Red Lion in Braintree

I agree with the user who posted a scathing review of the landlady’s ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude in relation to the car parking issue. The same thing happened to me when we had my daughters WAKE held here. Numerous members of the family/friends got parking penalties. Pretty disgraceful way of making money. Bar staff told me there were 16 warning signs in the car park. Landlady didn’t have the decency to return my call. Heartless. Bar staff on the day were definitely trained by the landlady, no customer service given.

DO NOT GO TO THIS PUB You can see other people's reviews and the lady's responses to see for yourself, bit detailed but here is my experience: 6th May - Popped in for couple bank holiday beers with friends, parked in car park and put my reg in at the bar (as the signs say) *See attached bank statements showing transactions 1st June - Receive a PCN from Smart Parking, saying I didn't put my reg in etc... pay £60 now or £100 if I ignore 1st June - Appealed the charge via company but also called pub to discuss and see what they could do (since I put my reg in). Was asked to drop the PCN into them 3rd June - Dropped PCN into pub after work, left my number and name 6th June - Called to ask for any update as I hadn't heard back from 'manager'. Told she would call me back by lady who answered phone 10th June - Called to ask for any update as I was told the 'manager' was in but still hadn't called to chat. Was told sorry her daughter is having a baby so she's busy. Thought I would give her bit more time as appeal hasn't responded yet anyway. 19th June - Email received from Smart Parking as expected saying appeal rejected. Called pub, lady on phone said to call back next evening. 20th June - Called back as instructed, lady said her 'manager' had a go at her for not taking my details AGAIN! So I gave my details and said when is the 'manager' back in. Lady says Saturday from 11am so I said is it better if I pop in and sort in person, she says yes. 22nd June (today) - Thought it's best I call first to make sure the 'manager' is in before I set off. To my surprise the 'manager' answers the phone and is immediately rude to me. She says things like, "are you the one that keeps ringing" and keeps talking over me when I try to explain. She starts saying how much trouble it is for her when people don't put their reg in, showing me that she hadn't got any of the details passed over properly as I said from the start, I did put my reg in. I said I have only called a few times because she hadn't called me once to chat it through. She starts trying to make me feel guilty, saying her daughter has had a baby, short staffed, trying to run a bar and other personal things I won't put here. I said I appreciated that but I also have two small children and £60 is a weekly food shop to feed them. She says to me not to pay the £60 and it will just go away and keeps just saying "I've done it". I asked what she had done and if I could get any proof if I need it for the parking company coming after me again and she wouldn't tell me. She told me she has loads of these going on, even one person who's fine is now in the thousands but just "if you pay it you are then liable". I asked how I could just go on her word and trust her with something like this and the fact she hadn't called me back or won't tell me what she had done, she just replied with, "don't trust me then, go through the company" and HUNG UP THE PHONE! I tried to call back to ask if I could collect my PCN, which has my personal details on it including my address and she now won't answer the phone. There also isn't an email you can contact on. I know this is long, but thought it's best way to show just how bad and stressful this experience has been. She will probably respond saying that I was rude or whatever else like her other responses on reviews but that will 100% be a lie. I have been polite throughout, only having to raise my voice and back myself a bit on the phone this morning to try and get her to listen to me. What on earth do I do now?? I'm not comfortable with just not paying it and hoping for the best, given what she has told me. So I now lose £60 on top of the money that I spent in the pub that evening, even though I followed the rules and put in my reg??? I also don't like the fact that she has my details on that PCN and evidently won't be able to get that back, unless I go in and demand it but imagine that she will just shout at me in person or god knows what. Pub itself is fine as a local, pool table and jukebox but this has just really upset and angered me!!

This place is a run down dump that clearly hasnt had any care or attention since the 80s. The staff are downright rude and dont care about the customers. The food is embarrassingly bad and explains why so many people have a bad view of British food. Avoid, you will regret it.

young gentlemen believe called reece/rhys spelling cood be inaccurate but must say he was so welcoming and so polite the rest of the staff was very off and uncomfortable feeling but he made us feel very comfortable if it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t of stayed 10/10 service from that young fellow

The food was excellent and the staff were efficient and helpful. We will definitely visit again. We had the roast dinner with a side of cauliflower cheese which was hot and with plenty of gravy.

Good value, traditional pub food. Couldn’t fault a thing. There was a nice atmosphere here as soon as we walked in. We were visiting Witham while house hunting, if we move to this area we will be certain to come back to the Red Lion.

very poor customer service skills from the owner. I visited 3 times in the last 2 months, and each time the owner has been absolutely rude and obnoxious. The 3 times I've been with my mum and dad spending a lot each time. All my family picked up on the tension and the unpleasantness this woman presents, she dislikes me for no apparent reason. Delayed table service, no eye contact, rude comments, body language suggests she wants us to leave, rude facial expressions. On my final visit we felt so unwelcome, I confronted her about her attitude, and rather than apologising she proceeded to have a go at us for being 10 mins late, the pub was almost empty! And it was nowhere near closing time. We walked out and dined elsewhere. I will not visit this pub again, and I will warn my friends and family. I look forward to a new ownership

I have always loved this pub, but I was greeted by a young chap that clearly wasn't versed in being polite and diplomatic and unfortunately this lad could kill trade with his rude bombastic manner. Good luck with him . I wont be back whilst he's there

I quite like the Red Lion. Owner and staff pally and for the price food not bad. My only grouse is there's no decent wine available. Might take my own next time and pay corkage. Okay Dee?

Around 1 month ago my uncle any myself went to this pub and spent around £150 on the slots, however when a bonus landed the machine decided to reset itself on £1 spins. Reported this as you do and no contact after 1 month. Go back in the pub today and ask for an update... the engineers confirmed the machine does not owe you anything. So I start playing the machine and in case this error happens again, I pull out my phone and start recording, shortly after.. the manager comes over and asks what you doing that looks dodgie, if you don't stop I will have to bar you..... so that's my red lion experience and lost around £200 on their fruit machines, whats the harm in recording a machine, no people were in the shot or is there something to hide?.

I came into the red lion just to look around but was greeted by a couple of very smiley and professional bar staff, atmosphere was very pleasurable and made me feel very welcome, I could not fault the bar staff even if I tried to, absolutely perfect!

Meet some friends every Wednesday for lunch and a chat. Pleasant friendly staff and Chef. Good selection of foods.!

Annual Christmas get together with old work colleagues.Third visit to this venue and each time has been great.Excellent three course meal and friendly staff.Good selection off beers and wines.Reasonable prices

Visited for lunch on a weekday and were pleased we did. I had a delicious hot chicken and bacon salad and my wife a tasty Stilton Ploughman's. Prices were very reasonable.

Friendly pub with restaurant at the back. Impeccably clean but a little dated. Sunday lunch ( all meats two veg and Yorkshire with roasts) good value 5.95 so no one would complain at that. Food really hot and served quickly Good call for a Sunday if you don't want to cook. Desserts available not sure of the price. I'm sure the garden is busy in the summer as a safe place for families to let children play.

Stopped in for a drink whilst in Witham and ended up ordering a sunday roast whilst we were there. Really good prices (was around £6) and you can choose what vegetables/meat you'd like. Service was slow but food tasted lovely & homecooked, and just what you want on a sunday. Very traditional pub.

This pub, I'm not quite sure what else to say without totally slating it, what I don't want to do since it's an independent pub which there isn't much of them around now. But if you go here on a Sunday let's say if you don't eat meat take your own dinner and if you go just after 230 be prepared to be told it's ok to order then the gaffer comes over and tells you the kitchens closed once you've chosen your dish !!! Won't be quick to revisit total joke of a place doesn't know it's backside from its elbow!!!!

Newly decorated and nice friendly pub. Lots of places to sit in and a nice restaurant area at the side . Also lovely garden area at the back with beautiful hanging baskets . Staff always very friendly and welcoming . One of my favourite places .

Well worth a visit, very large tasty roast, in fact best roast for the money we had for years! Planning to return next week! Dan Hoad

Nice friendly pub for meeting friends for nite out or lunch food nice .good prices...bands sometimes will visit lots

attended an 80th birthday party in this traditional town pub. very friendly staff with good ales. food was good and staff very friendly

Food was of a high standard and very good value for money. Worth a visit if you are in the area at lunchtime. Shame they dont serve evening meals but we can only hope.

Siempre nos parada aquí de camino a Gatwick para nuestras vacaciones. Esto nos hace sentir es un gran comienzo "grub tradicional pub" en el sentido de que te puede conseguir comida aparte de pizza de hamburguesas y "comida para nada de basura" . Ambiente encantador y amable personal algo de una rareza estos días. No podemos esperar a volver creo que te

red lion you cannot book a table unless its a function.. but normally you don't have to wait to long to be seated.. food very good staff very helpful price very reasonable.. have now been twice once birthday party . October family meal

We meet weekly for lunch where you get a decent meal at a reasonable price. The landlady and staff are friendly and helpful. The new smaller menu caters for those with a small appetite. We also have Christmas lunch there and again a smaller version is available which is plenty for some of the customers. The menu has a good selection of choices, something for everyone!!

Great atmosphere and the food is always good. The chef having been there for only a year has done great things with the new menu and always has specials available . staff willing to go out of the way to help with any requests

This pub is peculiar. It seems to get good ratings, but a pub where you cannot get to the bar because a clique is standing there and shouting and swearing at each other, is not my idea of a family venue.If it wants to be a family pub, it needs to drop the toughies who like everyone else in the place to know how good they are at appearing tough.

So, my friend and I decided to try out the Red Lion. The small version was plenty for us and the food was delicious. We received a warm welcome and the pub was quite busy, serving lunches. The general ambience was good. We will definitely be returning.28.04.2013

My favourite place in Witham for a Sunday lunch, always spot on. Make sure to have the large portion, the small one is more like a kids meal. And dont arrive to late, normally all out by late afternoon. And its very cheap!

Id heard good things about The Red Lions Sunday roasts and seeing as i couldn't be bothered cooking one this Easter weekend we decided to take a walk into town.They had all the usual choice of meats you would expect. We decided on pork as they promised crackling. I ordered myself a large roast and my other half opted for a small. They also let you choose what vegetables you could have, which helps with picky eaters (like my other half). I couldn't believe the price, £12 for two roasts and drinks!I was pleasantly surprised when the gravy was brought out, as it had bits of meat in, which is always a good sign that its homemade proper gravy and it also was nice and thick. There was plenty of meat on my plate and it was lovely and tender, tho disappointingly the crackling was left on the meat, which i can understand as there probably wouldn't be enough to go around, and despite the gravy it stayed crunchy. You could also tell the broccoli and cauliflower was fresh and also hadn't been over cooked. Personally I like my roast potato to have a crunchy outside which these didn't.I would have preferred more (who doesn't with roasts), but for the price it couldn't be knocked. We'll definitely be back.