The Lion in Braintree

Had a few drinks in here Saturday after a dog walk and it was a lovely pub. Enjoyed chatting to the staff. Mellow atmosphere.

The Lion has been taken over by a wonderful family, with an amazing new chef. My parents and I went there for Sunday lunch and the roast was incredible. Well cooked and delicious, fresh vegetables and the best gravy! Great value and great service, with a lovely friendly atmosphere created by the staff. Earls Colne has been missing this. We plan to be regulars!

Excellent . Couldn’t fault anything . The new owners are lovely people and great hosts , and what a difference it makes having a chef and his team that can cook . The Lion has been crying out for quality food and hospitality for years , and now it has finally arrived . Service was quick and attentive and the food we had was perfect.

Really glad to see The Lion reopen. Food is great quality and very friendly staff.

Very good! Tasty food and friendly service. Will be back !

Excellent service and friendly staff

Rude service cold food 😢 Food sent back - 1 went back the other waitress said I see steam so not cold. Paid at bar wasn’t asked if happy just given the bill quickly

Oh thank goodness, the real Lion is BACK ON FORM!! What a sigh of relief after a miserable few years since Redcat attempted to manage it. Well done to the new family-owners who took over at the end of September 2024. We just had a delicious Sunday roast. I had the belly pork and it was serious memorable - tender and expertly flavoured with a very satisfying crackling. It came with all the trimmings - good roast potatoes, roast parsnip and Yorkshire pud but the standouts were a particularly flavourful gravy, deliciously spiced red cabbage and very tasty carrot puree. My husband was very happy with his roast beef. We both enjoyed a perfectly done cauliflower cheese on the side. The Basque cheesecake was recommended by our friendly waitress and she was spot on, it was seriously good. My husband loved the tangy lemon tart. Great no-alcohol beer for me and very tasty Shiraz for him. Our £70 bill included 4 drinks, 2 mains, 1 side & 2 desserts. Service was very welcoming, friendly and the right amount of attentive. We will be back soon and often. Highly recommended!

So glad it’s been taken over by lovely new owners… all of the staff are amazing too! It’s our new favourite place, we’ve eaten there 3 times this week, bringing family and friends along! I feel very lucky to have this pub on my door step.

So lovely place with very friendly staff

If you're not doing food on Tuesdays, you should probably say that somewhere on the website before people trek over...

Supposedly the kitchen closes by 19:40 on weekends… Called ahead to confirm we could order if we arrived by 19:45. It was confirmed by the staff that we would be okay. Showed up early, ready to order, and the staff wouldn’t take our orders still as the chef had shut the kitchen down even earlier than we were told. No apologies or anything so we were happy to take our business elsewhere in town that were welcoming and accommodating. Would be nice to have known before we wasted our time rushing to meet the false timing!

I recently had a very disappointing experience at The Lion in Earls Colne. We rang ahead twice to confirm the latest time for ordering, and we were told 7:45 PM on both occasions. Despite this assurance, when we arrived at 7:43 PM, we were informed that we couldn't place an order. The staff showed a complete lack of flexibility and consideration for their own stated policies. It's frustrating to make plans based on information provided by the establishment, only to be turned away at the last minute. This experience has left a sour taste and, unfortunately, we won't be returning. I would not recommend this place to anyone looking for reliable service and a respectful dining experience.

came into the lion after a long hard day, and everyone in there was so nice and welcoming and a big thank you to the amazing chef annie for the AMAZING beef rib burger so tender and juicy and flavour full, as to chloe thank you for your great service and harrison for running the restraunt so smoothly would 100% come again and recommend to anyone looking for a nice meal with family or just a drink!

This place is a GEM!!! We went here yesterday and the food & service was brilliant. Lovely decor in the place with free parking (FREE!) and the customer service - OUTSTANDING. I want to give a special Thanks to Hollie for her fantastic recommendations from the menu and for friendly customer service. All three of us loved our meals!! You don't find many pubs like this - go if your in that neck of the woods.

What a joke this place is, a disgrace to food and pub hospitality absolutely NO idea of standards and to top it all the “Roast” Sunday dinners are rubbish as they are NOT roast dinners!😡 who runs a “Joke” of a place like this and expects make money rather than disappointment diners and ultimately give them a rubbish service? DO NOT USE THIS JOKE PUB FOR FOOD

Avoid at all costs. 0 stars. We visited while in the area from London and were thoroughly appalled. The restaurant was completely empty, and when our food arrived, it emitted a strange, off-putting smell. The fish and chips were an absolute disaster. The fish was mushy, and every part of the meal tasted reheated and defrosted. Nothing was remotely fresh. The Sunday roast beef was even worse. Instead of a proper roast, we were served a tough blade steak that was a hundred miles away from what was advertised. This was not just disappointing—it was shocking. Adding insult to injury, the restaurant doesn't actually serve the menu items or dishes they advertise on their website and Instagram. As a marketing manager, I find this level of deceit unacceptable. The food was cold, stale, and utterly unappetizing. We will never return, and I strongly urge everyone to steer clear of this place. Do yourself a favour and eat elsewhere.

We popped in here on Fathers Day never heard if this pub before we highly recommend it ! DOG FRIENDLY ! children friendly too Just overall friendly great polite service with a smile nothing too much trouble gluten free Fish & Chips were lovely as was the roasts ! Especially the Yorkshires ! A must visit if you are local or visiting this pretty part of Essex Thank you for a great experience we will be back 👍

I went for a drink here and was told by the bar manager that he refused to serve me 🤷‍♂️ I haven’t done anything wrong at this pub but he seems to have a personal vendetta against my partner because she was due to start as head chef there but got a better offer from elsewhere so he’s taken personal grievance against us at a personal level. Very un professional due to the current climate, if he can afford to turn away happily regular good paying customers for his own personal vendetta then so be it, Drapers down the road is far better and has a more welcoming atmosphere than this pub / restaurant that was fine until he took over. A shame because it’s a lovely place to drink

It’s such a shame as the Lion has gone really down hill, not sure what’s changed but won’t go again. Earls Colne really needs a good pub so not sure why the Lion can’t deliver!

Seems to have changed hands as at 1st June 24 as the online menu bore no resemblance to what was available. Sunday roast was underwhelming and very expensive at £20 a pop. A single thick slice of beef and lukewarm veg. They reluctantly did a couple of Caesar salads for us but sadly were dreadful, a few leaves, grilled chicken drowned in sauce. Shame as past reviews and the online menu looked good. Hoping new owners improve quickly. Staff were very apologetic but all new. Didn’t make a fuss as meeting friends there. Certainly won’t return.

Popped in for dinner on a Tuesday evening, whilst in the area visiting family - easy to park, lovely atmosphere & friendly welcome. Wide choice of food on the menu & a varied children's menu too. Excellent food - very filling & beautifully presented.

Nadia was our waitress and was very attentive, would definitely visit again! The food was amazing and service was even better. Thank you so much for a delightful evening.

First time back in a while. The Lion seems to have some of it's old vibe back, but what was once a destination, is now just a pub. And in need of some tlc to the beautiful old premises and decor.

Everyone really enjoyed their meals & the adults loved the amazing pornstar martini’s! All the staff were fantastic & so good with the children. Hollie in particular went above & beyond. I couldn’t have asked for a better family evening out.

Down in the area visiting family and staying nearby. Lovely food complete with attentive and friendly service. Well worth a visit.

Lovely food and lovely people fully recommend going to the lion

Lovely Sunday roast and crumble. Really delicious. Great pub atmosphere and very dog friendly

Had a lovely evening catching up with friends. Brought along our goldie as well and he was made very welcome. There was a large party in at the same time and the staff managed our expectations around some food delays, then managed to get our food out quickly anyway. Food quality always good and atmosphere relaxed and friendly.

Lovely food and top notch pint of Guinness. Daisy and Hollie are great hosts and the atmosphere is always chilled!

went for the new quiz and food, food was banging and the young server made sure we had everything we need and the in-house quiz master daisy did a fab job

Food was excellent, staff was very friendly. Very nice atmosphere!

Lovely pub to be in on a sunny day! Manager so kind and friendly and the food was really good. Staff friendly and a good atmosphere. Worth a visit. I’ll be back with my work colleagues and friends!

My son and I waited nearly an hour for our food and there was only 1 other person in the restaurant.

Service by Daisy was spot on and the fpod from Oli was above and beyond considering the circumstances he really made an effort… hats off team

Went to The Lion for breakfast for the first time. Friendly staff, quick service. Quiet relaxed atmosphere, good tunes. Breakfast was delicious. Love the fact the beans are in a separate little ramekin. Highly recommend. Will definitly be back!!

Hadn’t been to the pub for a while and it was lovely. Had the chorizo hash for breakfast and I couldn’t ask for anything more! I would definitely go again. All the staff in there were friendly and very welcoming. Can’t wait to try the other menus.

Chorizo mash delicious, Shane was a lovely guy, service was great.

Beautiful village location and Shane is a lovely fella. Chorizo hash is banging

Love this spot. Great and friendly service. Daisy serves a mean Guinness on tap with a perfect little clover accent bit on top.

Excellent breakfast. Really impressed by the quality of the food and the friendly staff. I had the full English and my wife had the chorizo hash. We ended with delicious homemade scones. We loved it all. Would highly recommend the Lion breakfast! Thank you.

Just had one of the best breakfasts I've ever eaten. Highly reccomend. Delicious fresh ingredients and service with a smile. Will definitely be back.

Just had one of the best breakfasts I've ever eaten. Highly reccomend. Delicious fresh ingredients and service with a smile. Will definitely be back.

Highly recommend this pub! My parents came down this morning and I mentioned about coming here for breakfast as all I've heard is great reviews. Staff are so friendly in here and full of smiles which I love! We all got the full English and it was amazing! Cant wait to go back for more :) Well done guys! xx

Came in Saturday night and was nice to see the place was busy! We got served promptly at the bar and took our seats to look at some menus, when we noticed a group of customers arguing with members of staff (something had happened in the toilets). The staff were apologetic and sympathetic to the situation saying there had been a misunderstanding which another group near us had confirmed but they didn't want any excuses. they soon left and we were apprehensive about spending the rest of our evening here. But even after that the staff were still incredibly friendly and attentive to our table. We had a great evening and would recommend it to anyone who is connecting with friends or family!

As a customer who recently experienced the appalling service and discriminatory behaviour at The Lion i feel compelled to warn others about the disgraceful treatment we endured during our visit. Our party of ten gathered to celebrate two 60th birthdays we were met with incompetence insensitivity and outright discrimination from the moment we stepped foot in this establishment. Starters not available and raw burger incident First and foremost despite pre ordering our meals, multiple starters were mysteriously unavailable upon arrival. Not only did this inconvenience disrupt our celebration but it also reflected a blatant disregard for basic customer service standards. The manager tried to say we were previously emailed in the week to request pre order however it is my understanding the booking was made over the phone and did not actually provide an email so this was not truthful. furthermore one of our party members was served a raw burger which had to be sent back to add insult to injury the replacement meal was forgotten leaving one member to dine alone. The table dining next to us also shared their experience of after pre ordering still not having what was previously requested. Such negligence in food preparation is not only unprofessional but poses a serious health risk to customers. Transphobic treatment of a party member The most egregious offense however, occurred when a member of our party was subjected to humiliating and transphobic treatment by the staff. The treatment reveals a deeply ingrained culture of ignorance and discrimination within the establishment. The staffs callousness and insensitivity along with their refusal to acknowledge and fix their serious mistake shows a larger problem within the lion. They have failed to create an environment of respect and inclusivity. What more, the manager has shirked her responsibility and completely dismissed our valid concerns this only adds to the ongoing discrimination within the establishment. By taking the side of her staff and brushing off our complaints as lies she not only supports their unacceptable behaviour but also sends a disturbing message to other customers. It implies that such mistreatment will be accepted and even approved by the establishment. Actions required from the lion I strongly urge the lion to take the following actions to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future 1 comprehensive staff training implement mandatory training programs for all staff members focused on inclusivity diversity and sensitivity towards marginalised groups this should include education on transgender rights and proper protocols for handling complaints related to discrimination 2 review of pre ordering system conduct a thorough review of the pre ordering system to ensure that all menu items are available as promised this includes improving communication between the kitchen and front of house staff to prevent the recurrence of missing or incorrectly prepared meals 3 establishment of a zero tolerance policy clearly outline and enforce a zero tolerance policy against discrimination of any kind within the establishment this should be communicated to all staff members with repercussions for those found in violation up to and including termination of employment Furthermore it is imperative that the lion takes immediate steps to review its compliance with licensing regulations particularly regarding the provision of a safe and inclusive environment for all patrons. Failure to address these issues promptly not only reflects poorly on the establishment but also poses a significant risk to its reputation and future viability My experience at the lion was nothing short of a disgrace marred by incompetence insensitivity and flagrant disregard for basic human decency until meaningful action is taken to rectify these issues and ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all patrons. I urge others to avoid this establishment at all costs

We visited the Lion for dinner and the food and service was amazing! Very welcoming pub, staff couldn’t have been more helpful and lovely! Definitely worth a visit and we will be going back again very soon!

My partner and myself decided to visit the Lion. We where served by the manager who is great at recommending food and then drinks to match the food, we shared our starters which where halloumi and squid which were fantastic. Then followed by pizza and steak, I'm very particular when it comes to how I like my steak and honeslty hadn't found somewhere in Essex capable of cooking it properly until we came here. It was cooked perfectly, didn't even need a sauce to go with it, my partner absolutely loved his pizza and said it was best he's had in a while. For dessert we both had the homemade apple and berry crumble with custard which was again DIVINE!!! Honeslty you could of rolled me home after that definitely shouldn't of finished the desert but when it's that good you just can't stop yourself. Would definitely recommend for couples on a night out, this is definitely going to be a place we'll always go back to.

I was one of a party of ten who had pre booked a table celebrating two landmark birthdays. On arrival we were told that half of our starters were unavailable. So this wasn’t a good start. Later one of the party had to send her food back as the inside of the burger was raw. This then took over thirty mins to be re-served. By which time the rest of the party had finished theirs. Then myself and one of the party went to the ladies, both cubicles were in use so my friend and I were talking about the poster within the ladies that talked about drugs. Then one cubicle became free and I went in. Whilst I was in the cubicle, the manager rushed in and said there’s a man in here. It would seem that in the other cubicle was one of the waitresses who had text the manager to say that there was a (expletive) man in the ladies. I knew it could only be me they were talking about. I am a trans woman and have lived and worked in health care for over thirty years. I have never felt so insulted, violated and unwelcome as I did at that point. I was heartbroken when I returned to my seat. I couldn’t stay and left in tears vowing to never ever return.

Avoid at all costs. Absolutely terrible place. First and last time I’m going there. Party of 10 so wanted pre ordered menu. Even with a pre order, most of the starters were not available. A burger was raw and had to be sent back. They forgot to cook a replacement so one of the party had to eat alone. Unfortunately this was a minor issue compared to what happened next. A member of the party is a TS and was accused of being a man. She has lived longer as a female than a male. The staff at the Lion were messaging each other saying a man was in the toilet and even though they were corrected, it carried on. Unfortunately upon bringing this up to the manager, she backed her staff up and called us liars. Very poorly handled and clearly very uneducated. Very very disappointed and ashamed these sorts of people exist amongst our society.

We were with a party of 10 celebrating 2 60th birthday’s. Most dreadful experience. Food not available despite pre ordering, food not cooked and generally terrible service. A member of our party is TS and was insulted by a member of staff. Totally outrageous in this day and age. The whole situation was handled badly by the manager. Avoid, avoid they don’t deserve to be trading.

Appalled by the ignorance shown towards our party. A member of our party had to leave after feeling victimised due to staff who are clearly not trained in inclusivity or diversity. Not helped by the fact that we had to prebook our meals for a party of 10 to then have items missing and one of our meals undercooked. All minor compared to the awful treatment of staff who poorly handled a situation caused by another party of drunk people. Left feeling disgusted and will not be returning under any circumstance.

Had a very nice meal here. Great food, drinks and general atmosphere and looked after really well by Hollie and Shane all night. Would recommend.

Service friendly and warm, food very good and plentiful, good selection of beers. Well looked after by Holly and Shane, thank you!

I popped into the Lion on the off chance as I was in the area waiting for my vehicle to be serviced and the Lion have recently started breakfasts. Polite and friendly staff. Give it a try !

Amazing food & friendly staff - only down side is the length of time it took to serve.

Beautiful wholesome pub. Lovely feel inside and the beer garden. We performed here last night and loved the environment, the staff were so welcoming and friendly. We also had the pleasure of eating one of their delicious pizzas on the way home from their wood fire pizza oven, which was tasty and full of flavour. Definitely recommend. Thanks for having us. Ellie x

We had a meat pizza and it was delicious definitely recommend to anyone who wants a good pizza 🍕 friendly bar staff. Great service all round

Got served by Hollie, absolutely amazing and so polite she was very helpful. I was very happy with The quality of food service and the atmosphere was buzzing Great company and great vibes

Holly and Gracie were amazing great service and great food

Stopped here for Sunday lunch after taking our son to the railway museum 10 minutes away. Beautiful Sunday roast, all the trimmings for a reasonable price. Staff were attentive and very welcoming. Lovely atmosphere in a modern and stylish Tudor period building. Nice open fire. Manager was great.

Hollie served me and it was a very nice experience. I had to tip because it was such a good experience!

The roast was absolutely amazing and shane the manager always gives a warm reception and goes above and beyond to make You feel welcome the best thing that’s happened to this pub since redcat bought it ,Its. real village pub again !!

Fantastic food, great selection of beers and excellent service. Proper village pub!!

Stopped here for Sunday lunch after taking our son to the railway museum 10 minutes away. Beautiful Sunday roast, all the trimmings for a reasonable price. Staff were attentive and very welcoming. Lovely atmosphere in a modern and stylish Tudor period building. Nice open fire. Manager was great.

Got served by hollie she was good and really friendly. Definitely knows her stuff. She even changed barrels

Lovely food lovely pub lovely people. Very friendly atmosphere and will definitely be coming back again!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lovely pub, lovely food, nice people. We had a really nice evening, thank you.

Lovely wood fired pizza and delicious deserts at the local village pub. Vegan options available. Highly recommend the apple crumble. Service was great.

Great little pub with nice food at good prices.

Just had the most amazing roast beef at The Lion. The cabbage had a cinnamon taste, which made it incredible, the roast potatoes were cooked to perfection and they made me my own apple sauce on the spot! Service with a smile and Shane is always an amazing host. Would definitely recommend. 😊

Fabulous place, delicious food, brilliant atmosphere Shane the manager bent over backwards to make us feel welcome. Top man! Will definitely return. Highly recommend this great pub

I came here as I was starving after the zoo. I ordered the wings and the padron peppers. The food was gorgeous, the sauce on the wings was delicious! Great service from Daisy and Holly, they were very nice. Amazing place.

Had a doughballs they were delicious! And the brownie was to die for! And the service was so nice.Had a lovely greeting from Hayley .Definitely recommend! 5 stars

Lovely pub with a lot of guests which ended up being part of the problem. We didn't have a booking but were invited to be seated. Unfortunately too many issues to list but raw beef burger and poor training added up to a truly unpleasant experience.

Great food and lovely atmosphere, great service too!

Love coming here for the lovely food and great service. Always greeted with a very warm welcome from Daisy. She makes our outing very special x

Came here for a Sunday roast with 6 others. Probably the worst service I have ever experienced. Waited over an hour for our food and when it eventually arrived was cold. Continued to wait probably another 10 minutes for cutlery. We were all hungry so just ate it and didn’t bother to complain. The roast itself wasn’t too bad, very small bit of pork belly tho. One of us ordered a brownie for dessert and it clearly wasn’t put through, asked a further 2 times and then it eventually came. Staff themselves were pleasant just probably need more training. I would not return. Kind of shocked at the 5 star reviews to be fair

What a lovely pub with amazing food. My pork belly roast was really good as was everyone else's meals and our table went very silent apart from mmm's as we all cleared our plates. We will definitely be back. Great portions and good value for money.

Since Shane has taken over this pub it has been amazing, the atmosphere is always buzzing and the staff as always friendly helpful and always up for a friendly chat. The pub has become a place my wife and I love to visit at the weekends to put our feet up from a busy week and enjoy a few drinks and some food, there's no pressure, no attitude just a nice place to be. It's got a good size carpark and an outdoor area with wooden sheltered tables and a large umbrella with heaters. It's dog friendly as long as the dog is well trained. Well worth a visit for amazing food, great drinks and an atmosphere to enjoy.

Beautiful grub beautiful beer wasn’t to dear big up daisy

Very warm welcome… dogs were truly spoiled .. food was delicious.. Holly was very polite and attentive… mid week lunch with the girls … worth going back …

Perfect in every way, especially Shane the service and attention to detail was outstanding, And the food and log fire was the last word!

We called in just passing through, and had a very welcome lunch of pork sausages, mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables ( incl. delicious roast carrots), which is not usually my favourite meal , but it was delicious. We then followed it with home made crumble ( well, we were hungry !), with ice cream AND custard. There was a beautiful wood fire , and Shane (host) was very welcoming and attentive. Very pleased we stopped!

First time today and it was amazing! Brilliant for kids as well. Food was lovely and so was the atmosphere.

Me and my father were just walking past and got hungry so stopped inside to try the place, it was brilliant food tasted lovely some flavours couldn't be explained, would definitely recommend to anyone. Staff where lovely too. Very happy and good atmosphere.

Very disappointed in my nut roast. It was over-cooked and dry. It was also over-priced at £17.45. A medium glass of wine was £9+ which I thought was too much. I will not be going back.

Fantastic stop off for coffee in front of the fire. The food was amazing and the service was fab.

lovely atmosphere, nice roast, great portions , good friendly service

Sunday lunch for 5. Clearly a new waitress (visibly shaky) but service was good and friendly. A distinct lack of atmosphere but liked the open kitchen. All meals were okay, just okay. That's fine if you are paying an okay price but we weren't. At their price point (£18 for a roast dinner and not a huge portion either) it should be outstanding. And it wasn't £154 for two starters, five mains and 7 drinks (3 non alcoholic) is far, far too high for what we got. Sorry but we will not be back.

For a change I went for a pizza and my fiance had halloumi although well overpriced. After an hour and half wait, my fiance went to ask about the food. The 3 people on the table next to us had a starter and main served before we got ours. When the pizza finally arrived it was pretty much tomato puree with some sandwich meat toasted on top. As an apology for the time taken we were served some greasy chips that were inedible. I tried to eat the pizza but left most of it. I told the bar manager, when he asked that the pizza was certainly not worth the wait! This is supposed to be a class eatery. We'll not be going back.

Come for food tonight and was really disappointed i had a burger and left 50% even though i was really hungry my 3 year old had a burger too and couldn’t eat it i tried it and it was worse Than mine ! Neary 30 quid down the drain and still ended up with dinner at home such a shame as its not the first time its been awful at the lion and used to be such a good pub and food It

Food really nice although we had to wait an hour for it to be served. No explanation given for the delay. Surly waitress, not very friendly Part of the lunch order was served after we had eaten so we went it back. Waitress was not happy. Manager tried to redeem the situation with an apology but not helped that they couldn’t print a bill or give us a receipt. Appreciate busy over Christmas period but make your clients aware of any delays. They would appreciate it more than being left hanging.

I felt the need to write this review just to warn you NOT to book a Christmas meal at this place!! It was absolutely dreadful. It was our works do! So disappointing. Today we received £8 refund a gesture from a £36 meal. You have been warned!

Very limited only roast on Sunday run out or lots of things on menu asked for another drink didn't get it ,no custard no doughnuts only ice cream, sorbet and crumble and brown ies

Not been before, looked lovely from the website. The waitress was really nice and friendly. Ordered drinks and dinner for 2. We only had 3 drinks each and sausage and mash for dinner. Was shocked when the bill came at £100 plus! A glass of wine was £11.50. No wonder the pub was empty!

there is such a lovely atmosphere in this gastro pub, lovely fireplace and beautiful seasonal decorations, i came in on a busy lunch time and i received service with a smile and really good food! will defiantly be returning x

Awful. Went in recently for an Impromptu birthday surprise lunch for my mum. Mid week lunch, only two other tables there. On arrival I ordered a glass of wine and a cappuccino, wine was served at the bar, was told coffee would be brought to the table. We waited approx 10 mins. No coffee arrived. During our wait I watched whilst the bar member went into the kitchen (open kitchen) and stuffed her face (using her hands) with sliced ham (presumably destined for sandwiches on the menu) Certainly will not make a conscious effort to return at any time soon.

Lovely pub with comfy seats, good drinks and service. Lovely place to spend some time xx

My first visit and there was friendly staff, super helpful as I am gluten free. Great GF pizzas and other nice food there too. Cosy cute pub. Will be back again.