The Lion in Mid Suffolk

On every visit to the Lion, you know that the food will be amazing, the quality to, and generous portions.

Excellent food, Excellent service . 5 stars. FUTURE Pressure Washing Www.futurepressurewashing.co.uk

A disappointing evening generally. Two members of our party are vegetarians and were mistakenly served a meat based lasagna instead of the vegetable lasagna which they had ordered, their dishes were eventually replaced along with an apology from the waitress who had made a genuine mistake. No goodwill gesture was offered and we were very surprised to see that a “tip” of £4 was added to the bill.

Came here when was staying locally over night for work and was impressed. Great food and very well priced. Would return for sure if I’m ever in the area again

High quality food and plenty of it. 5 lamb chops, so brought 2 home!!! All beautifully presented, and home prepared. Will recommend to friends and return ourselves.

Throughly enjoyable lunchtime experience

Visited here for lunch and were sat by the front door next to a fire place which apparently only has one setting (low) The people on the next table kept their coats on as they agreed with us, the place was freezing on a cold January day. The service is good and the food plentiful, but rather overpriced for pub grub.! Over £12 for omelettes (which are frozen and not made freshly) is a bit much it seems odd that a chef cannot make fresh omelettes to order and the choice is cheese or cheese and onion. Tomato will not be added under any circumstances (because they are ready made and frozen and come from an outside supplier) If you do not like any of the vegetables on the portion, then tough luck, because you will not be allowed to have more of the vegetable that you do like as it is forbidden. You will just get the small tray back, minus the veg that you do lot like, and be aware that you will only be getting one piece of Cauliflower and six slices of carrot for the inflated price. Most of the food here on the vast menu, is 'ping and fling' and the restaurant is dated in appearance and very dark. It is such a shame as it could be a nice place to eat if the 'chef' was not so stuck in his ways. I think Alex Polizzi needs to make a visit, as sadly we will not be returning, but maybe the strict rules are to alienate locals?

First time eating there, will definitely be going back.

I decided to walk to Needham Market. After an hour or so I stopped at the Lion for a drink and dinner. The Lion is an OLD (ca 1618) pub where you need to duck in some places because the wooden beams are so low. There are even Tudor red roses on the walls to give you an idea of it'sage and feel. The deco is traditional English pub, the sound system is new, but the music is loud enough to hear but not so loud so that you can't have a conversation. I was seen to a table and got my drink quite quickly; and my food ordered sometime after that. The pub was busy so there was a little wait for food, but this just meant I could people watch and listen to my podcast. When the food arrived it was tasty, hot and just what I needed after a long walk. The ratio of quantity to price to quality were a pleasant surprise. (I forgot to take a food pic). The food was high quality, high quantity at a low price. I had trouble finishing the plate! After an hour of drinks and food I started my long walk home, full of warm food and happy thoughts of returning. I will definitely be coming back here on my next long walk. 2023 update: we went for lunch and things haven't really changed. Things are a bit more expensive, as to be expected, but all in all the quality is as good as it's ever been.

Always very good and an ample quantity.

Relaxing Good food and company! Great staff

Lovely food Good prices Very friendly

Nice pub, warm and good food with a cold pint. Recommended

First and last time no roast no new pots had steak and mushroom pie meat really tuff veg cold

Beautiful food. Lovely staff. Good selection of everything. A☆☆☆☆

Great staff,lovely food outside for the children.

Decent pub grub. Knows it's price point and audience well and delivers exactly as should be expected. Particularly good to eat in a nice environment with the family. A good selection of ales, lager and cider at the pumps.

Absolutely amazing food, the Morocco chicken tasted amazing, will definitely be back

Excellent food, best I've eaten in ages and great value. The staff were superb, landlady very nice.

Very good food with an extensive menu and a wide range of special meals. Service was excellent from very pleasant and efficient staff.

I recently visited a pub with a beer garden that had a lot of potential. The pub had a great selection of play equipment for children and ample parking, making it a great spot for families to enjoy a day out. The prices were also very reasonable, making it an affordable option for those on a budget. However, I was disappointed to find out that the pub had very limited opening hours on hot and sunny weekends, with food only being served until 1:55pm. This was quite inconvenient for those looking to spend a lazy afternoon in the sun, and I hope that the pub can extend their opening hours in the future. Despite this, the menu had a lot of options and the food was traditional pub fare that was well-prepared and tasty. The drink selection was also good, with reasonable prices that didn't break the bank. Finally, I found that the staff were polite and friendly, making the overall experience a pleasant one. Overall, I would recommend this pub for families looking for a fun day out, but be sure to check the opening hours before you go.

I'm sorry but i had scampi and chips, well would have tasted better if they got them from Needham chippy, tasted as if both were out of a pack, and the chips well cheep ones.

Always a pleasure to dine here the staff are always friendly we have eaten here a few times never disappointed.

Amazing, delicious food. Service is fantastic.

Was our go to pub for quick home cooked food. However will never return again! Staff rude and unhelpful and even the owner swore at us (in front of our child) all because they served us something that wasn’t as described on menu!

Wide ranging menu including fish, meat and vegetarian dishes at reasonable prices. I enjoyed a delicious lasagne and my partner had a crab salad with new potatoes Service was excellent.

Went to The Lion with some friends before football and we were surprised by the amount of specials available alongside the main menu. Difficult to choose, but between us we went for Lamb burgers, Chicken burger and Liver and bacon. Portions were very generous and the food was cooked perfectly. Due to being in the area again, we booked for the following Saturday and will probably use it every time we are in the area.

Nice pub food good value for money

We love it here. Good, honest, affordable food and terrific staff. Me and my partner take our boys every so often even though we have moved further away. They are so kind and sweet with our little boys, and my oldest (4) loves it there, and always wants to go. We love to tip them, because they absolutely deserve it. Well done guys. The food is always a solid 8 or 9, never disappointed. The service we get is a 10.

We love this place it’s always our go to on a Friday night after work with friends . Food is very nice and varied . Nice atmosphere lovely staff . And management . Always very obliging . We have family get togethers here and there’s lots of us . Nothing to much trouble and the grandchildren think it’s great. Summer is nice here as outdoor area . Nice for the kiddies.

Basic pub fare but nicely cooked and presented. Generous portions and good value. Pub was clean and had a lovely fire near the bar. No real ales, only keg stuff, which was a shame. Sit nearer the fire as can be chilly towards the back of the room. Overall, a nice meal and staff were friendly and efficient.

Accommodating to people's needs. However food is a little on the wrong side. Katsu curry is more of a mango chutney than curry

Had a drink here. No dogs allowed As food being served but it didn't matter. Was a nice setting.

Great atmosphere, warm and friendly, with excellent tasting food. The staff were very welcoming and looked after us well.

Used to go to The Lion in a large family group years ago and was always very good... great, varied menu and lovely, friendly Landlady/staff. Returned for old times sake today, just 2 of us and nothing has changed. Seafood platter was plentiful, hot and delicious and served with lovely fresh salad, homemade coleslaw and new potatoes. Excellent coffee, lovely selection of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks and extremely reasonably priced. Won't be leaving it so long before we return :)

Disappointing lunch. Ordered a side salad with my starter as a main but pitifully small, boring (with far too much onion) salad in a tiny butter dish size dish came with small pot of coleslaw. Only other item I had was a small plain white coffee my friend paid for other drinks. My starter was OK 5.60 not amazing fried small pieces of cheese with garnish (more onion) charged £12.60 Extortionately priced mediocre food Waiting staff were friendly and helpful and came to clean the very sticky dirty table when i asked them to. My friend enjoyed her pie which looked nice.

Had a great Sunday meal here with the family. Friendly service and fair prices. Don’t forget the puddings, a real highlight. Will be back.

Always a pleasure to visit this traditional friendly pub.

A reasonably priced Saturday lunch, will pop back again. Staff were great too.

We have been a few times and everytime we have enjoyed it. Theres a great choice of food and it's always hot and fresh. Great service lady that serves is lovely always polite and cant do enough. I love this pub thoroughly recommended

Excellent service and very good food. Will visit again when in the area.

Extremely Tasty food and reasonably priced

Nice pub and great food , more than i could eat 😁

I have been visiting the lion in Needham market since I was a little girl! I do feel it has changed a lot and it as good as I remember! The staff are lovely and friendly

We had Mediterranean parcels of mixed vegetables which was very tasty.

Great meal. Well thought out menu Reasonably priced and first class staff. Definitely recommend a visit to the lion. Three years since we were last there but will visit again very soon.

The food is good standard pub food. 96 for 4 meals and 5 drinks so not cheap for lunch. Two waitresses were very good and helpful.

Interesting and varied menu, catering for allergies and well presented. Definitely NOT the usual big chain offering, far better!

Went here after a large break of over 6 years, due to having left the area. Got to say the food was still the high quality it was back then. Staff were lovely, friendly and attentive. We each had a different meal, each was as good as the other, but I must make a statement about the Veggie sausages the flavour was out of this world. Had a lovely time, many thanks to all the staff.

We'd like to apologise for your experience last night, it's not the usual, unfortunate the chef was on his own last night due to staff shortage & he wasn't feeling his best. Once again please except out apologise

Popped in for lunch with my friend. Got seated straight away although we hadn't booked. I chose from the kids menu as I don't really eat anything big lunch time . Ham, chips, small salad really lovely and plenty for me. Great service and really lovely waitresses. Thank you 😊

Ruined our evening Waited an hour for our food and then walked out No atmosphere Lighting so bad you cant read the menu Looks more Like a 1980s cafe And run like a morgue

Absolutely appalling Waiting an hour for food No atmosphere Lighting so bad cant read the Menu More Like a 1980s cafe than a pub restaurant

Nice friendly pub with a great good quality food menu, and a play area for kids

We had a fantastic meal, food all freshly cooked and good size portions. Father in law said the pie was the best he's had in a long time! Kids enjoyed their meals (and the chocolate brownie and lumpy bumpy cake come highly recommended!) Lovely, friendly and efficient staff too. All in all a great evening and we wouldn't hesitate coming back.

Friendly atmosphere, excellent food and service with a smile. Thank you.

Nice and comfortable, great atmosphere, helpful staff and really good food . We will definitely be back soon .

Lovely food great service friendly efficient staff highly recommend we went at a lunch time but recommend booking for evening very popular Another great lunch time meal can't fault the food, presentation or staff.

Nice pub with a good selection of food choices and friendly staff. The decor is a little dated and in need of a refresh but don't let that put you off. I would recommend and would definately visit again

Food is good, kids play area is great. Nice place to come on a summer evening.

Great food, good price and good service what more do you need.

I enjoyed the experience immensely, however I only just had steak xxxxx

Great food and service will definitely going back again.

Our 4th time here for lunch with friends..always a warm welcome..food is superb.

Under new management .food menu looks good. Let's hope people give it a chance. Not far from lake.

Staff informative and friendly, food excellent

Lovely food. Friendly and efficient staff. Definitely will come back.

Haven't been since lockdown, but used to love going there. Nice atmosphere and great beer garden for children to play while you can enjoy a drink and some yummy food.

Love the food here and the staff. Always eat here

Nice and friendly staff. Great atmosphere food was really good (took a bit to long to be served) would eat here again

We dine here every Wednesday lately! lovely little pub with tasty home cooked food, we all love the special parcels too! highly recommend

Good wholesome food and plenty of it. Friendly atmosphere. Lots of locals enjoying a pint to add to it.

Really tasty well cooked food with good portion sizes. . Excellent customer service. Our go to place for a meal out

Great service Great food and lovely staff very friendly atmosphere

Amazing home cooked food, never disappointed

Having moved to Needham Market recently, we have tried all of the pubs in the town, and the clear hands down winner is the lion . The pub is wonderfully old and historic, the staff are very warm and friendly, but the food is 1st class every meal we have eaten has been excellent the portions are huge you have been warned!.the menu is comprehensive something for everyone, they also do half size portions for dessert great if you just fancy something sweet and not massive.the owners are lovely and are always happy to chat. We have made this our local and visit every week for our weekend treat.

Thank you for your genuine and authentic hospitality. Excellent dinner for two hungry cyclist. Best burgers in 200km radius! Thank you Jess.

Really great food, relaxing pub to eat in, good price, well worth a visit.

Nice food and beer, pleasant surroundings.

Always a friendly welcome food is excellent

After a walk round Needham lake with the dogs we decided to pop into the Red Lion. It's been a long while since I've been in but it was a lovely day for October, so we ordered some drinks and sat outside in the beer garden. From what little I saw of the inside the pub was very clean and tidy, the staff were polite and friendly, the beer garden is very large and was a really nice place to sit and have an afternoon drink in the sun. Judging by some of the other reviews here it looks like I'll be booking a table to go and eat out in the not too far distant future, with the added benefit that being a freehouse it will have the choice of a range of decent beer on tap, they had Woodfordes Wherry on when I went in, so I won't have to suffer the local travisty that is Greene King.

Good pub food, excellent drinks and brilliant service.

Just returned from a family meal, it was faultless from start to finish. Steaks were some of the best I’ve eaten. Every meal was great, large portions and well cooked. Meal for 5 with drinks and desserts £115 Highly recommended

I have ceoliac disease, so am gluten free, I also allergies to soya dairy and egg. The menu is very clearly marked out and staff are helpful. Lovely food. 😍

3 mature men decided to meet and eat at the Lion. Friendly welcome, we all had different mains and puddings and every dish was excellent. My steak and mushroom pie was full of tender beef and plenty of mushrooms. Vegetables were generous and cooked to perfection. The pub also has a very large car park. At the moment it doesn’t open Monday and Tuesdays, but when word gets about how good it is, these opening days may alter. Thank you for a lovely meal.

Varied and good value traditional food on numerous visits.

Only Stopped for a drink... would like to go back for food as menu looked good

A lovely relaxed place to enjoy lunch and a drink brilliant play area for children and plenty of space for them to play dogs are welcome in the garden and the food was excellent

3 of us when for evening meal food very good as was service well done staff.

Lovely staff, great menu selection. Very tasty food. Excellent value for money.

We have been coming to The Lion for several years now and always find staff are welcoming, there is a good variety of meals available (including vegetarian and Gluten Free), nice sized portions and well priced 👍 I went to write this review and I was shocked and extremely disappointed to see the review below. We were actually in for a meal on that day and sat 2 tables over. My reconciliation is slightly different..... It is true that we were asked to sit in the "bar" area of the restaurant as due to covid they are not back to full capacity, so it does seem pointless to open the entire restaurant for two tables. As several other tables started to arrive, to adhere to social distancing the upstairs area was opened. The couple had asked to move to a table that already had someone sat on it, the waitress politely informed them that she already had someone sat on that specific table but they were welcome to move upstairs. The women started shouting at the waitress that she had booked that specific table and even slammed her fist on the table (I found this very unsettling and really felt for the waitress). They did decide to move tables, but were still unhappy. Before the food had even come out the women called the waitress over to tell her she was never coming again and would be leaving a bad review. I can't comment on the food, as I didn't try her chicken. However I can say when she complained about the food the waitress offered to take it back into the kitchen, this was refused, she was offered something else to eat, which was also refused. On this occasion this couple actually spoilt our lunch because of their behaviour, I can't belive people are spoken to in such a rude manner. I for one hope that they never return to The Lion.

Very disappointing experience, Told to sit in the Bar area! But when customers who hadn't booked started to arrive, they were allowed to be seated in the Restaurant. We had booked!!!! We have been using The Lion going on 35 years, it's always been our favourite place to eat out. Shock, horror, when the meal arrived the half chicken was too tough to eat and was very dry, my husband struggled to eat his 8oz burger was very dry, in spite of all the sauce he was adding to it. I ended up with a portion of peas, and chips, the service was unacceptable they blamed everything on the present situation of Covid, no apologies were offered for this sad situation. Oh, one man who eats there 5 times a week was allowed to move from the Bar area to the Restaurant area!!!! It's become obvious to us that since Covid CUSTOMER IS NO LONGER KING AT THE LION in NEEDHAM MARKET This pitiful meal cost us almost £30.00, and they kept the half a chicken. Maybe for another customer . N and D Cronin

Best pub in Suffolk. Great food. Lovely people. Love it.

Lovely staff, lovely food. Thank you 😊

I was overall very impressed with my meal tonight. The steak was very tasty and the meal was overall dressed very nicely with coleslaw. The chips were ever so slightly undercooked however they were nice. I will definitely be visiting again soon! It was really nice to have a proper pint of beer after all this time.

Called in here for a meal on a very wet day. We were impressed with the gluten free choices and the portion sizes. Everything is reasonably priced and great value for money. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and will definitely return when we move into our new flat in the area very soon The staff are very friendly and are happy to help with any dietary requirements.

Have eaten there before but that was before covid & stupid government, good value for money huge portions & nice people serving set in a quaint building, would recommend to all sensible people!

Great for children, large play area in garden and the food is amazing. Staff are lovely too and very attentive.

Having booked a table for our daughter's 20th birthday celebration, we were intrigued by the mixed reviews on Trip Advisor. When we arrived we found all of the staff to be very welcoming and polite. Good provision had been made for the pandemic and we felt safe and relaxed as we enjoyed our meal.The food was very tasty and piping hot and even the "limited" menu offered plenty of choice, including vegetarian and vegan options (although nobody in our party ordered these). We also noted that the Lion has a 5/5 food hygiene rating.As we found the staff to be so friendly, I broached the subject of the earlier mixed reviews, wondering if perhaps this was a different set of staff? I was assured that these were the same people, so I was left to wonder whether the reviewers who reported rudeness were perhaps merely seeing a reflection of their own negativity? Or maybe they are from outside the area? We Suffolk folk do have a dry sense of humour, but when you can understand that, we really are a friendly bunch and the people at the Needham Lion are no different.We also had the pleasure of meeting (at an appropriate social distance!) another family who were celebrating a birthday; this one was a 19th. All in all, a very pleasant evening, well organised and with a friendly welcome. We will certainly be returning in the future.

Just a lovely local pub run by lovely people. What more do you want?