The Red Lion Luton Pub in Luton

On 08/01/2025, we came here and ordered our first chicken, which was nice. Later, we ordered another chicken, but it was excessively salty. We complained to the staff, but they refused to address our concerns. The server who attended to us neglected our request and didn’t call the chef. When she returned, she suggested that we eat the chicken with the bones so the salty taste would diminish. It was very disappointing.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting The Red Lion in Luton, and I can confidently say it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The food was absolutely outstanding—each dish was bursting with flavor and expertly prepared. Whether you're craving classic pub fare or something a little more adventurous, the menu offers something for everyone, and the quality is top-notch. The service was impeccable. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, with a level of friendliness and attentiveness that truly made us feel like part of the family. It's rare to experience such genuine hospitality, and it really set the tone for a wonderful evening. The events at The Red Lion are always something special. Whether it’s a live music night or one of their themed events, there’s always something fun going on. The music, in particular, was fantastic—great local bands creating a lively atmosphere without being too overpowering, which allowed for the perfect mix of energy and comfort. What really stood out, though, was the sense of community. It’s clear that The Red Lion is more than just a pub; it’s a place where people come together to enjoy great food, great music, and great company. The staff truly makes you feel like family, and I can’t wait to return for another unforgettable night. Highly recommended!

Absolutely fantastic service, food and atmosphere. Staff are very humble, polite and very helpful. Food is excellent 👌

Amazing Food amazing staff never disappointed

It’s great finally have a proper Indian Restaurant in Luton! No need to travel down to North London for the same great cuisine anymore. Staff are more than welcoming catering for all the customers needs. Hopefully this is a start for other branches to be opened Luton in the future! ;)

After a long wait for a good Indian restaurant in Luton we finally got one. Good food, music and ambience.

Outstanding food in Luton well in par with places in London Everything was just perfect Thank u

Honestly, I don't know much about Indian food so when my friend asked me for recommendations, I didn't know what to say. But now it changed with this amazing hotel restaurant. Located just a 10-minute drive from Luton Airport and very close to the city center, it’s definitely on my favourite Their Lamb Jalfrezi and Butter Chicken, served with garlic naan, were incredible—succulent, tender, and bursting with flavor. I also enjoyed their Blossoming Lotus mocktail and a rich Belgian Chocolate Pudding.The staff were attentive and friendly. Highly recommend.

Cups and cutlery dirty. The food was both undercooked and burnt while being cold. Very disappointed!

We went for food in a group of 10 people. We didn't stay in the hotel. We ordered food from the Indian menu and it was very good. On par with the places in north London. Drinks were good as well. Service was good, but could be better, nothing to ruin the evening. Parking was tight, there are only very limited spots in their car park, but there is plenty around the area, which means you might have to walk and use a pay and display car park.

My recent stay at the Red Lion Inn in Luton was unfortunately a deeply underwhelming experience. While the restaurant offered a pleasant dining experience with good food and service, the state of the hotel room was unacceptable. Firstly, the room allocation system was confusing, with rooms named instead of numbered, making navigation through the inn feel more like navigating a maze. This disorientation was exacerbated by numerous "multiple ways out" signs, yet only one viable exit was accessible. The cleanliness of the room was a major concern. With ongoing renovation work, the room felt less like a place to stay and more like a construction site. Dust and debris were evident, and the bathroom suffered from two separate instances of water leakage from the ceiling. It appeared the rooms were not yet ready for occupancy, a fact that was regrettably overlooked during our stay. Given the significant shortcomings in the hotel room quality, we must rate our stay at the Red Lion Inn as a 1-star experience.

The room was clean but very old. The bathroom floor was swollen and the carpet was stained. Otherwise it was clean and the staff was friendly

Indian food is spot on, really great. Tasty meals, large portions and great service

Been using the red lion pub hotel for twenty years almost. I'm quite happy still with the pub it's self & change of management. I'm so happy to have an open pub with an Indian food section run by professionals lovely place to be anytime for any occasion. Very polite friendly helpful staff you can't ask for more it seems to be good in here tonight on a Sunday. Would recommend.

Ordered Indian food from here for the first time. Excellent food, so tasty and delicious. Mixed Grill was incredible. Being very fussy with my food, I give this place 10/10. Thank you! Look forward to trying more dishes.

Recommended by a friend and certainly didn’t disappoint. Traditional Indian cuisine at a reasonable price. Amazing food.

We were with a group of people celebrating a birthday on 30/11/2024. Everyone said that their meals were very good and quite tasty and reasonably priced. The service was very good and the staff quite attentive and asking us if everything was good and satisfactory for us. We answered in the affirmative each time we were asked.

Last night I was with my friends to the pub we loved the vibe. We had the best bollywood DJ night in Luton, also on our request they played the songs we wanted to dance on. Very good staff, great customer service. Loved it. Will be regularly visiting.

Indian food lovely and spicy the cheese chilli naan is recommended but the drinks are London price.

Reading the reviews some seem somewhat unfair. I popped in to what I thought was *the red lion * for it now to be under new management- must of missed that change over. Stuck with it and ordered a breakfast . Breakfast was fine - egg wasn't runny which i personally like with a breakfast unless otherwise stated. Pork items on the menu so possibly have changed since the take over as previous reviews state no pork 🤷🏻‍♀️ Reviews moaning about pricing... small breakfast was 5 pound. Fine by me . Although I'm not here eating in the evening I've looked at the menu and the pricing all seems fair , burgers 10er approx. It is now indian run pub/restaurant so main menu had changed from the British pub and again all pricing on the curry's match that of a few I've been to in the area. Pop in and give it a chance- I wouldn't totally agree with those bad reviews - it's just adapting to a big change 4 the normal regular clientele ...

Warm ambiance. Wonderful food. Enjoyed my pint 🍻

Don't know the state of the rooms as I did not stay over. Used to be a decent pub back in the day, however, now its more of a desi sports pub/bar - Indian Food, Beer and Sports events. Only ever watched football here so not sure about PPV events. Have been here a few times now to watch the football, beer and food with and without family and have to say the mixed grill is on point as is the service. Thank you!

A brilliant place we just really stumbled across. Highly recommend

Amazing service loved the food must recommend for costumer service is was amazing nad the food yyyy I never try the best food in luton is the best in all thank you for good night with my family

We were a party of 10 who decided to try out the restaurant at this venue.the service was excellent as was the food The chef and management went an extra mile to cook quantity to suit our party of 10, which was very well appreciated . We had a great evening. Only concern is parking. But managed to find a NCP nearby.

I just had an amazing dinner with family and friends. This place was much needed in Luton. It has it's own parking. The service, atmosphere and food is exceptionally good. Very friendly staff. Food did take time but it was made fresh to the order. We will be eating from here more often.

Just been to the restaurant this evening. The staff where amazing, friendly and attentive. We had ordered starter which where made to order and where very tasty, however it did take time to arrive at our table, but was worth the wait. We then ordered our mains and they where also very nice, portion sizes where decent too. This is a great Indian Pub and will be coming back in the future.

We visited restaurant 2nd time thought will give them benefit of doubt from first time OMG does this waitress don’t understand what service is? Full off attitude If you remeber Little Britain “Computer Says No” this is it!! Wife had booked her birthday with her friends she is cancelling that booking It’s a shame this can be a great indian venue, we came here follow up from Club 2000 this is diabolical service It’s bloody hard work explaining to her, she goes we are very busy there’s hardly 30 customers on a Friday night I would be embarrassed to recommend to some of my friends and family, it’s a shame we were looking forward to a proper indian in Luton apart for Papa J’s which people have their own opinion on that venue Sadly You have lost our custom

It is what it is, don't be a female at the bar as you'll be over looked to the locals. No bar etiquette.

Unfortunately a very bad hotel to stay, please avoid to stay here. Very close to Luiton airport. Employe was friendly.

Water is dripping from the ceiling in the bathroom and not going down the drain. Every noise from outside could be heard loudly from the hotel room. Room smelled suspiciously strong of air freshener.

Room not available, not clean, not as described. Total disappointment.

Great food menu with a variety of curries and burgers. Tasty food

I found the Red Lion on a long layover at Luton airport. The owners and staff are so friendly and kind! The food was delicious! And prices for food and beer were very reasonable! £9 for huge breakfast and pints of Guinness for £6 😮 Highly recommend 😄

Went here for lunch and had the paneer wrap, it was really tasty, but the panneer unfortunately was cold. Service was really good and friendly.

Very friendly and welcoming. Recommendation from lady at the bar was spot on, just right. Lovely food. Thank you for a lovely meal and drink. 😊

had the lunch menu, the curry tray was IMMENSE. Could share btwn two. It defeated me.

I used to frequent this pub regularly and it was once a shining example of British pub culture—a true cornerstone of the community. Unfortunately, my recent visits over the past two weeks have been deeply disappointing. The transformation of this establishment is startling, and not in a good way. The staff, who used to be welcoming and professional, are now rude and unprofessional. Just yesterday, I witnessed an appalling scene where one of the main bartenders was shouting at three waitresses in full view of paying customers. This kind of behavior is unacceptable in any establishment, let alone one that prides itself on its history. It’s clear that management has lost control and that professionalism has been thrown out the window. Additionally, the atmosphere has become anything but relaxing. On several occasions, I’ve tried to catch up on work emails after business meetings, only to be interrupted constantly by staff or patrons, creating an uncomfortable, chaotic environment. What’s perhaps most disappointing is the direction they've taken with the menu and ambiance. The pub has been awkwardly converted into a tacky imitation of an Indian restaurant. It feels like it’s trying to cater to drunk patrons who want a novelty experience rather than offering quality food and a pleasant atmosphere. If you're genuinely craving Indian food, there are far better, more authentic options nearby. Overall, this place has lost all the charm and character that once made it special. If you're looking for a cozy spot to enjoy a quiet evening or catch up with friends, I recommend supporting one of the many other local establishments that still respect their customers and their heritage.

I used to frequent this pub regularly and it was once a shining example of British pub culture—a true cornerstone of the community. Unfortunately, my recent visits over the past two weeks have been deeply disappointing. The transformation of this establishment is startling, and not in a good way. The staff, who used to be welcoming and professional, are now rude and unprofessional. Just yesterday, I witnessed an appalling scene where one of the main bartenders was shouting at three waitresses in full view of paying customers. This kind of behavior is unacceptable in any establishment, let alone one that prides itself on its history. It’s clear that management has lost control and that professionalism has been thrown out the window. Additionally, the atmosphere has become anything but relaxing. On several occasions, I’ve tried to catch up on work emails after business meetings, only to be interrupted constantly by staff to order more, creating an uncomfortable environment. What’s perhaps most disappointing is the direction they've taken with the menu and ambiance. The pub has been awkwardly converted into a tacky imitation of an Indian restaurant. It feels like it’s trying to cater to drunk patrons who want a novelty experience rather than offering quality food and a pleasant atmosphere. If you're genuinely craving Indian food, there are far better, more authentic options nearby. Overall, this place has lost all the charm and character that once made it special. If you're looking for a cozy spot to enjoy a quiet evening or catch up with friends, I recommend supporting one of the many other local establishments that still respect their customers and their heritage.

Had dinner here 3 evenings, it was really nice.Fish and chips so good I did not wish to have any thing different. Staff very nice, I wish them luck in The Red lion. We were over from Ireland.

It ain't a British bup no more, so don't be mistaken.

Popped in for a quick drink. Ended up staying for a while as staff were so friendly and welcoming. Food is very tasty. You get what you pay for.

Great venue, helpful staff, and beautiful people, would recommend to one and all

We were told about this place by our friends, the Indian food here is delicious. New owners have brought in a fantastic menu. Food is of a very high standard. Staff are very attentive and friendly. Try it out!!

Agreed with them my arrival time at 11pm, paid the room in advance but once there the doors were shut down and no one pick up the phone. I've put in a complain 2 months ago for a refund but not yet received.

We used to come here every Friday for burgers/drinks for around £25 only to find new owners wanting to charge us over £50 for burger+chips x2 with 2 drinks. Usually heaving with people but was practically empty, no wonder why. Completely ruined this pub and atmosphere

Stole our cash while cleaning our room. Rooms very dirty, left a condom wrapper on nightstand AFTER cleaning, during our stay. Host asked for a Google review after 15 mins of arriving, kept calling while writing the review.

Breakfast remains the same. But £2.90 for a small glass of soda water.

5 This was an excellent food and brilliant service. All staff very friendly with kindness totally recommend that you take a look and try the food. We had the Chicken tikka Massala with garlic Nan and pilau rice. Very tasty best curry I’ve had in ages.

I had to book the Red Lion literally last minute as I was let down by another hotel. Turns out the The Red Lion is quite a find. It's in a very central location right next to Luton centre. The room we had was very comfortable and we both had a good nights sleep. The service was friendly. I would recommend this hotel. Very good value for money.

We went to the restaurant as a birthday treat. I had said to my partner that I had stopped using the restaurant, years ago & to go in with an open mind. Within 5 minutes she had recognised what was wrong with the restaurant ! Some things never change ! The staff within this restaurant are rude which takes away from the eating experience. The food is delivered like it’s on a conveyor belt & the orders taken & delivered with a scowl & a grunt . My partner left the majority of her food & it was just taken away without a word of whether the meal was ok or would we like to take it home . The food was reasonable but the staff are horrible at their jobs leaving a sour taste in your mouth . I’m all for second chances … but Red Chilli is still a place with rude staff & a restaurant without any class or ambience. We won’t be returning!

Been coming here for the last 6 months. I'm here today with different owners and the beer has gone up £1.50 a pint. Place is empty which it never used to be. Looking at other reviews another old English pub destroyed

The most fabulous food and service. Strong recommend the Indian mix grill

We went on Sunday for a roast , but its got new owners .So now it’s an Asian menu . Did not fancy a curry on a Sunday . Place nice and clean but hardly any one in there . Another traditional pub gone 😞

Omg 40 for two pints and one curry, shop brought naan and they had never hurd of perswari naan nd pila rice which has been took literally as pea rice 🤣🤣 avoid at all cost. Used to be my fav pub in town. Avoid there are some real Indian restaurants in luton. Avoid!!!!

The menu has changed not for the good

Great place... Great new management...really recommend this place

This used to be such a nice restaurant however it has recently changed hands and tends to focus on Indian food, I would not visit there again and I believe that they will lose a lot of trade.

It was soooooo badly Toilet not working 😕 😑 😒 I can't believe I keep myself until morning with very difficult Than I go to Luton airport Toilet

Excellent breakfast, really good value for money, good staff

Went for a lunchtime drink .Clean pub has been refurbished. Reasonable prices

My experience was good so overall it's a good place.

was served by megan quick service amazing food amazing quality definitely will be coming back

Visited this place quite a few times now & I must say Megan is a lovely member of your team at red lion with great customer service from her & she always has a smile on her face.

The waiter that has sparkle tattoo on her left eye of her face has not been served us.she was so rude and not even talked us properly as a customer service. She told us that she was gonna kick us out. Not talking to customers and be mean cause a lot of impact not to come some other time. Never thinking to come again. We’ll definitely tell to others people not to come in. Thanks,

Have visited this pub multiple times and been served by Megan who really showed good customer service and was very helpful everytime.

Had dinner here this evening and was served by the amazing Kelsey and Megan’s, the food was fantastic and the service by the girls was brilliant. So kind and caring, will definitely be back!

Just went in on Saturday morning for a full English and coffee, both were very good, will certainly go again.

Very dirty, the dust hasn't been wiped off for months, the mirror is splattered, the glass in the shower is full of limestone, the carpet is dirty, it's an old room but the cleanliness is 0. plus, if you want to check in at 3:00 p.m. sooner, they charge you 10 lira, the staff behaves it's cold

Had food here and it was good . Service wasn't so good . When the young lady put the food on the table she said "if you want cutlery or condiments there over there " The price paid for the food I would expect the cutlery and condiments to be bought to the table .

The bar is great, they serve good food at affordable prices. Despite no prior reservation, we got a table and the staff easily played the match we were interested in.

Perfect location, nice staff who were helpful. The rooms are definitely ok too. A place you want to return to.

Only came for breakfast as I was attending the local parkrun event at Wardown Park. Lovely food, staff were very friendly and just had a really nice atmosphere! Would come again when back in the area (I don't come to the area often otherwise would use it more). Anyway, I highly recommend it!

Good bar and hotel, nice food, televisions everywhere. Good place to chill after a long day

Lovely Mid-day Brekkie Thanks Brad for serving us and going above and beyond!

Stayed in hotel staff very friendly rooms were very clean atmosphere inside the pub was nice had some food which couldn’t be faulted. Would recommend.

Won't be back all the mirrors were dirty

Been for food and drinks only. Solid pub with a reasonable drinks selection. Prices are competitive for the area and the staff are friendly. The food is also reasonable, although nothing special. They generally show the sport with lots of screens.

You have to run around in the shower to get wet. I left a new hair grooming kit behind, when I booked out. When I phoned about it, the answer I received was, "nothing has been handed in". The room cleaning staff were not even asked. I really don't recommend this hotel

Lovely service from the staff, specially Meg who showed me to my room and settles me in lovely

Great oura around the property, food and drink stood out compared to local competiotion, Megan was especially friendly behind the bar

Great hotel to stay in while working away and great staff in the bar area highly recommended

Very attentive staff came with free extras like pigs in blankets, etc. Christmas hats, crackers, and such like are all included.

Did not stay at the hotel, but had coffee, food and drinks. Very happy with the super friendly team. Drinks were great, food was amazing - Fish and Chips were the best. Great looking pub with a central location. Great idea to have a pool room too.Thank you Polly and the team.

Amazing team! Attentive and thorough with our teams needs. Always welcoming and happy to have us! Cheers to Krish and Polly and team!

Excellent PUB, allez-y ça vaut le détour surtout un jour de match de football ! Très bonne ambiance.

Visited as have not been for some time and has been reopened after refurbishment. The food itself wasn’t too bad but the service provided was appalling. The staff behind the bar did not have a clue what they were doing and obviously hadn’t had any training. Stood for ages before being served. Had no idea how to operate the till, pressing the screen continually and then having to ask someone else what to do. Asked for a pint of Doom Bar. Pump spluttered everywhere so chose something else. Another staff member told the server the Doom Bar was off. Why didn’t she already know before taking the order. You order a burger with no onion and then get asked sorry was that no bacon. I had to point out on the shelves where particular brands of spirit were. You say no ice in the drink and then get asked if you want ice ! Point out on the menu which bottle of wine you want, get charged 50p more than is stated and instead of correcting the bill, get told the menu is wrong . Don’t care about 50p but this is not proper customer service. Would have thought that after doing the place up, they would be doing everything to encourage return visits but won’t be going back anytime soon.

Food was poor quality and cold, poor service as staff need training in customer care. Ordered mixed grill after receiving food asked for mustard only to advise they did not have any. Very poor management

I came to this place in december for christmas Last year and the service is really warm and welcoming and all the the staff have a friendly lovable warm approach if the is a problem must govand check the Redlion luton out its a great Pub.😁. I deffo missed going there recently as the pub was due for an up date cant wait tp go back . 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Leavers lunch .Food was pre ordered and came out on time all together .One meal was missed and came out later but they agreed to not pay for this meal .Service was good and manager came over to say hello and asked us to leave a review .He was friendly and dressed smart. Garden area is nice and the food is really good value

Great food, great drinks, great service, great experience. Everything was perfect thanks for a great day

The venue would have scored a 5 if it was called Karen’s diner. The food and drink was broadly in line with expectations and was fine. The atmosphere was nice and pleasant. In a Karen’s diner the service would be exceptional. Even if a note was included to let you know you’d be made to feel like an inconvenience you’d probably be ok. But without any prior warning it comes as quite a surprise when you’re grunted at. With a drink missing from your order you’d expect it to be quite an easy fix. But not in this place. It’s very much your problem. Once the situation is established it’s ok as you can appropriately set your expectations. But should definitely put some signs up so you know.

Rat infested Kip. Visited this afternoon to have dinner which we had to cut short when a rat ran across the floor. The bar man explained that he had spent £700 today having the place exterminated and that all rats had been eliminated. Clearly not.

Went there with family on Saturday!! I’ve passed by lots of times but I never really had the time and it’s not a place I would normally think of so my mistake. 6 family members decided to go there on Saturday and all of us with varied tastes especially the two younger members. The service was excellent , the food was excellent and everything was eaten!! The 12 year old even managed to polish off the quad burger. It was so good 3 of us returned the next day for a light lunch. Friendly , clean , fast with excellent food and the sane girl served us and nothing was too much trouble. Will definitely be back !!!

Been here 3 times in the last 2 weeks food is always very good and hot. chef at lunch time is top class.will be going again next week.

Got moved to a table with plates still on it, waiter came 4 or 5 times and still didn’t clear. Customer service not very good.

Had breakfast here. £4.99 for 2 sausage, 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 hash browns, mushrooms, beans, half a tomato and toast. Really tasty and excellent service.

Okay first day pub to open decided to book a table at the red luton, What a mistake this was got in their order some drinks order some food and then carried on as usual 40 minutes into this the chef came over and told us we were too loud so we did decide okay quieten down let’s not get thrown out Arsenal were on the telly And three lads behind us we are watching the game Arsenal scored they cheered they threw all of us out what a quality pub no I was in there no I was doing anything wrong just some power crazy women what a first class joke with priorties l they have their role is to stick to we was all doing this pub will never change I think they’re more concerned about being a bit powerful than common sense well done the red lion in Luton

Thought l would drop in as revisiting Luton, just had a pint sorry to say but young girl was clueless and needed prompting from a drunk at the bar to check my £20 note not a problem. Though can see why it was empty

Love this pub for quick snack and good wine after doing shopping. Staff friendly and good service....gets very busy at weekends deffo worth a visit.