lamarsh Lion. Full choice of meats, Beef, Pork, Turkey and Chicken served with plenty of fresh vegetables, parsnips, Brussel sprouts, carrots, broccoli and peas. There was also red cabbage, cauliflower cheese and superb Yorkshire puddings. We followed this with lovely homemade desserts, lemon cheese cake, apple and blackberry crumble, sticky toffee pudding and ice creams. All served with a smile by the great staff and volunteers who keep this wonderful community pub running. It also happens to be in a stunning location, what are you waiting for do pay the Lamarsh Lion a visit, you will not be disappointed.

We visited this pub on the back of Tripadvisor reviews as we were staying in the area. It should be the blueprint for all pubs. I can honestly say it is one of the best pubs I have ever been in. The most friendly and welcoming staff, fabulous well priced food and friendly locals. A dog and child friendly pub too. We went early on a Saturday evening for food and enjoyed it so much that we booked there and then for the Sunday lunch. Sunday lunch was fabulous, good portions sizes, great variety of vegetables, cauliflower cheese and Yorkshire pudding. We then went back for the quiz on Wednesday evening. A great atmosphere and an entertaining quiz. The pub is community run with a mix of volunteers and paid staff. A lovely lady called Ruth seems to be the backbone of the pub and as well as being able to turn her hand to every job she was so friendly and lovely as was every other member of the team. I can not recommend this pub enough.

Went on bank holiday Monday for a friends birthday and can honestly say what a lovely pub the Lamarsh Lion is, the food was fantastic, as were the staff, the pub is very clean and has a lovely friendly atmosphere, would highly recommend a visit

Was passing through on Wednesday visiting family when we came across this lovely country pub. The service was impeccable, and the lady serving us was friendly and attentive. The food was also excellent. I would fully recommend!

We had a marvellous lunch here today. We were served by a very friendly and efficient waitress with a ready smile and laughing eyes, it makes all the difference. The bar, the toilets were all spotless and clean. The food was of high quality and cooked just how it should be. Today was our 54th wedding anniversary and quite honestly we could not have chosen a better venue to celebrate it. Well done Lamarsh Lion ++

.......And being waited on with such care and politeness and conversation so nice and unforced. Food was amazing the BBQ ribs beat me soooo nice and wife had a steak cooked perfectly..... definitely worth it

A lovely community run pub in a beautiful location. Great service, friendly welcome, excellent food. We always enjoy coming here it is an enjoyable experience. Well done the Lamarsh Lion!

Visited for lunch after my husband had eaten there with his cycling club and was impressed. Such a beautiful setting, the view across the Vale in the frosty winter sunshine was amazing, warm welcome from the ladies who were running the place, they were attentive and efficient food was very good and portions were generous especially the Christmas menu which 2 of our party had. A doggy bag was needed!!! All in all a lovely find to which we shall return even though it is quite a distance from home.

Lovely roast dinner on a wet, miserable day. Food was great, meat beautifully cooked, beef pink in middle. Gorgeous puds

Perfect evening. Great staff, very good food and very good ale. So folks, visit this gem of a community pub!

We had the Thursday 'deal' of burger and a drink for £13. The halloumi and mushroom burgers were generous, with fries, coleslaw, and onion rings. OH had a pint of Bearded Lady and I had a glass of house pinot grigio. No room for desserts. There was a nice atmosphere with couples at the bar, dog walkers, and some ramblers seated outdoors. Service quick and efficient. A recommended place for a relaxed lunch.

Very enjoyable meal. Staff were particularly helpful and friendly. Food was good, and they catered also for those with smaller appetites with the option to have smaller portions. Appreciated this as we were a party of OAP's! Lovely views and pub full of character. Definitely worth a return visit to this community pub.

Lovely three generation family Sunday lunch in a glorious community run pub - great food, delicious and great value for money, friendly Nikki behind the bar and waiting staff that couldn't be more accommodating. Family friendly with a playground area and colouring to keep the younger generation occupied. What more could you want?!

Best country pub I’ve been too! Emmie behind the bar was very welcoming, Ben the manager was very accommodating! Visit!

We were driving through rural North Essex on a random route, looking for a nice place to stop for lunch on a Sunday. Happened to drive past the Lion, and the car park wasn't full. My partner metioned that she's had a date here about 30 years ago, so we stopped, if only out of curiosity, On a quiet country road. Kids play area at the back. Lovely view from the outside front tables over fields. Nice covered outsice area to the rear. Lovely traditional pub interior. Decent sized car park, unless this review spoils things. Barmaid asked us if we'd booked a table? No, we had not. Could we order sandwiches? Yes, but she'd get in trouble with the kitchen, and it might take a while. We ordered anyway, and the food only took a short time (half way through our first drinks, and I thought it was a rule that you had to be on your second, before thet served your food). The toasted panninis we ordered (Brie, crammberry and bacon, and cheese and cutney) were perfectly acceptable for the price. Not outstanding, not crap, but 'good enough to eat'. This is a community owned pub, and as such deserves all the support you can give it. If you imagine what a pub is like, this is what you're thinking of. Go there. and spend some money.

Great Sunday Roast that includes your choice of meat, veg, gravy, roast potatoes, absolute huge Yorkshire Pudding and cauliflower cheese! The service was excellent, and a nice friendly good traditional British pub. Highly recommended!

Really enjoyed our Sunday lunch. Food was plentiful with cauliflower cheese and fresh veg. Almost amazing views. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Will be returning.

What a wonderful place and a cracking find - highly recommended! The pub itself what's a treasure; very clean and tidy, well laid out and the staff (we were looked after by the lovely Emmie) were so very helpful and nothing was too much trouble....

It is always a pleasure to visit the Lamarsh Lion. On this occasion it was for Sunday lunch which was delicious. It was good to see so many people eating there and the staff were welcoming and friendly even though they were really busy. We...

5 of us meet up every Friday night for a beer and once a month for a meal, The Lamarsh Lion was visited in March 2022 fairly close to where we all live, quite busy at 7.45pm good range of beers and wines, excellent food...

Visited whilst having a weekend away in the area with friends. Journey to the pub proved eventful as our way was blocked by a downed tree on one of the cross country roads - still made it in time for our table booking at 2pm...

When we arrived at the Lion every table was full - always a great sign!! Our table was booked for 2.15 and we were seated on time. We all had a roast dinner. My beef was delicious- not overcooked at all. Friends had lamb and...

Visited with a friend whilst doing a circular walk around Bures. Good quality food at a reasonable price. Friendly, helpful service. Would definitely visit again.

So great to see this lovely community run pub open again after lockdown, Superb location, good food and welcoming staff. Between us we had fish and chips, homemade burger and chips and homemade pizza. Only one of us managed a dessert which was a tasty...

Well done Lamarsh Lion. We really enjoyed our dinner tonight. Fish, chips and beer. Keep up the good work.

Nicely individually boxed and hot when delivered exactly on time. Varied menu for the whole family. Cheaper than most family take outs. We had great fish, chips with peas, burgers and stone baked pizzas. Delicious!!

We are so happy that this great community pub is open for business again. We had a delicious lunch of whitebait, lamb shank, scampi and a vegetarian curry followed by a lovely homemade fruit crumble and ice cream. We received a very generous discount of...

We were holiday and used Eat Out To Help Out to eat here . We booked in advance as it was a busy time . We arrived and were taken to our table quickly , we ordered drinks which arrived promptly . The food was...

Excellent service with great staff. Was very COVID safe! Good amount of food on offer. As a vegetarian I had options to choose from, dessert also had lots of fresh choices. Minor detail is the toilet area could have been cleaner but think it had...

Great local pub, we were staying in the green fairground wagon and it was a 20 minute walk. Great food, very friendly, outside play area great for our son who is 5, if we are in the area again we would definitely stop in again.

An absolute hidden gem....I’ve never said this before about a pub, but the Lamarsh lion deserves the accolade!... excellent wines by the glass, excellent Sunday lunch for 2 and spectacular views over the stour valley from the garden... loved it!

Large portions of food including a few homemade offers. Good value and a decent ranger of beer. I would return.

Very bleak atmosphere. A bit on the cold side, and a strange smell of drains.Friendly barman who could not help the poor quality of the food. Huge wedges of chips, overcooked on the outside but obviously parboiled and reheated. Panfried chicken dish in a tasteless brown gravy. My fish was fine.The price of one dish was knocked off, but that's not the point. We remember it when it first reopened a couple of years ago. The menu and cooking was then quite excellent. Also in the 10 years before that, with an excellent chef, Roger.

This is a lovely friendly community pubThe staff were very kind and helpful.The roast was huge and delicious with 4 choices of roast and several choices of home made starter and puds.A lovely community atmosphere and so nice to see all generations enjoying themselves!We will definitely be back , preferably after a lot of exercise and several days fasting to make the most of the good english food on offer!

Yet another visit, yet another lovely evening. Dined on Friday night with a table 6 ( 2 adults, 4 children). Good selection of pub grub, all home made at really reasonable prices. The homemade burger was delicious. Service is always friendly. We feel lucky to have such a good family pub so close to home.

The table was not set with cutlery when we arrived. We expected a cosy country pub, but the food was uninteresting and poor quality.It was cold and draughty in the pub and thoroughly inhospitable for a sunday lunch with friends.

Went wit friends who are regular customers. They told us about the locals taking over this pub so it didn't close. We had four traditional Sunday lunches, excellent all plates licked clean at the end! Worth making a detour for.

Lovely pub in the depths of the Suffolk countryside. Plenty of excellent beers on tap and a selection of fine wines and diverse and interesting menu. Pub was saved by the locals buying it and it appears to have gone from strength to strength. Hope to visit again

Visited with a friend for a birthday lunch. Chose the fish and chips from the over 60’s menu. Food was well cooked, generous portions and quickly delivered. Excellent value for money. Not a posh pub, but they serve proper satisfying food.

Having past this place many times I decided to try it for a meal with my girlfriend and wasn't disappointed good sized portions and delicious, very friendly host made a relaxing atmosphere.

Visited here on a Monday evening - always good to find a pub that opens on a Monday :) - friendly welcome, decent menu and some nice ales and gins. We will definitely come back

We both had a burger, it was delicious, the chips were the best chips I've ever had and the homemade coleslaw was divine. It's quite remote but worth the trip.

We were just passing and saw this idyllic Pub, sunny evening and we fancied a drink.

I had to put my cost on, bar staff very friendly, chatty & helpful, but once we were sat at our table we waited & waited for the menus, in the end, one of us had to go to the bar, now only two men standing at the bar drinking and three other tables in use, we had to ask if we could place an order for food, our food went to the wrong table, I had wraps, these were cold & uncooked no inions or peppers and not much chicken either to fill two rolls, my chips never arrived, staff were rushing past on there way to and from the kitchen but we have to ask for everything like cutlery. we had to go to the bar for our drinks, Not what we would or reasonable expect,

A group of us stopped here for lunch after a walk. we had pre-ordered and were grouped around a table at the end of the pub an all had very tasty and enjoyable meals.

Always feel welcome at this Pub. So friendly and homely, if your coming for a meal or just for drinks. Mick the Landlord is a lovely calm and friendly face. Nothing too much to ask for from the staff.

Went for lunch and the food was excellent. Homemade desserts were delicious. Generous portions and good selection on offer. Friendly low key atmosphere where dogs are welcomed. Will definitely be going back.

Always been a customer of The Lamarsh Lion and the food and service has always been spot on. Thought we would give it a go with the new owners and well....I will not be returning. Quality of food has gone rapidly down hill. Dessert menu had nothing available despite us being booked 2 weeks in advance. Ribs were dry with a bit of sauce squirted over the top and my friends pie had no flavour. Not only that but the landlord and his partner were too busy getting so drunk at the bar that they kept forgetting to actually serve us and we had to ask twice for the bill! Such a shame to see this pub be taken over by people who are only interested in drinking the stock! Will not be going back.

Staff are really friendly. Last time we ate here the food was good. I has the spare ribs last night, tender but tasteless! A shame.

As part of a large 28 strong group, I visited this community pub for one of our regular lunches out; everyone was most enthusiastic about the food which was home cooked / prepared and tasted like it, gorgeous, and the veg was also done a treat and not boiled to death.

It's great to find that this pub, which had previously closed, has been 'rescued' and now operates as a community pub. Long may it last!

Food was so Tender regarding Meat ( Sunday Roast ) and very generous portions .Mick and all staff very attentive and locals very friendly. A hidden gem and wellworth visiting would suggest pre booking table in advance as so popular! A Big Thankyou Mick and Staff for making us so welcome! Will certainly be back again.

Previously had meals here with no problems but last night was horrendous we both had prawn cocktail starters mine was fine (i think) but my partners had a shard of glass in which cut her tongue! We complained and was told that no glass had been broken today?? And was apologised to profoundly and we would be discounted for meal however we was charged for the prawn cocktail which was only partially eaten and the meal the only discount was for a dessert and a glass of vodka which was wasted because of the cut in partners tongue wont be eating there again and wouldn't reccomend waitress was very apologetic but manager seemed hostile over the issue

Lamarsh is in the back of beyond and we only live about 10 miles away but its so secluded that its really quiet and peaceful. Good parking behind. Fabulous views over the Stour valley and some lovely footpath walks, take your OS Map with you. Staff were really friendly, good choice of beers (Camra members take your card, 30p off each pint), all very clean and fresh, loos were excellent. We both had fish and chips which were very hot and fresh, chips were real, not frozen (hurray) and very reasonably priced but we watched the food that others had ordered and it all looked great as well. We were too full for desert but the coffee was also excellent. We went for lunch but they also do dinner with ‘Specials’ nights.

Went there with a walking group. First time in 7 yrs and pleasantly surprised it's now a community run pub. Food and service was excellent with good choices for everyone and breast selection of beers.

We were taken here for lunch with old friends who are locals. We had a delicious lunch and the staff and atmosphere is lovely and welcoming. We look forward to visiting again to see future developments!

We went for Sunday lunch as we (a) wanted lunch but (b) wanted a drive in the country. This pub is really very nice, with clean scrubbed tables and a homely atmosphere. The men behind the bar and the waitresses were all friendly and, I assume, volunteers, so well done them as it was a busy lunchtime session.

Popped in for a meal having not booked on a Saturday night. Was told very politely there may be a wait as there where 2 large tables all ready in. My wife and I were in no rush so we were not bothered by this. Turns out we didn’t have to wait to long anyway. I had a steak cooked to perfection it just melted in your mouth. The chips were proper cut from potatoe home cooked. Not frozen chips like most places. My wife had fish and chips. The batter was perfect not to dry or overly crisp.

Newly renovated and saved by the community, this pub has been renovated and looks great. Great selection of drinks and the food is not only excellent, but great value, far better atmosphere too than the nearest pub down the road. Very friendly both to humans and dogs

Firstly I write this review with a lot of great memories (Must confess I owned this Pub 30 years ago)Went early on a Saturday night so not over busy.Good menu choice and very good value.The food took just a tad too long to come out,but it was OK.Good device and very pleasant.There were lots of locals congregatting around bar Sitting all around a small bar and Standing made it difficult to get served.I understand why,but maybe leave an area for service ? someone at the Bar decided it was OK to vape inside,which was disrespectful as we was eating some small distance away.I guess with community Pubs some people think they have the right.

Had a lovely Sunday lunch here with my Dad. The pub has been renovated and is very pleasant, there is a lovely chilled atmosphere and it is clearly a popular venue with stunning views across the valley. Our dog slept under the table as we enjoyed a nice roast dinner. I had a very nice Vegetarian Wellington and Dad had the beef. The side vegetables were cooked just right and we resolved to come again soon. Well done to all the staff, this pub is a little gem.

Newly opened community pub brought and run by local entrepreneurs and shareholders. Unpretentious but it has a good feel and is gaining popularity. Food is well priced and what you would expect for a local pub. Good parking and plenty of outside table as well as tables inside. It has recently been revamped and deserves to do well

Visited for pre-booked Sunday roast lunch. Pub was busy which of course is a good sign. From ordering to eating took around 15 minutes, which is perfectly acceptable. Waiting staff were friendly, attentive and smart. The food was very nice with a selection of 3 meats to choose from. Really great that the pub is dog friendly.

Booked the table the day before for 5 people in the end 6 of us went and the staff was brilliant in accommodating the extra person and soon changed the table for us. This is the first time for us at this lovely little pub, after been recommended by a friend and wow it was impressive. We had two starters of whitebait, two soups, one antipasti and one baked Camembert, all sublime and very good portions. Then came the mains, 5 meat pies which was absolutely full to the top with very tender and tasty beef and one had the fish and chips, again beautiful and not greasy. The meals are huge, and unfortunately we couldn’t finish or have deserts!! Compliments to the chef and all the staff as they was all very friendly with excellent service. We will be back very soon.

We called in to see how Mick was getting on in his nw venture and stayed to have a meal. It was great\! the atmosphere n the pub was welcoming and the staff polite. Keep it up Mick!!!

Our village is currently pub-less and fellow villagers have recently been going a bit further afield, with a number of them singing the praises of the Lamarsh Lion, so we thought we should check it out; this turned out to be a very worthwhile decision as the food is truly excellent.

So pleased that the Lamarsh Lion has re-opened and is now being run as a community pub. It has been beautifully re-furbished whilst retaining the original features including the amazing bar. The welcome was warm and friendly and the food of good quality. It is a typical pub menu including favourites such as fish and chips, home made pies as well as vegetarian options. The desserts are home made and there are also ice creams and sorbets. There is a selection of beer on tap and a good wine list. We were very happy with our visit to the Lamarsh Lion and will definitely be returning. We highly recommend this pub and wish them well in their new venture.

A lovely pub! Coffee, cake and fabulous views, what more could you want on a Saturday morning bike ride? AND..my tyres went flat, some very nice shareholder local people fixed it for me. What a nice place. xx

I was walking the Stour Valley Path and came upon this wonderful pub on a particularly wet morning. What a find! A warm welcome, superb coffee and delicious cake and a very reasonable price too (the following day at the Flatford NT cafe I paid almost twice as much for a far more indifferent offering!) I was delighted to hear the story of the community takeover of this pub, which is clearly being run by an experienced and enthusiastic landlord

Wonderful atmosphere and great staff. Food is top notch, especially the Sunday roast. It is situated in the country with great views over the fields. Well worth a look!

Really enjoyed spending an afternoon in this traditional pub. Great food and good service with a smile!

The cake selection wasn't large but the portions were and they tasted amazing! They have a sign saying there's coffee and cake every day.

Received a warm welcome from Landlord and staff when we went to The Lion today, had a wonderful roast beef lunch, tender beef with a selection of vegetables, only to be topped of with a delicious sweet. This pub has a lovely atmosphere, well worth a visit will be coming here again

Excellent! Four of us called in for lunch. Very friendly staff and great food. Despite being incredibly busy service was spot on. Thirty plus cars in car park and so pleased to seeing community pub doing so well. Drink and food very reasonably priced. Highly recommend....thank you!

Booked the table the day before for 5 people in the end 6 of us went and the staff was brilliant in accommodating the extra person and soon changed the table for us. This is the first time for us at this lovely little pub, after been recommended by a friend and wow it was impressive. We had two starters of whitebait, two soups, one antipasti and one baked Camembert, all sublime and very good portions. Then came the mains, 5 meat pies which was absolutely full to the top with very tender and tasty beef and one had the fish and chips, again beautiful and not greasy. The meals are huge, and unfortunately we couldn’t finish or have deserts!! Compliments to the chef and all the staff as they was all very friendly with excellent service. We will be back very soon.

Some friends who live locally took us to this pub as part of a circular bike ride and we are so glad they did. Good range of beers were available but the real reason to visit is the food. We had a range of things from the menu including fish finger sandwiches, quiche and the cheese ploughmans. No one had any complaints other than we were to full to want to carry on cycling. My ploughman's had cheddar and Stilton with a selection of other goodies. One slight grip is that it was crying out for some crusty brown bread rather than the soft white that was served with it.

Stopped off for a couple of lunchtime visits and was superb every time

Friends told us the pub had been taken over, so we thought we would have a drive out and try the food.

Been a couple of times for Sunday lunch, food is fantastic and plenty of it, staff very very friendly will certainly be going again. Sweets to die for especially the Eton Mess.

Food at the Lamarsh lion was superb. Had the veg pie and it was very good. Lovely crust and even better filling! Now that the pub has been renovated the service has been perfect and the food/even better! The selection of beers on tap is great, has a good box between classic lagers and quirkier ipas. Big fan of this place. Girlfriend had the scampi and she said it was done perfectly with a large portion of thick hand cut chips.

There is nothing like a really good English Sunday roast lunch. Last Sunday I had a really great one at the LaMarsh Lion. The Yourkshire was just right as was the lamb. I enjoyed a lovely variety of vegetables. The finishing touch, something I rarely experience in a restaurant was the excellent gravy. Come hungry. The serving was very generous and at less than 10 pounds a real bargain. Our waitperson was friendly but efficient. I look forward to a repeat visit soon.

A lovely pub with a warm welcome from friendly staff. Excellent views over the valley. Food also very good.

Last minute booking after a busy working day at our reopened village pub. Main course excellent and very good value especially the children's menu. We found room for deserts which were outstanding. Service was friendly and efficient both at table and behind the bar where there was an outstanding selection of beers and wine. Well worth a visit.

All our meals were excellent, steaks, salad, strawberry cheesecake and crunchie sundae My daughter also highly recommends the kids menu, all quality ingredients, she especially likes the homemade chicken Goujons. Really enjoyed the elderflower gin. We will definitely be back.

Went there for dinner, first time since its been opened. Was the worst food I’ve ever had out. The vegetables were boiled to almost a pulp and the fish was inedible.

Five of us, including my daughter and her husband who motored up from London to celebrate the recent opening of this community pub - The Lamarsh Lion, where she worked behind the bar as a teenager many years ago. We all had a two course meal, steak pie or fish and chips, plus deserts, demolishing 3 bottles of wine along the way. The service was very friendly and the food was excellent pub grub. And on a pleasant day you can sit outside and enjoy the glorious Suffolk contryside view.

The Lamarsh Lion has been around in one form or another since 1305. In more recent history - though still a long time ago - I used to drink there as a teenager. The pub re-opened earlier this year following a threat of being sold off for housing, after being bought by the local community. We ate generous portions of beer battered fish and chips, and steak and ale pie - proper pub food, properly done. The timbered restaurant is atmospheric without being twee. And our waitress deserves special praise - handling the demands of a busier than expected evening with calm and friendly efficiency.

Stopped visiting this place years ago as the food was poor and it lacked atmosphere.Pleased to say that since its reopened its a totally different story.Great menu with fresh decent sized portions and a good wine selection and great beer.

Our party of eleven went to The Lamarsh Lion for lunch on Sunday. A variety of dishes were chosen including Sunday roast. All were excellent!

The meal was excellent. Well cooked, well presented and served by staff who were keen to ensure we were well looked after. We had fish & chips, home made chicken leek and ham pie, Caesar salad and a rib eye steak. No grumbles at all.

This place has been bought and renovated by the community. Sitting in some of the most stunning countryside England has to offer. They have a great selection of beer and the food is fantastic at a really good price. What more could you want from a real country pub!

We frequented this place before it shut and was one of our favourite places to eat. I'm glad to say it still will be. We went the evening after opening night (for food that is) and it was packed. Consequently our meal took long than usual. This was a bonus because we sat and chatted to other diners and had a great evening. The waitress did soooo well. She was on her own and kept her cool and humour intacked all evening. The food was very nice as was the wine. Really liked the way the wine list was presented. It was set up in the usual way Red, White etc but also into sub categories such as light wines, fruity wines and so on. Brilliant. Wanted a light red and was easily found and much enjoyed. The atmosphere remains friendly and relaxed and the pub has not had the guts modernise out of it. Good balance of improvenment and character. Beautifully set in the stour valley Well recommended

This used to be our local but sadly the previous owners let it deteriorate with a view to turning it into a private house but they had not counted on local opposition and after a lengthy battle it was bought as a Community Pub and is now open. We went to one of the first opening evenings and it was packed with supporters. Last week we were passing and called in for dinner. We both had hamburgers and chips which had with it coleslaw, and a nice salad. Hamburgers were good and meaty and a good size and the chips were some of the best. Place was packed out so let us hope it will stay that way. Excellent staff!