The Red Lion in Bedford

Welcoming and friendly pub food is good value 👍

Hi The only reason we didnt score 5 is because the tables were a little too close to each other for easy access. Your restaurant is our go to place for evening meals out around Bedford.

I went with a group of friends for dinner while on a break from a Conference, first time eating here, the staff was very friendly and helpful, nice environment, reasonably priced, good food and great company

The food was lovely but didnt like the chips they tasted. Like they have been warmed up my friend didnt like the steak too chewy

Great service from Tyler all evening dealing with a large table of 13 of us all having a three course meals. Quick and swift with service, made sure to clean the tables promptly in between courses so that we had room, as 13 people meant a lot of dishes here there and everywhere! Was very friendly and helpful to us all throughout the whole experience.

Back to it's best with the new management. Will be going back regularly again now.

This pub is fantastic you need to go and try it going a very nice staff a good team to draw the business good food what more can you ask for going check it out you won't be sorry

Lovely pub and such lovely staff with a great manager! Highly recommend!

Nice place. Good food, perfect service. Very friendly

Weeknight about 7pm, was quiet which is what I wanted that evening. Service was good. Staff was friendly and very helpful. The food was good and arrived at the table in good time.

Stopped dining at Red Lion because food was bad on 4 out of 4 occasions. But returned because had been told food had improved. Went on 16/10/24 and food was greatly improved would go again and recommend.

We used to go red lion and it was bad but now has completely turned around lovely atmosphere we got to meet new owners amazing people with wonderful personalities so happy red lion is back and thriving!

My local. Love it. Cheap & cheerful

Chilled atmosphere servers were very friendly food was good. Drinks prices are reasonable

Varied menu,quick service and great tasting food

We had such a great time at ‘The Red Lion’! We were a group of 10, and from the moment we arrived, we felt so welcomed. The staff was super friendly and really made sure we were all taken care of, even with such a big group. The food was really good—everyone loved their meal, and the portions were perfect. It’s not always easy to find a place that handles bigger groups so well, but they nailed it. We’ll definitely be coming back!

Came Monday night after seeing the roaring fire on Facebook! The pub feels like a completely different place and what’s even better is they had so many ales to choose from which I don’t remember red lion ever doing clearly whatever’s happened needs to carry on thank you guys for a lovely evening WE WILL BACK!

Turned up today and had a lovely well priced meal, thank you to the staff for recommending the old faithful. Sask and Charlotte were really helpful tonight. Vicky and Nick have already made a huge change so far.

We came here yesterday for a spot of lunch and came across a little gem with Lovely food and great service, I would highly recommend

New managers are very friendly and have really turned the place around!

Very disappointing meal today should have sent it back came too quick and should have been sizzling as on skillet

Came for lunch recently and the pub has really turned around, lovely to see the new managers brining it back to life!

Service and food was excellent will be going back

Food is very good .Portion size is excellent. Nice old fashion pub.

After a rocky start with the new management it seems to be settling down, had a very positive experience, food was great and it was good to see the place filling up again.A much better atmosphere too..

We have always been going to this pub for years. Always a good experience. Recently though we've been three Saturdays in a row because we enjoy it so much. Manager and waitresses helpful and cheerful. We always have nice meals and good wine. Never very busy later on in the evening which is nice to be able to sit and chat. Thoroughly recommend

This is my local but had stopped going due to slow service, over priced and below average food but decided to give it another go as I’d heard that it was under new management but I’m sad to say that nothing has changed, our starters were given to the wrong table (who said nothing and started eating them) and had to wait ages for a replacement, once finished we faced another long wait for our mains which when delivered the presentation was awful, the burgers were burnt and the sirloin steak was really fatty and chewy. We paid £68 for this when we could have got better quality and value food elsewhere which we’ll do next time. Years ago this used to be a great place to eat and always used to be busy but very rarely is now which says it all.

Such a lovely pub, tasha was incredibly welcoming and gave wonderful service. Big thanks to both her and Adam for singing happy birthday for my nan

Fantastic staff reasonably priced service with a smile

I went recently for a birthday lunch treat on 10th September. (I have not been to The Red Lion in over 10 years, my last memory being that the food was very good and great value for money). However, on this occasion I was disappointed with the food. I had the fish and chips with mushy peas. The fish and chips tasted as though it was a cheap brand from Iceland, the peas were ok. The whole meal was not served piping hot. The lady serving the food was very polite, helpful and is the only reason why I have given an over all score of 3 stars. So well done to her 👏🏽

Really good atmosphere and excellent service!

Excellent value served on hot plates by pleasant hard working staff.

Food was okay, staff pleasant, pub was tired and unclean. Lovely hanging baskets outside just a shame the windows are all rotten and the pub from the front gives the impression it’s closed

Please remove Christmas decorations....You know, today is the last day of Summer, not mid November? I was visiting for the first time. Drinks were nice,but the food was average. I had a mixed grill, fries were just warm, chicken was dry, rum steak very chewy, sausage was ok, gammon was the best meat on the plate. Friends said the food used to be much better. Something to think about.

Pop in one evening with my wife, brilliant food and outstanding service from all. Highly recommend

Fantastic service, really friendly team. Recommend the mixed grill, it was fantastic, good portion size and extremely tasty, will definitely be coming back again

Good grub, good company and lovely atmosphere. Lovely staff and lovely food could not ask for better! Would highly recommend!

Came in for food and drinks with some friends. The staff were very friendly and nothing was too much trouble, the food was also so good! It really made the evening and can’t wait to visit again.

Me and my partner went for dinner at the Red Lion last weekend and had an AMAZING meal! The food was delicious; really hot and tasty. Such an improvement from a few months ago. The manager was friendly and accommodating and we had a lovely waitress. Cannot recommend this restaurant enough- thank you for a lovely meal! We'll be back x

Great food. Great price. Great service

Came in to pub for a drink and we ended up having some food, lovely little pub, dog friendly and really friendly atmosphere food was great so we let the manager know who said we had some new chefs and that they were doing really well, so wanted to review to say keep up the good work it’s clearly working and we’re be back for drinks and food again very soon

Since the new owners have taken over there has been a marked improvement in the quality of food and service

It's nice to see that the nachos have been improved and you don't use that overpowering spicy powder on them anymore but the chicken burgers were just awful. The chicken breast was tough and overcooked and the onion rings were so overcooked that they were hard and tasted burnt. We just couldn't eat it. There wasn't even enough of the BBQ flavour sauce in the burgers to disguise the taste of burnt.

The pub was really nice, food was great service was good but it was a little quiet for us but if thats what you like the atmosphere is 5✨

Food was so quick to the table and for the price you couldn't complain. The place was clean and welcoming. What else?!

We had a bad experience here this evening I was with friends celebrating a birthday. My daughter came with her two friend and the bar girl came to collect glasses and chatted to her customers i.e my daughter. The manager came over and said to the bar staff get back and do the job your paid for! And said to my daughter if you distract her again by chatting I'll barr you!! Nice way to speak to your customers! He thought they were youngsters on their own until I spoke to him about it and his reply was well the bar girls getting on my nerves! Just Rude!

I couldn’t fault anything in my opinion. Thank you Abbey

Visited here for a quick lunch while out and about, the food was amazing out in a good time and cooked perfectly, bar staff are super friendly and helpful and the chefs did an amazing job! Will deffo be back when I’m back over this end of the county

Good varied menu, interesting food, well presented, good service

Good Place to eat, food is cheap some isn't the best but most are great and what wasn't great the service made up for and some was refunded. Really great service! 👍👍

Really great pub highly recommended for anyone to come get food has a great atmosphere and the staff is lovely

Came for the first time today and very impressed with the food and the service, was served with by a lady at the front with a red hair called abbey who was so helpful when it come to guidance for allergy advice for a friend will certainly be back with the family for another treat!

Abbey and team were just fantastic, really good service and food was lovely! Great value for money ❤

We have had excellent meals the last 3 or 4 times and this week went with 4 friends. Meals were all good and excellent value for money. Waiting staff all very friendly.

Third time coming to the Red Lion and never disappoints, great food and get heads turn when you order off the sizzling menu,highly recommended

Great staff, good prices good portion size, however marked down slightly as I did not feel my fish was as fresh as it normally is as on this occasion it was a little dry.. be careful when raining outside as ladies toilets has a bit of a leaky look.

Been a couple of times in the last few weeks and it’s really improved from when we came at the beginning of the year

Lovely visit to The Red Lion. Top notch food and great value. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere.

Delightful meal and warm atmosphere. Manager Abbey is excellent, very hardworking and kind. Would definitely recommend

Good food and friendly, quick service. Definitely would return.

We always have the best nights at the Red Lion.The staff are so friendly and make you feel so welcome .One of my favourite places !

Went here for dinner with my friends we always have a great time as the atmosphere is lovely and welcoming, Tasha was brilliant at giving menu recommendations and checking availability, she went the extra mile by suggesting that we all get the sizzling app to unlock rewards, we didn't realise there was a loyalty card for pubs and even better offers, got to love a bargain! Tasha was helpful and attentive with brilliant memory as we forgot about our desserts, she really is a credit to the Red Lion.

Had a great bit of lunch here on Monday. The Greek burger with dirty fires. It was lush. Washed down with plenty of cherry pepsi max. Would defo recommend!

Stoped in for lunch as I was travelling for work and it was eveyhting I needed free WiFi good menu quick and easy with friendly staff great stop off point

Really nice apple pie and custard.

Had a great swing by lunch at red lion food was fantastic nice dinning area stay we very friendly and informative did to long for the food to arrive and enjoyed it all thank red lion will be back again soon

I was really disappointed I've been coming here for yrs but haven't been since covid but everyone says it was lovely but unfortunately the food was horrible I had steak which burnt and hard it looked like it had been left on the sizzling plate for ages my mum had salad bowl with rump steak but salad tasted old and not fresh my daughter had mac cheese which was ok but again garlic bread was burnt and cold and they weren't busy they had two other families of 4 who had already eaten so I don't understand why the food was so poor, another couple sent there food back but I didn't complain because the chef was bringing out the food looked so stressed I felt sorry for her because she was apologising to everyone so clearly she was on her own because there wasn't any staff apart from the bar tender. I've never known this pub to be so bad it used to be our favourite place and a treat as we don't have much money but I feel we wasted 30 pounds. Edit. Today I received a message from the manager who explained what had happened and rectified the problem, I will be returning because they are a lovely friendly pub and her explanation made sense so please everyone give them ago because they are usually really good

Food pipping hot service good and people very pleasant

This was our local, we used to pop in with the dog for a drink on the way round occasionally. We used to bring the girls her on the weekend for some food. We used to grab a bite to eat when we didn’t want to cook on a Thursday… It’s just changed managers again. It’s been very poor for food since. Last time we took the girls the children’s food was poor. The children’s burger bun was extremely solid with freezer burn. The replacement was exactly the same. The time before they were too busy to cook food. Today I ordered a “curry house feast” I asked for no rice and an extra popadom which they did. The portion was well below what was expected (please see photo) I asked for a replacement and received the same plate of food with one extra piece of chicken on the kebab and what seemed to be extra liquid in the tikka masala. The salad was the same but slightly more dry. The nann bread was cold and the same one as before, the poppadoms were the same as before but creaked when you tried to bite them. The response from the manager was that “this is the portion control that we use” and that he would “speak to the people who make the menu” Used to be cheap but reasonable for food. Now it’s just poor. They did give a refund but we won’t be back.

I went to the red lion last Thursday, 30th June I had booked a table for 7PM we ordered a start and 3 mains, the starter come around 40 minutes later a long time for some wings but still they where ok, but the mains is another story, 1 of our party of 3 got there’s nearly 9PM that’s 2 hours almost since we ordered, then another 20 minutes later despite being told they was plating another’s aroved to an overcooked burger and cold cheese in the chips and then finnaly mine around another 10 minutes later again burger was nice tbf but the chips the cheese was stone cold as if it had been sitting out for a while before the burger was cooked, I did speak to someone who did refund our table I used to love this place had such nice homely food but now it’s gone down hill

Great pub, excellent services. Had an enjoyable evening here, can't fault the food! Definitely recommend

Food took very long, management doesnt seem great

Booked a table for 4 for Monday 20th May at 3:00 o'clock got there at 2:45 to be told there was no table booked, but that was ok the member of staff said and took us to a table. Ordered a round of drinks and looked at the menu to be told there was no chicken, no steak, by a young chef who's whites wasn't white they was dirty.the young girl behind the bar was there finding it all amusing and messing around with the chef and blamed another girl about the booking that wasn't done. (We left) wasn't happy especially when I phoned and booked it a few days before

very nice friendly staff good food

Unfortunately most of what we wanted to order was unavailable. Food was of a standard level, potions were smaller than previously when we first used to come.

Food is good quality. The staff member serving the food are lovely. However one of the ladies behind the bar (blonde lady) really shouldn’t be working face first to customers. Extremely rude with zero customer service skills.

Very, very poor, have now stopped doing Strongbow dark fruit also my wires drink of rosey all day, ordered food told 1 hour wait as the management had taken two kitchen staff to another pub leaving them really short staffed, when eventually the food turned up my wife's steak was solid when asked for medium rare, they said they would do another peice of steak but after 30 mins we gave up waiting.. we also ordered Brown bread and butter and cheesy garlic bread as a side of which we were told after paying at the bar they didn't have any.. for my local pub that is convenient and close to take the family i will not be returning..... shame as I've been using the pub for years but new management have let it really go down hill..

We arrived and placed order. Did not have my first choice of drink. At no time were we told of any delays. After 45 minutes of waiting I did enquire and was informed would be 10 to 15 minutes more . After this time, had to chase again. When it finally arrived the food was good but very very slow to come. Also, noticed quite a few delivery food people come and go and they didn't wait as long. Ordered 2nd drink and girl had not even heard of pinot grigot which was worrying. The manager was apologetic and tried to make amends about experience. I would recommend they tell customers if there are delays before they order. Also, they need to train their bar staff properly and finally need to upgrade the decor, it's very shabby. Good food at reasonable prices if your prepared to wait.

We pre-ordered as we were a large group of 16. The food was good when it came but it was very slow to be served with some of us finishing the main course before others in our group even got their meals. The toilets need a refurb as they are grotty.

Lovely food and excellent service. The staff including the chef couldn't do enough to support my limited diet post op. We really like the menu upgrades... Can't wait until I can eat properly again 😁 Highly recommended.

Good food at a good price, wide variety of drinks available soft and alcohol, a really great atmosphere especially with Kyle, Adam, Tyler and James, if you want a laugh while your having a drink this is the place to go these guys go beyond to make sure every customers are well looked after

Always good food and service But living in Norfolk the nearest pub is 60 miles away, in Boston so cannot visit a sizzle pub very often as no pubs in norfolk

Fantastic food, really much better than expected, I'm a pub grub bloke and not into fancy food so this was perfect The booze wasn't the best for me (cider drinker) I'm not a fan of Strongbow. Biggest issue for us personally was the exceptionally loud football on the telly Fortunately they seated us well away from this and we didn't hear it much Really nice staff, quick service and would visit again, making sure footy wasn't on 😁

Loved the food, but the place needs a bit of a facelift indoors.

Amazing Service from Leah And Ashley very friendly and helpful easy to talk to would 100% go again

Great meal with brilliant service shame about the rowdy kids on the next table

Family meal with my nephew, waiting times extremely poor. Staff seemed limited so service very slow if you can call 1 1/2 hours wait for food which was mostly substandard to usually quality. So disappointed will not be returning.

Last night 26/3/24 my family went for dinner at this restaurant. When we booked online we said my daughter was in a wheelchair so they knew in advance. When we arrived there was no table available to access a wheelchair so we had to wait for the staff to rearrange tables which caused a 15 minute wait in the doorway. When the food arrived 1hr later my chips and my families were dreadful they tasted like they had been cooked over and over and tasted like rubber. My fish wasn't cooked all the way through so I ended up leaving both chips and fish. Nobody was about for me to talk to about the food or ask if we were happy with the meal. The manager on the night appeared before we were eating and apologised to us and everyone around us for the long wait and said it was out of his hands. My daughter ended up eating a packet of crisps at the table as she was so hungry. All round we won't be going back which is a shame as it's on our doorstep.

Great place to meet friends and the food was lovely. Great service from the bar and waitress. Will definitely be going there again.

Not sufficient staff I waited at the bar for ages before a member of staff told me that I needed to go to the other side to order my food Staff member was nit sure what was available on the menu so needed to check with kitchen before taking the order Starter arrived but waitress did not give out any cutlery or napkins we asked twice before I went and just took some from another table Main meal which was sirloin was over cooked floating in oil and very chewing I did call over a member of staff to complain but unfortunately we were ignored and told that someone would be with me in a minute 10 minutes later nobody had come back so won't be visiting them again Management need to hire staff who can cope within the environment only saw 3 young people who were working in the bar and restaurant and it was quite busy Someone who looked like they were part of the management team was clearing tables and didn't make eye contact or ask us how our meal was Waste of money unfortunately and would not recommend

Visited here over the weekend and was greeted by a lovely man named James who looked after us really well. The food came out quickly and tasted amazing. I would like to say what a fantastic job James is doing to try and make this place better for everyone on this particular visit James was taking orders and running the food. Keep up the great work and we will see you soon.

Sizzling Pub with no Sizzle! The meat dishes served on a plate instead of sizzle skillets! Unfortunately the food took over 30 minutes although it was quiet, and the steak was overcooked. Used to be decent food at fantastic prices, and wide range of menu however not sure on the new menu.

Service was very slow, no cutlery on tables non offered had to find our own!! Food was great once it arrived

Pub wasn’t even open but still allowed me to book a table

You need a refurb, the wood work is all chipped around the skirting boards and walls. 5 light bulbs were not working in the area we sat in. The wall paper is pealing off the walls. Took 40 mins to be given our starters, the mains were average, the oil needs changing in the fryers. The white bread accompanying rhe dinner, was beyond awful, basic "Blue&Whire" Tesco loaf. So many food choices were bot available, you had no Limes to accompany drinks there was packet salt. Personally you need to close the pub and a full refurb, inc the toilets which are disgusting.

Had a lovely meal with friends, just a shame one man had had too much to drink and language not very pleasant and very loud

Food meh, atmosphere meh, service they kinda tried

Amazing pub, food is on point always. James and his management team are spot on and always go above and beyond. Coming again tomorrow for birthday meal and already looking forward to it as the new menu is really good.

Party of six (Mother’s Day meal) originally seven, but the seventh had to work late, on pre- booking we told them that one of our group have a very high allergy, when we ordered our starter the manager after few minutes came over to us and said we’ve just checked your starter, we noticed you’ve got allergies on your table and we said it’s not problem the person with allergies is not coming until later now, and is not eating starter or dinner, great staff 🙂 to re: check on allergies we all appreciated that, also not forgetting great food and service….. we will be back…… I’m afraid to say 😄

Quite busy, got served very quickly. Great atmosphere