The Red Lion in Chelmsford

Beautifully presented delicious food in a newly refurbished pub. Great service and really good value.

Loverly Lunch x6. .service was excellent no rush. Great food we all had Starters /main/deserts..I'd recommend this Pub ..be back soon deeelish

Visiting family over the weekend and decided to go for a Sunday roast on a whim. Had a really lovely meal - the restaurant wasn't too loud and staff were very attentive. Everything was very tasty.

What a find this was. We were travelling from Kent to Essex for an anniversary weekend away. We decided to look for somewhere on route to eat and I found this on Google maps...and I am so glad I did! It was Friday evening, and there were a couple of other tables in, but the barman/waiter was so welcoming, found us a little table for 2, and took our drinks order. He was friendly, professional and knowledgeable about the menu. The food and drinks were superb, well made and so tasty. The place was immaculately clean. Could not have asked for anything more. Thank you for making the first evening of our little breakaway so perfect 👌 Highly recommended, really hope we are in the area again sometime as would love to come back!

This pub has the potential to be extremely good 😊 The roast dinner was pretty good. Desert was adequate. Customer service really needs some work! Was hoping it to be a regular Sunday lunch spot for my friends and family, but sadly will not be rushing back due to the service not being as friendly as I would expect.

Tried here by chance as the place we were going was closed! Blown away, the food was so good. High end quality, beautifully presented. Heard it had been taken over this year but what a difference! Had all three courses, coffee and wine, was pleasantly surprised at the cost. Service was good, warm and friendly. Will definitely be returning soon.

What a lovely pub, food totally blew us away, certainly wasn’t expecting what we got. The staff couldn’t be more friendly or helpful, definitely recommend this place and will most certainly return to try some of the other dishes

Lovely pub, never quite seen cheesy chips like this…. was a little bit disappointed. They could put the effort in!! Burger was nice!!

The BBQ food here is absolutely amazing! We’ve been back a couple of times now with family and the kids and their is a great atmosphere and family friendly too

I would say without doubt one of the best pubs/ pub gardens we have been to in a long time. We went as a large family (14 of us) and had the barbecue outside… we had a bit of everything the prawn tacos were lovely, lovely brisket and hands down the best burgers around by far…. The kids run round and played, we took a football as there are goals in another field they own. It was just a lovely day all round hoping to go back with the grandparents for a roast in a few weeks!!!

Had a lovely afternoon celebrating my daughter 30th 🥳

Dry aged steak sharers are amazing 😍 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow what a fantastic restaurant for lovely meals or eating in the outside garden it's a real treat.... Give it a go we will definitely be returning

Only stopped for a glass of wine very expensive but great pub nice fercilities staff OK

No food on Mondays, so drinks we had, nice decor.

Awful place, awfully expensive food, try 14£ for a salad + 4£ for chicken. Never guess what happened... I had a beetle climbing out of my food, was replaced in 30mins when we got the bill they still charged me for the meal and tried to add a 25£ bottle of wine when only cider and water was ordered just got a load of sorrys... So shocked it happened was an absolute mockery. Where's Sammy the band that was playing absolutely excellent shame about the rip off, won't be going back again.

We had the roast dinner excellent

Food was really good especially the steak ,will be back.

New garden and bar/bbq out back

Heard good things about The Red Lion used to use it quite frequently before it shut down. Went to go there for lunch today checked the times open 12-10 kitchen 12-9 . Arrived 12.20 couldn't get in front door was locked oh well maybe next time at least The Viper was open 😀

Beautiful garden and house. Definitely worth a visit

The beer garden at the red lion is spectacular

A disappointing visit. One of the menus shown on the website was not on the table (so no burgers) and there were a number of items missing from the available menu. Despite there being only one other couple when we arrived it took nearly an hour for our five main courses to arrive. The waitress made no effort to establish rapport and service was perfunctory. The chicken fish dish was average but the fish and chips were good. All in all underwhelming.

Nice English pub. Very local parishioners. Spectacular food and very pleasant service.

Lovely pub restaurant both inside and out. Recommended

Very bad, bar staff rude. Food not good.

WOW, WOW!!!!! I can honestly say that I have never tasted BBQ food as good as it tasted here on Sunday. This was fine dinning from a meat smoker and grill. The smashed burgers we to die for, with the flavours just hitting you with every bite, the in house sources, the home made salsa and chimichurri, everything just blew me a way, This really is a hidden gem and i would recommend everyone visits, just what Essex needed and its right on your door step. 5 stars for me!!!!!!

Amazing revamp , fabulous menu .

Fabulous place to visit, food is amazing and the refurb has been done so well 10/10 from us

We absolutely loved this pub we stumbled upon when filling a few hours while car was at the garage down the road last year and enjoyed the most amazing chips. This tempted us to return when back in the area this month we are so glad we did. We were delighted to find the beautiful new BBQ area. The pub decor is absolutely stunning the staff are so friendly and helpful and the food was absolutely gorgeous . Even better than our last visit we would definitely recommend this pub and we intend to visit many more times. The beef brisket taco from the smoker was amazing and my partner also enjoyed his burger. If we could give this pub 100 stars we would

Had a wonderful time on Saturday thanks Bill, smashed burgers are amazing same as the chips also the smoked brisket hummm love the pub will see me again thanks also friendly staff behind the bars

Really good local pub. Everything you want from a British countryside pub. We didn’t eat here so that’s why i haven’t rated it. Large garden for bigger groups and kids. Worth a visit 😌

What an awful place ran by the most awful, rude, arrogant man Bill. Overpriced and poor facilities. Most bar staff were extremely kind and polite but the chef, manager and ‘apparent’ owner are unbelievably impolite. Food was underwhelming. Would not recommend to anyone.

Really lovely jem wish I lived closer would be here every day. Food amazing service outstanding. And just a beautiful place to go.

Great food, service, and lovely pub and garden

Amazing and friendly staff that from food inside to outside smoked and the all place, it's beautiful, tastefull and a pleasure to be at. Recommend anytime

Knew the pub before the makeover, looks rhe same from the outside, a very elegant old country pub, bur the inside has lost its charm and character as has been gutted & modernised, no longer in keeping with its age, no longer cosy & welcoming, all minimalist, cold & clinical, set up for meals only, no cosy nooks to have a drink in 😔 we were really very disappointed,and the wine for what it is was £10 a glass, unfortunately will not be returning

We had a table of 17 last weekend and the food, service and look of the pub under the new manager was absolutely brilliant. The food is great, can’t wait to go back

Fantastic refurb. First visit today. Will return April when the kitchen's ready 👍

First time we've been there, really nice fresh cooked food, we were rather early for lunch so there weren't many people...but it got busier before we left....we will go again...

Food was freshly cooked, the only let down was that a large amount of the desserts where brought in.

Solid local pub just off the main road. Good quality honestly priced food and excellent service. A little tired in places but a great place to stop off for good food with friendly but efficient.

I’m afraid I can’t rate the food but when we sat in the dog friendly area the carpet was so dirty we had one drink and left.

Great traditional pub. Convenient location with a garden perfect for a sunny stop off.

A large group of us met after a dog walk. We had the garden to ourselves, the food was fab and the all the staff were so welcoming. Will definitely be back next year when we meet again

Ok, a pleasant retreat after a nice walk.

Wanted to find somewhere to eat on the way to Suffolk that wasn't fast food. Plenty of parking, not far from the A12, nice pub with lots of character. Food was good and reasonably priced too.

Fantastic food and great customer service would highly recommend

Lovely pub restaurant . Friendly staff Good experience all round thanks

Really friendly, nice food, toilet terrible damp, obviously had issues with outside wall, but everything clean and lovely old fashioned pub.

A very enjoyable time spent there. Delicious meal, made very welcome by land lady.

Lovely meal here today with family, food was great, service friendly and nothing too much trouble

Excellent sunday lunch enjoyed by three of us thankyou

Fantastic staff. Fantastic food. Such a lovely traditional pub.

Great food and a lovely setting

Was nice but very slow serving short staffed need more staff so people return

I've started popping down here for a Corvette meet once a month.Very freindly staff and the food is supposed to be excellent so look forward to trying that out too.Really nice pub.

Great food, friendly staff. A really pleasant experience

This place has everything you hope a country pub will have. It has great food, a beer garden, polite friendly staff and a lively ambience to eat your food, or just have a drink in. It has a large carpark, with ample facilities and is a nice stop on any trip. It could do with some play equipment for the family crowd, but the beer garden is big enough for the kids to let steam off. All in all worth a trip.

Food is good, mo always makes you feel welcome.

Amazing food, quiet and welcoming

Lovely pub and friendly staff.Very disappointed with the beef Sunday roast. Beef was really tough and difficult to eat and roast potatoes tasted like the fat wasn’t hot enough and were too big. Vegetables were hard. Sorry to have report so negatively.

Friendly, great atmosphere and good beer

Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, excellent menu and food is very very good, will definitely go to Red Lion again 🤗😘😘

Good food looked after well by Mo

Excellent meal served by very friendly and helpful staff would not hesitate to recommend.

Nice and lovely pub on the main road, more or less halfway our walk this morning and afternoon. The menu choice is simple and well focused, the food prep executed to great standard and tasty. Seriously well worth the stop there. One downside: the toilets could do with a bit of refurbishment and upgrade - it would certainly then be easier to maintain... just a thought. Overall a good experience!

Food very good and pleasant staff.

Not only a pet friendly pub, but also very nice food, cold beers and friendly owners & staff!

Lovely food one of the best I had in a pub.Also the staff was so polite!a must go

Had a lovely meal here nice warm welcome when we arrived superb glass of malbec food was cooked to perfection we have booked already to return

Lovely pub. Food smells great. Must eat next time!

Sunday lunch £15 - pre sliced beef was tough / chewy and the roast potatoes were overcooked / hard (left in oven) with boiled swede and carrots - no green veg to speak of. Yorkshire pudding was large but dry. Musty smell generally and decor is tired.

We got lost after leaving the barely moving M25 traffic car park, but found this port in a storm. We were warmly welcomed to this haven! Much appreciated while we got reoriented.

Good fish menu and friendly staff service

Extremely disappointing experience today. The roast beef was so tough I had to tell the waitress and she replied ‘I’ll get you a sharper knife’ . Not only that, the person who I was with picked a long hair out of the vegetables- the broccoli was still attached to it when he was showing it to the manager. When complaint was made to the manager he replied ‘we don’t get complaints at this pub! What do you want me to do’ in an aggressive/defensive manner. If I could rate it 0 stars I would.

I did like the menu, but if the like fish meals it might be ok

Looks nice. Walked in. Not happy bar staff. Had a pint of Guinnes sat out side. Young lady said she would bring it out. Bought it out not even a here you go. Finished my pint left went to another pub. Shame. Really. Working up here for a few months and finding places to eat.

Lovely looking pub but crockery was not clean and furniture could do with a makeover. Staff was unfriendly. Didn't have food as they were not serving that day.

Extremely welcoming.good menu,something for everyone.food delicious and plentiful. Would visit again and recommend to book In the future.

Nice fish choices. There are also meat dishes for non fish eaters.

Attentive (i think he was anyway) owner/landlord, drinks arrived quickly, food was prompt & tasty, dessert was nice too, not crowded, would return.

Very old tired decor , pub smelled like damp rotting wood

We have been here twice. First time few years ago and they had delicious food. Amazing grill dishes. We came back this year and sadly it was taken from the menu. We had roast instead and it was small portions. Very tricky access if you are coming with a pram, also no disable access. Good size garden, nice food overall, polite staff. Has free parking. Cosy sitting area.

High quality lunchtime dining experience on very pleasant shaded garden terrace. Well worth a try if not been before.

Took my friend for a birthday meal. The food was amazing. A massive thank you to the chef Paul. Especially for making me a vegan risotto. 🌟

Gorgeous food and lovely covered seating in the garden. It made a lovely afternoon with the family. Scampi and chips were plentiful, mussels were amazing and the Red Lion Burgers were delicious. The staff were so kind, helpful and wonderfully attentive. Definitely be coming back.

Very nice friendly staff who make you feel welcomed and great food with good atmosphere would recommend.

Telephoned and booked a table for two, next Tuesday evening at 7.45 pm. Gentleman who took the booking was very polite, confirmed the table and said he was looking forward to seeing us. Great I thought, so baby sitter booked and we looked forward to our first meal out in over a year to celebrate missed birthdays and anniversary. LUCKILY I have just, by chance, seen a post on social media that mentions, for next week only, Tuesday is NO FOOD!! Do you not think it would be a good idea to mention this to people when they book a table??? I now have to try and find a table somewhere else to rescue the evening at short notice. I'm just so relieved we didn't just turn up on Tuesday! Lesson learned, good food doesn't mean good service. Nice one the Red Lion.

Telephoned and booked a table for two, next Tuesday evening at 7.45 pm. Gentleman who took the booking was very polite, confirmed the table and said he was looking forward to seeing us. Great I thought, so baby sitter booked and we looked forward to our first meal out in over a year to celebrate missed birthdays and anniversary. LUCKILY I have just, by chance, seen a post on social media that mentions, for next week only, Tuesday is NO FOOD!! Do you not think it would be a good idea to mention this to people when they book a table??? I now have to try and find a table somewhere else to rescue the evening at short notice. I'm just so relieved we didn't just turn up on Tuesday! Lesson learned, good food doesn't mean good service. Nice one the Red Lion.

Only been here once but great food and atmosphere, accommodating staffing and reasonable beer selection.

Fantastic place, Mo is such a nice guy and makes you feel so welcome.

Great food great services Staff are brilliant this is a must 👌

Food was mediocre. Sewer stench ruined it. People sitting inside during an indoor ban!

Food was average. My husband had Dover sole which was fresh and tasty but sauté potatoes were deep fried and oily. My burger was pretty tasteless. We were not asked if our food was ok. No Covid restrictions in place and 2 people were actually sitting at the bar drinking. This is breaking the rules.

Amazing food, drinks and staff!!!! :)

Disappointed with portion sizes. Vegetables didn't taste fresh and not enough of them. Left feeling hungry.

Perfect weather and a lunch with 5 friends. Good food, good atmosphere COVID safe. Very poor table service, mixed up orders, long wait and no individual bills. A bit of a shambles.

nice food but not much veg dont know why pubs or restaurants do this as they r not exspensive, seems petty to be mean with them

We met up at The Red Lion Margaretting for our first meeting with our daughter and her husband since last year and so glad we chose The Red Lion. The food, perfect, the welcome, perfect, covid safety, perfect.Thank you Red Lion staff for a perfect day we were under the canopy then moved to Table 7 for our coffee in the sun. The Frost/Jacob family.