The Red Lion in South Tyneside

The atmosphere in this little village pub is warm and friendly. The bar and restaurant itself are decorated beautifully, with natural wood and twinkling lights you're instantly relaxed. When we walked into the bar, we were immediately met with friendly staff who couldn't do enough to help! They took us to our table and let us take a few minutes to settle before coming back promptly to collect our drinks orders. There's a great selection of food to choose from and as it was a week day, there was actually two special menus to choose from in addition to their full menu. My friend is a vegetarian and she chose the teriyaki noodles and veg, which she said was delicious. I opted for a beef casserole which was absolutely devine! The staff were attentive throughout and we have already booked to return at the weekend! Definitely recommend a visit.

Went on a Thursday night for a 70th birthday.we did have to wait a little for the food, but it was worth the wait, we were a party of 10 having a mixture of different food ,the staff were all friendly and very helpful. It's definitely a place we would recommend. Well done to the staff and special thank you to the cook .

Amazing food and very welcoming. I was very impressed with the quality of our meals and even more impressed with the flavour. The chefs outdid themselves. We couldn't complain if we tried from start to finish. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and the service we received was impeccable 👌. I'm convinced we will be back!!

Called in for lunch with my 89 year old mother. I opted for the fish bites and chips in a basket. My mother had the scampi and chips. £9.99 each is great value and it was delicious. The staff were lovely and there was a great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Went with my husband and two friends. We were made to feel welcomed as soon as we arrived. The staff are very. Food was excellent great portions. Good choice's of menu. The atmosphere is nice too. We didn't feel rushed relaxed and comfortable seating .

The food is of an excellent quality for a pub venue. It can get a bit busy at weekends so service can get a bit slow. The atmosohere is friendly and customer orientated !

Lovely local pub with a relaxing and friendly atmosphere.

We eat here a lot! Always really good food and good service. Staff are attentive and friendly but not overbearing! Always recommended 👌

Great place, great food, lovely staff.

Food took 1 hour 30 mins burnt absolutely vile and wayboverpriced! also rude management, place is heading for closure unfortunately

Very nice pub, food was great, staff friendly. Only thing was a bit noisy due to a few young children in running around.

Amazing two course meal with friends last night. The chicken with Stilton sauce was just delicious and the wine was lovely too. Cosy, warm atmosphere with excellent staff. Definitely recommend.

Lovely pub, shame I went in looking for food on a Sunday night and they'd stopped serving but otherwise really friendly and lovely atmosphere

Gorgeous home cooked food menu great! food even better! Gorgeous friendly pub full of charm! fish and chip were unreal stick toffee pudding defo recommend service spot on defo be returning

Drove 30 miles up the A19 for early dinner tonight. Made the mistake of assuming it was dog friendly. The head waiter wasn't able to exercise any discretion, despite us having only a tiny, well behaved dog. He even recommended we went to the Black Horse up the road. Pity because we've had nice meals here before and were looking forward to it. A 60 mile wasted round trip unfortunately.

Drove 30 miles up the A19 for early dinner tonight. Made the mistake of assuming it was dog friendly. The head waiter wasn't able to exercise any discretion, despite us having only a tiny, well behaved dog. He even recommended we went to the Black Horse up the road. Pity because we've had nice meals here before and were looking forward to it. A 60 mile wasted round trip unfortunately.

Perfect country pub, steak was amazing, great service and well kept bar.

Went to Red Lion for Sunday lunch, best lunch in a while, quality of food, and service cannot be beaten great experience thank you 😎

A very typical country-type pub with a bit of history. It has ample free parking for patrons at the rear and side of the premises. Entry at the front and side. Front entrance is the bar element of this hostelry which has a cosy feeling to it and the seating adds to that ambiance and although some would want it larger, this would destroy the very fabric of the place. Remember first going there in March 1969 and enjoying my time There. Going through to the resturant, that has been refurbished recently with an a conservatory adding more light and space to the building along with more external seating to the side. Have to be honest I haven't been recently but intend returning there soon - it is a bit of a hike nowadays for me now i am getting on a wee bit. I have aye been fond of the place and we aye surely have time for those in the hostelry business who care enough to preserve the character of these old inns rather than jazz them up with plastic fittings. This is definitely worth anyone's drive away from the city to enjoy a good meal and an hour or so in the tranquility of a country inn. You could even visit the ancient Parish Kirk at the top of the hill (St. Nicholas C of E) built in the middle Ages but on a religious site long before that as part of Jarrow Monestry! Incidentally Boldon, being a part of the land controlled by the principality of the Bishopric of Durham, produced its own 'Domesday Book' and it was, (and still is), known as the Boldon Buke. (See Boldon Community Library (times varied) to read about it!)

First visit today 3pm got a drink at the bar and went straight to a table to order late lunch. We sat chatting and after 40 mins I stopped a waiter to ask if we could have a menu? He apologised said he didn’t know we hadn’t been served?? Ordered food and waited another 40 mins? the pub wasn’t busy? I opted for a lite basket meal, it came in a black plastic basket with white serviette type paper on the bottom, my food placed on top bad idea? the paper disintegrated as I was eating my scampi chips I then had soggy paper sticking to my food, the mushy peas were served in a small paper cup which also went soggy. The other meal ordered was a dinner, it came as a large Yorkshire pudding with a dollop of mash inside it, with some sliced turkey, then a couple of sticks of veg at the side?? I had heard mixed reports about the food here so thought I’d try it out. Not impressed I’m afraid 😟 shan’t be going back or recommending to others

Lovely pub atmosphere always a good number of customers Haven't had a meal there

We had not been to eat here for a while, so thought we would go for lunch. There are two menu's to choose from, a main menu and a menu with smaller portions, which my wife and I chose, as we had had that before. My wife is Gluten Free and the staff were so helpful checking the contents of the food to make sure it was ok for my wife to eat. The food was lovely, as was the atmosphere and the staff being so helpful. We will definately be back to eat at the Red Lion again soon.

We have been going to the red lion for Sunday lunch for a good few years, usually the food is amazing, yesterday we could not eat the vegetables, they arrived cold and undercooked, inedible is how my mother in law described them. We will give them one more chance and really hope this was a blip but having read a review from a few weeks ago, somebody else wrote exactly the same about the veg.

I came with my family to The Red Lion for Sunday Lunch and it was exceptional experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the staff were incredibly attentive. We had our two young children with us and they were happy that we didn't have to wait any length of time, despite it being very busy, to order and get our meals. I had the lamb dinner, and it came with ample vegetables on the side, a great selection of carrots, parsnip, turnip, broccoli, cabbage, roast and mashed potato and the largest Yorkshire pudding I've ever seen! We opted for a side of cauliflower cheese which was well worth the money! The children's meals were great, both opting for Mince and Dumplings, and they cleared the plates! They even managed a dessert! We will be back to our favorite place!

Came here for a meal with family was waiting an hour between the starter and the main coming out and when we complained about the wait at the end of our meal we were told that we had “only been waiting 15 minutes”. Also ordered a side of garlic ciabatta with one of the mains which was forgotten. Very disappointing visit as this is so close to us and could have became a regular place for us to come for a meal or drinks but the attitude we were faced with from the server when we complained about our wait was not professional and instead of just admitting where there was a problem we were made to feel like liars.

Very very good food and service 10/10 beef teriyaki was superb and garlic prawns to die for well done guys love this place

I am very sorry to write this but feel that the owners should here this. We are local to the Red Lion and have seen the standard of the food slip over the years but came back to see if it had improved. It hadnt! We ordered Teriyaki Chicken and a Prawn Salad. I would swear that the Chicken was a microwave meal. It lacked taste of anything and we couldnt eat it. The Prawn Salad had no Prawns!! There was a pile of 'Value' supermarket shrimps that had been mixed with a mayonnaise and left for some time as there was a film of water on the plate. The Salad was a lack lustre bit of lettuce and nothing else!! No cucumber - no peppers - no nothing. Our bill was £33!!! I know that I should have pointed this out but the staff were so nice (however very young). I am afraid that we wont be back again and will not recommend to friends.

The food looked nice but had very little taste, I mean I had to salt my plate 3 times and used more horse radish than usual because it was just so bland. I had the lamb.. Very small portion, again bland. I was very disappointed and so was my partner, for £17 a dinner it was way over priced. First time trying and definitely the last. The setting was lovely, the staff where nice but that's it sadly

Sunday dinner Had turkey veg wasn’t cooked cabbage and broccoli to point it was raw . When coming to pay told staff which was told by the supervisor she had just tasted what we had sent back and told it was fine Not only if your a rabbit. Been going for years never had a complaint till today . What happened to the customer is write .

The food was unreal here, the portion sizes are very generous and really filling, however during busy times there is a bit of a wait for food, we got here around 3.30 and didn’t get our mains until 4.30, however it was very busy, and the food was worth the wait. We sat in the extension and it was like a greenhouse, it was exceptionally hot and even with the door open it’s really uncomfortable, it could do with windows being opened to increase the ventilation throughout the room.

Food was fantastic, service great as well and a nice relaxed atmosphere considering how busy it was

Food was good service a bit slow waited 40 mins before food was ready and a bit noisy

Had Sunday lunch today. Was ok but nothing special, especially when you’re payin £17 a dinner. The mash tatey was canny transparent n the turnip bit watery. Had to pay extra £1.95 each for mushy peas & cauliflower cheese…which is a bump when u r paying £17 already. Beef was ok,nothing compared to the shipwrights. The place was pritty full maybe this is why things were not the best…but problies this busy every Sunday 🤷🏼

Excellent service very great welcome when we arrived made us feel like vips from first moment.To the last. Kelly the manageress was really fantastic lovely warm personality even though we arrived slightly late for our Sunday Lunch. The food was served very quickly considering the place was really busy. Donna had the lamb and I had the pork which were very generous in portions and cooked to perfection the Yorkshires were massive but light with plenty of gravy. The head chef Shaun took a moment from the kitchen to make sure we were enjoying our food (nice touch) which was spot on. We carn't wait for our next visit. Thank you to all the Staff keep the good work up Brian and Donna

It's pretty good, not amazing but perfectly fine.

Went there for my 60th birthday meal. Seating was a bit thrown together and table disorganised. Food was ok but not as good as I'd been led to believe. Service was friendly and ok but fell a bit short. Would I go back? Based on that, no. For a special birthday it really didn't impress.

Fabulous lunch, reasonably priced with a really good choice. We had the halloumi skewers, very tasty!

Had an excellent afternoon there for fathers day lunch.

The best Sunday dinner we’ve had for years. Great friendly service from all the staff, I can’t emphasise enough how good they ALL were! . Beef and Turkey were both of great quality , veg cooked to perfection , amazing Yorkshires, with real gravy and quality sauces . We will be back very soon .🫡

Went for 1st time today with my daughter food fantastic staff excellent prices phenomenal will defo be back thanks

Food excellent and very fairly priced. Definitely going to return. Nice extensive menu lots of choice.

Very enjoyable meal and our server was top notch. Would have said 5 for the food but I like more gravy 😁. Must have been about 20 years since I'd been. I'm not take another.

Older world type of bar. Friendly staff. Great little bar and good restaurant. Also has outdoor seating

Excellent pub and excellent food, all freshly cooked, great value for money.

Just had the bacon cheese burger for lunch and it was great. One star dropped because the onion ring was really greasy and the coleslaw hard to chew. Chips were perfect. One star dropped for service because it was a really long wait for the food. Apart from that the staff are really welcoming and pleasant.

Regular visitor fab atmosphere and fab staff

Lovely meal, great atmosphere and good service

Went for the in-laws 40th wedding anniversary. Booked a table in advance. We had sat down took are coats off and they where asking us what we want to drink. Drinks arrive asking us what food we want. Had to ask for a kids menu (she is 5). Food ordered 15 mins after being in, I had to ask where the food was after 45 mins to be told he is just reheating some items it won’t be long. 10 mins later food arrives. Now the food was delicious! Really was gammon was perfectly cooked! Eggs were runny. All of the food was outstanding! How ever it just seemed to take an age for anything to happen. The lady who was ‘working’ there took are plates and she asked if we wanted dessert, yes please ok I’ll bring them over. 20 mins later I went up and asked for the menu, young lad brought them over. He served us and was lovely. She then came back to take away the plates. I asked for a bill she said yes of course. 20 mins later we ended up going up to the desk and asking for bill as she didn’t bring it over, after watching her standing round talking to other people, and serving them. And now I get it, we are not the only people in there, but 2 and a half hours for to get food for 4 adults and a child in a not very busy but certainly quiet time. And having to ask for simple things it just seemed a bit of a joke.

Lovely, warm comfortable pub and restaurant. The food was lovely too. The staff were very nice and helpful.

Services was very good ,the atmosphere was nice for adults and children,

Been here quite a few times food was always nice but today myself and my wife who is a chair user was basically refused entry because the staff woul not open the accessible entrance as they did not want to disturb the party in the conservatory Being in a wheelchair is hard enough without being treated in this way. Shame on the person who just gave the orders to the staff without coming out of the kitchen . And finally they did not attempt to ask the party if they would mind the door being opened to allow access.

Lovely place. How have we missed it all these years

Enjoyed a lovely meal at the red lion. There were some great options on the menu, including a mon- Fri 2 courses and 3 courses offer ( although we chose from the main menu). Main meal and desert were fantastic. We all had steak which as cooked to perfection, well seasoned and super tasty. Desert was beautiful, the biscoffe cheescake (amazing), hot fudge cake and sticky toffee pudding again really delicious!! Only slight criticism is that the lamb kofta starter was a little small (one small kofta) and the prawns in the prawn cocktail were teeny, although there was plenty of it- meatier prawns and a colder sauce would have made this 5🌟. The chicken pate and marmalade was delicious. I would recommend and will absolutely be back again. Staff were lovely from booking a table, throughout service👍👍

Had the day in here with friends I've known for years the food and services where amazing would definitely recommend I will be back 😋

Our go-to place for an excellent Sunday lunch.

6 of us went for Sunday lunch at the red lion, small mix up with table booking but this was sorted quite quickly. So it was 6 starters 6 main meals and 6 puddings. All of which came quite quickly and was absolutely delicious. Waiting staff were brilliant and friendly. We will definitely be back thank you

Consistently great food, lovely atmosphere, just wish we lived closer ;o)

Great food, friendly service and good selection of drinks can't ask for anything else really

Just had a warm welcome and a delicious dinner. The Malbec was especially fine as was the service. Lots to choose from if you are a meat eater, I would like more vegetarian options please but what I did have was excellent. Crispy potato skins and dip followed by a vegetable risotto and then an amazing ice cream sundae that needs to come with a waistline warning 😁🍨

Lovely place. Food excellent. Staff very friendly.

So this was our first time visiting this restaurant after hearing some positive feedback from friends. I have to say I am disappointed. Sat at our table to be told there may be a wait for food as there was 2 “big” tables in before us was the first nod that things might not be up to scratch. Sat for 35 minutes before they took our order. 1 of us went to order steak, told there was no steak left at all. I asked what else you got with the chicken and giant Yorkshire to be told that they only had the lamb dinner in large Yorkie pud. I chose the corned beef pie with mash, our friend who wanted the steak chose the “lamb dinner in Yorkshire pud when it arrived it was a chicken breast! Seems they don’t know what they have in the kitchen!! The other main was a sausage casserole with mash…. It looked like a child’s portion. The desserts were ok. We had to keep asking for drinks. Felt like the staff were too busy looking after the “big” tables. If you can’t handle a full restaurant limit the seating plan! Asked for the bill and there’s 4 x £1 extras added. We asked what this was for… to be told that they’re increasing prices on 2 & 3 course meals. We should be charged the price that was stated on the menu not charged more because you haven’t advertised it accordingly. Overall a disappointing meal out with our friends. We were looking forward to trying this place out but I don’t think we’ll be back.

I haven’t eaten here in a while but had previously had a good experience. Last night we were sat at the table at 6pm, informed there would be a 15 minute wait before the order was taken, we ordered around 6:15, the waiter said the Kiev takes 35 minutes to cook so would we like a starter? We chose potato skins which were nice, our mains arrived at 7pm, mine was a chicken breast with stir fry veg, rice and a Thai green curry sauce - there wasn’t enough veg it looked like a frozen portion and the chicken breast was very small, my husbands Kiev was just a Kiev and chips on the plate no garnish etc … we just got to the cinema as the movie was starting despite leaving plenty time. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. Hopefully this delay was just a blip due to the holidays and normal service will resume.

Lovely atmosphere. Warm and friendly. Food good, choices good. Parking on site.

The food was lovely and the staff were friendly and welcoming

Delicious Sunday lunch and the staff are all amazing, very pleasant even though they are obviously busy

Very impressed by The Red Lion, both the food and service were absolutely excellent, and nothing was too much to ask. It has a traditional cozy pub vibe and friendly, welcoming staff. Will 100% be visiting again!

I visited the Red Lion with a group of friends to celebrate Christmas and we had a fabulous time from start to finish - food was amazing, we all ordered from the Christmas Fayre menu and the starters and mains were perfect! The staff couldn’t have been any more attentive! 10/10 would definitely recommend!

Christmas get together with friends, lovely food and very attentive service, Michael you are a credit to the Red Lion.

Booked here in November paying a £30 deposit which is fine as it’s Xmas for a birthday in December Arrived with our friends 3 couples Took our drinks order which came after about 15 mins Our mains were very slow to arrive about 45 mins later One portion of chips was missing just about finished main course when they arrived Also asked for another spoon and a pot of hot water for tea which had to be reminded again However the food was good and everyone enjoyed what they ordered The next letdown was the bill as it did not have the deposit paid taken off Also watch if you have the hotpot because the price differs to the menu presented Such a shame as it spoilt the day and will be a long time before we visit again

Poor service,Food over priced and tasteless.We waited at least 30 mins for drinks and then another 30 mins to order food.We ordered food another 30 mins when it arrived.The bill was wrong over charged for food.Will on return.2 stars is being generous.

The interior of this restaurant / pub is lovely and cosy, the food was great with plenty of choice from traditional home cooked pub food to healthier and more elevated dishes. I had sea bass which was tasty and well cooked. Starters and puddings also didn’t disappoint. Service was excellent - staff attentive and friendly. There’s quite a wait between courses but this I don’t mind - it means it’s cooked fresh and gives you time to chat and for food to settle !

Great atmosphere, amazing food, and very friendly staff.

Absolutely fab sunday lunch, i always get the veg takeaway, superb range of vegetables & amazing yorkshire puddings!

Nice pub, with some great food. Reasonably priced with plenty of choice. Leek and potato soup was nice and the fish and chips was very good. Great atmosphere and a “proper pub” feel. Recommended.

Eight of us had an excellent meal. Service was brilliant. The staff were very helpful and nothing was a bother. Will be back.

Was taken with my family for my birthday the food was delicious and service fantastic from all the friendly staff, will definitely go again

Lovely experience with friendly service from Josh. What a lovely, polite and helpful person. Great customer service

seats were uncomfortable , table was top high up and there was 8 of us around o e table, which was the largest table size available, food wait time was not terrible but we did have to wait a bit - never mind.. But, the seafood risotto was delicious and the chocolate cake was also delicious and so I hope to return soon!

Hair found in main course not too impressed !!!. Seats were that heavy

Haven't been here for a number of years for no particular reason. Was recommended to go back by my nephew who said it was one of the best places he'd been to in the area. How right he was.. Superb food and service at a very reasonable cost. Have been 3 times in the last month. Excellent 👍🏻

Brilliant well worth a visit xx

Food was absolutely delicious, nice wine, a pretty setting and such lovely friendly staff. Can't fault anything!

Lovely food and service. Reasonably priced as well. Generous portions with lots of choice on the menu

Best Sunday Luch in Sunderland, food was amazing, served hot, fresh to order, fab range of veg available, biggest yorkshire pudding's i've ever seen! staff were attentive, friendly, prompt taking & bringing order

Visited for Sunday lunch 15/10/2023. Food was beautiful including the starters we had, of the soup and garlic mushrooms. Only downside is the waiting for your table as there is insufficient room for all the people who get in each other's way but this is a symptom of the popularity

Great for social drink and Sunday lunch.

Great pub, excellent staff so friendly and lovely food. Wheelchair accessible into restaurant from car park and a lovely outside terrace!

We went to this pub 8 of us for a birthday meal... and the waitress wasn't listening to what we wanted to order... she came out with different orders and to top it all off My dad found a long hair in his mouth which was disgusting... no apologies at all. We will definitely not be going back here again even though we spend £170 on food and drink.

What a lovely place. Staff were lovely l, food was top class. Little gem of a place. Highly recommend visiting

Sunday lunch ,was good but overpriced,been got t shirt onwards to next pub,beef was a bit tough and a few veg missing

Brilliant restaurant with a really family vibe and atmosphere, food is top notch and great value. You can not ask for more attentive staff who are so friendly and make your experience 10 out of 10. I really love this place with such a fantastic feel. Highly recommended and will continue to keep returning.

Really enjoyed our Sunday Lunch. Very fresh and tasted beautiful. Mash and roast potatoes and plenty gravy. Staff really helpful. I had pork which came with stuffing and crackling and husband had beef. This is our favourite place locally for Sunday Lunch. Very reasonably priced too.

We went at a family of 9 for Sunday lunch as it was my birthday. The starters arrived promptly and were lovely. The main arrived far too long after the starter. The manage wasn’t interested, was rude and basically blamed us. We had to ask for the dishes to be taken away after the starter. Such poor customer service, very disappointing

As IAM disabled I find the Red lion hard in to as they don't have a ramp

Picked at last minute and everything was great so went the next night and not disappointed. Lovely food, great staff, brilliant!

First time I've paid over £5 for pint in Boldon.

Me and wife are both on gluten free diet The menu has no info on dietary needs but table staff were helpful in saying meals may be adapted If your a fussy eater then the available menu with GF options diminish somewhat if say you don't like sea food so that rules out a lot even if it is GF We don't think the menu has changed in several years there either If you can eat whatever you fancy then it's a great place and well worth a visit We on other hand would look at other options until a GF menu is modified

Nice pub, cozy with plenty of seating. The fella behind the bar was friendly and welcoming too.

Fantastic food and great service, thank you to the wonderful staff.

Great food at a good price with friendly helpful staff, well worth a visit