The Red Lion Public House in Chichester

Astonishingly shocking evening at The Red Lion. For a pub that markets itself as 'family and pet friendly to the extreme' it is anything but. Avoid avoid avoid. Having arrived after an afternoon of unanticipated delays we had a hungry toddler and a hungry dog. Booking this pub on the basis of this very bold statement, front and centre on its website, I expected to be onto a winner. Upon arrival, the children's menu consisted of two meal options neither of which particularly nutritious we opted for a smaller portion of an adult's dish. However, when my son asked for a child's meal because he has less of an appetite, he wasn't allowed and had to order an adult dish. We asked if the kitchen could possibly slice an extra piece of ham or cook off a sausage or chicken breast to tide the pup over (chargable of course) but was told it wouldn't be possible. Another man then came to the table to say the same with frankly rude, patronising comments such as "we expect dog owners to feed their dogs at home" despite having explained the circumstances. We then asked to order another main meal (at full cost) that they could hold back the extras on basically so the pup could have the meat and were refused. His explanation was simply idiotic, we were offering to pay full menu price for either a burger patty or slices of ham! That aside, the tone taken was shocking. And for a pub that professes to be dog friendly to the extreme, I am afraid having a few stale dog biscuits on the bar doesn't quite cut it. The meal we had was mediocre, the service very slow and the most enjoyed part was the sticky toffee pudding and crumble for dessert. Avoid this pub at all costs if you are a family and there are actual, real dog friendly pubs around that even have a little doggy menu...maybe do some market research Red Lion and see what 'dog friendly to the extreme' really means. The man that was serving shouldn't be anywhere near customers, he's single handedly put us off for good and we will be spreading the word.

Only had a quick drink but very friendly staff.

Great country pub, we met friends here and really enjoyed our lunch , the food was good with sensible portions, the beers were well kept and the surroundings were homely and clean. The staff were friendly and helpful, we will definitely visit again.

Visited after a walk. Dog friendly. Lovely old pub with low ceilings and a friendly atmosphere.

We stumbled across this pub by accident and what a lucky accident it was! Despite being very close to the end of their lunchtime, we were still served with fabulous food, cooked beautifully. The staff were all really friendly and I’m only sorry we live nowhere near here, otherwise we’d be back!

Great food and friendly service

Superb ambiance and service. Good was amazing as well - calamari was not at all chewy and the sea bass was juicy. Loved the experience. Mark was, especially, very helpful in organising all the arrangements for our largish 15 people group.

Mark and Annie are the perfect hosts, they have transformed this pub since they took over. They even love dogs. The food here is absolutely delicious with a main menu and a specials board. There is a steak night each week and regular Thai nights plus special events from time to time, which are so well organised. These days it's essential to book because word has spread and often all tables are reserved. Delicious food, friendly service, great atmosphere and beautiful location in a picturesque village. What's not to love.

I had the roast beef Sunday lunch and I can honestly say it was the best beef I have ever tasted, as were the cheesy leeks. I was dining alone, a first for me, but the staff made me feel very comfortable. I would definitely recommend this pub for a Sunday lunch

Great fish and chips for a Friday lunch. Best I’ve had in a long time. Really nice citrus tasting keg beer too. Friendly welcome.

Lovely old pub I've been going to for over 35 years. Nice food at a reasonable price, good service.

This looks like a lovely pub ( I didn't go inside) but the garden out the front is lovely. We never ate there but the menu looks very good

Our regular Sunday lunch venue. warm and friendly welcome, beautifully cooked and presented meals (weekday meals are incredible too).... Booking recommended I think! Just look at the desert pictures.....

Has some good points,very clean,pleasant situation, friendly bar maid

A very enjoyable visit. Lovely benches in the sun at the front of the lovely old pub and then we moved into a secluded secret garden at the back which was packed with cottage plants. The food was great, good quality and fresh. The staff were extremely friendly and the cocktail special was definitely a bonus on a hot sunny evening! One of our new favourite places 😍

We’ve been coming to The Red Lion for a midweek lunch on and off for a few months now, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. We are always greeted with a welcoming smile from the lovely and friendly staff. Weather permitting we often opt to sit outside at the back under the trees in their lovely and beautiful garden. The food is just simply delicious (the Dirty Burger and the Ham, Egg & Chunky Fries are consistently scrumptious). We highly recommend The Red Lion for a wonderful culinary experience and a peaceful afternoons outing!

Amazing pub, super good food. Is our must go place on every visit to the UK. A authentic local pub in an absolutely beautiful village. You should enjoy one of the many walks throw the forest to finish with a delicious meal and a good beer in this pub. They have a lovely garden at the back, in a sunny day is a dream to have lunch out there.

The best pub in the area. Is our must in every visit to UK. The soup of the day is always a must. And the chicken pie is fantastic.

Lovely meal in the gorgeous garden, staff couldn't have been more friendly

Great pub, food and selection of beers. Visited on a Sunday and had the roast beef, everything cooked to perfection. Generous portions, welcoming staff with great service to go with it. Thank you to the team for making our visit a memorable one.

One of the great, out of the way, village pubs. This one exceeds in its bigger than usual Fullers menu, it lovely staff and its beautiful welcome.

Old village pub on green. The menu was good. Parking round the green.

The Red Lion in Fernhurst is a quintessential English pub that promises a delightful experience for all who visit. Nestled in the heart of the village, this charming establishment boasts a warm and welcoming atmosphere that's perfect for a relaxing drink. With a well-stocked bar offering a variety of quality ales and beverages, patrons can enjoy their favorites in a cozy setting or in the picturesque beer garden. The attentive and friendly staff ensure that every visit is memorable, making The Red Lion a must-visit destination in Haslemere. Whether you're a local or just passing through, a stop at this pub is sure to add a touch of joy to your day. While they are known for their food, it's the ambiance and service that truly shine, providing an exceptional pub experience without even a mention of the menu. A gem in the countryside, The Red Lion is a place where good times and great memories are made.

What a cute pub in the small village of Lurgashall, excellent at all levels. The food is sublime, service fast and one gets a welcoming guest. Large car park nearby for cricket games. Definitely a come back

Great to return to after a walk in the Surrey hills

Mark and his team looked after our party of nine incredibly well after our long walk. The service was second to none, polite, friendly and accommodating. The food was prompt and enjoyed by all. Highly recommend this pub, well worth a visit and a few hours of your time 😊

Booked months ago with menu choices for a birthday celebration and Mothers Day. The night before the meal we were informed we could not have our food choices and it was just beef or lamb. Food on the day was of poor quality, chewy stringy beef and very few potatoes which were hard .. also the food was lukewarm. A real letdown.. won’t be returning.

It was like a rest home for the elderly

We had pre-booked a table for 8 people for a family meal out for Mothers Day and my nephews birthday. My husband and I arrived with our 5 month old and I had brought a birthday cake that I had made for my nephew. I politely explained that we were with the large party booking and asked whether it would be possible for them to look after the cake for us and bring it out at the end of the meal. A man, who I assume was the landlord, quite rudely said that we should have asked in advance about whether we were allowed to bring the cake which left us feeling extremely awkward, unwelcome and quite confused as to what difference this would have made. He begrudgingly took the cake from us and we were left to find our own way to the table. We were asked to pre-order our food but were given menus which didn’t have one of the roast dinners that we’d pre-ordered on it so some of us had to order something else. This wasn’t too much of an issue. Sadly what was an issue was the standard of the food. The majority of us had either roast beef or roast lamb. The meat was extremely tough and un-appetising. My husband had the vegetarian curry which looked like a couple of spoonfuls of the veg leftover from the roast had been tossed into some curry sauce… all for an eye watering cost of £17. Some of us orderded some desserts and then we asked for the cake to be brought out, a moment my nephew really enjoyed, however sadly it ended on a sour note. When the bill arrived we were astounded to see that they had added £1 per person for a “cake charge”. When the landlord was tackled about this he advised that they “had to take on extra labour to bring the cake out and give us plates”. Very bizarre and sadly put a dampener on what was meant to be a lovely family afternoon. There were also no baby change facilities here, which for us wasn’t great seeing as we had travelled for over an hour to get there with a 5 month old and had the same journey back and nowhere to change him. On a positive note, the waiteess that served us was excellent. It’s a shame that the landlord can’t take a few tips in how to deal with customers from her. His hospitality skills left a lot to be desired and for this and the poor food, we would not return. Looking at previous reviews I see that the landlords response to negative feedback seems to mirror his poor unwelcoming attitude that we experienced first hand today. This is a shame and I hope that my review and feedback from today is taken in the spirit that it is meant.. in orcer to try and improve future customers experience. Sadly we will not be one of them.

The Red Lion Fernhurst is a traditional and comfortable English pub, offering a friendly welcome, a roaring wood burning fire and an enviable view of the picturesque green, in the hamlet of Fernhurst, nestling beneath the beautiful South Downs national park. Sumptuous Roasts are served on Sundays ( far easier than cooking ). During the week a wide variety of meals are on the menu, eg calves liver bacon and mash, or perhaps a delicious choice of amazing pies, gorgeous deserts.... Highly recommended!!

We did a 10 mile walk and went here after for lunch, I seriously loved it! The homemade pie was amazing, as was the halloumi fries as a starter. The sticky toffee pudding wasn't quite as good but they still get 10/10 for how stunning the main and starter were. The staff were beyond friendly, helping every step of the way. I'd definitely come back again. Just make sure to arrive before 2pm, when they stop taking food orders.

Should be a beautiful pub, location is stunning and handy for local walks but sadly really rude and unwelcoming staff. Such a shame, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend a visit if you are hoping to get good service.

I visited the pub in mind January, it was a lovely country pub style and friendly staffs. They have indoor and outdoor areas. The kitchen closed after lunch time around 3 o’clock and would be open again around 5 o’clock for the dinner time, if I didn’t get it wrong (Checking with the pub again when you arrive👌🏽) which was fine because the bar still opened for us to order the drinks. Nice place to stop after a hike. 👍🏽

I visited this pub with my group of 13 hikers. As soon as I walked in and told the dark haired lady behind the bar that we came in for drink only (it was 3pm after all), she started being rude. She sent us to sit outside (in January), which was ok with us as we really only wanted to stop for a drink. My friend tripped over a small and a pretty invisible step which lead to the garden (health & safety procedure of step visibility is definitely not followed here) and fell on the floor carrying hot pot of tea. This could have ended in a burnt injury, but luckily she "only" hurt her leg and hip. Please make this step visible to prevent others from tripping over it! The bar lady came to see us and immediately shouted "you are not allowed to eat your packed lunches here", we didn't (it was 3pm and we already ate our lunch 2 hours ago". The only person who took her cake out was my friend, the one who felt on the floor with the red hot tea pot. She was in a shock and needed sugar to calm her down and she was in bad pain. The pub lady shouted at her "you are not allowed to eat your cake here" knowing she just hurt herself. I found this behavior absolutely disgusting. What a bad way of running a pub! This is no way of treating your customers and you should be ashamed of your behaviour!

We were a group of hikers passing by, decided to make a quick stop in your establishment in the afternoon. People of various nationalities we were (I feel like this information is relevant), including few natives, hoping for a quick and pleasant break in what looked like a lovely local pub. However, we received unbelievably rude treatment and intimidating 'service'. Inturders we were, to say the least, to your staff. We still ordered couple of teas and beers. Intimidating service continued outside, we were asked to put a few of our snacks away which, we respectfully did. Around 8 times in a row older lady and after another staff kept continuously checking on us and treated us like a little naughty teenagers. One member of our group also had an incident, she fell while she was bringing her tea outside. They did ask if she was okay, thankfully she seemed fine. After 10-15 minutes we were ready to continue with our journey. I think the staff then realized they went too far with their hostility and on the way out thanked us for our custom. Is this how you treat your patrons? I never felt so uncomfortable in an english pub, hands down.

I came to the red lion where I have visited a few times to meet my friend for some drinks. However was very disappointed as seems as was met by a very rude barman I was later informed that this gentleman was in charge whilst the usual owners were on holiday. Very disappointed to see this is how they leave their pub in charge

Great pub with lovely owners! The garden is really cute too with a nice outdoor fire ☺️

Proper country pub. Games and good beer, changed recently seems it wants to be a restaurant rather than a pub. Not been for a while, the food is way better and it has its old feel back.

After a lovely walk in the countryside, we ended up here for lunch, we were put in a little private room out the back, which would've been lovely, If it wasn't so cold, there was a useless electric fire on the wall that gave out no heat! the staff were lovely. The service was good, but the food was average. The veg curry was small and tasteless with a big bowl of rice, my friends that had the roast beef said it was lovely but the veg was poor and the desserts were also very average.

Great place for a pint and pub food.

Was a quiet lunchtime, but enjoyable. Donna, and colleagues were very welcoming.

The new owners are terrific, I had great fish and chips with a fresh London Pride, thank you Mark and Annie Hertford misses you.

Had a lovely meal and staff were very polite

Enjoyed a lovely lunchtime get together with some friends at the Red Lion today. Beautiful pub, facing the village green. Proper, traditional pub atmosphere, a fine choice of well kept ales and delicious food. Warm welcome and friendly service from Mark the landlord and his staff. Highly recommended. We will be back.

Really nice place. Some WiFi if you need to work. Really good on a sunny day as the outside is good

We stopped here on the way back from Peppa Pig world for a family lunch. We had the steak pie, not one to ever go for a pie but it was raining and cold and seemed like a good idea. Well....what a great idea. It was gorgeous, the kids ate everything too. My wives pie got devoured by my 3 year old testament to how nice it was. The beer was also good. I had a new Spanish brew (can't remember the name even though I googled it) it was that good. Would recommend, service nice and nice ambience.

Very good, popped in on a Sunday lunchtime for a pint and a roast after a walk. Lovely food.

Nice pub. Popped in for a pint and side of chips. Very nice.

Decent food. Great atmosphere inside and a lovely beer garden front and back. Everything you could hope for from a local village pub in a beautiful setting.

Really nice location for a pub on a spring day. We just stopped for a drink, but food looks good too

Found this place whilst adventuring in our camper and looking for a bluebell walk. Arrived about 2.40pn on Sunday, enquired about food and told kitchen closed at three, but there was roast beef available, so we promptly ordered two. It arrived promptly, generous portions and delicious! Staff were really friendly too.

Une très bonne adresse. Personnel sympathique et souriant. Pub et jardin très agréables pour manger et boire une bière. Bon choix de bières.

Spent a lovely evening here. Friendly and welcoming staff. Great food and service.

Nice ambience, lovely staff but food was average.

Friendly service reasonable prices. Great garden for the sunny days. Even in the winter this place gets 5 stars

Couldn’t get a much better ‘local’ pub. Great location to start/finish a walk around the local countryside or just for a visit for a relaxing drink or meal. Nice selection of well kept real ales, lagers, ciders etc served by friendly and attentive staff and not forgetting the great food. Definitely worth a visit.

A lovely old fashioned pub. Visited for lunch. Selection of good typical pub food. Fish and chips were very good, as were the bangers and mash. Staff very attentive and friendly. Good range of Ales. Pride was excellent. Dog friendly too.

I don’t like to leave negative reviews as everyone in the hospitality industry has enough problems but would advise to go somewhere else if you have small children. I ended up spending my time in the car park in tears after being utterly humiliated and made to feel unwelcome by a member of staff for daring to walk across the pub with my 2 year old. It’s hard having a toddler for a meal. I get they can be disruptive and had he been noisy of course I would have left anyway had he been screaming or anything but he wasn’t. I want to support the pubs in these difficult times but now to afraid to even try anywhere now.

From stepping in the door we had a very warm welcome by the ladies behind the bar. The service was excellent quick and efficient. We were checked on throughout our meal. The main meals were excellent. We were in a group of five and for pudding two had coffee, one had the Salted Cheesecake, which I definitely recommend! And two had the Raspberry meringue, this I would definitely NOT order. In the middle of the dish there was a scoop of ice cream with a 1/4 of a strawberry 🍓 on top with the rest placed around the dish and four of the smallest meringue dots ever. This cost £7.95!!! We did question our server about the cost of the pudding and she said that she would speak to the manager and come back to us. We were just presented with the bill and no explanation of why it was so expensive! Apart from that we had a lovely time there I recommend you visit this pub.

2022, New Review Just as great as ever, food excellent, ambience superb, unmissable. Welcome to Fernhurst, Mark and Annie!!!!

Very characteristic establishment, friendly atmosphere, a lovely garden area. We were very well looked after and our Sunday lunch was delicious. Definitely on the "revisit list"

Tuesday Steak night with a little extra! We booked an early dinner as it was Steak Night - available between 18:00-21:00 Jan-Nov. The service was relaxed and friendly. Ordering was simple. Whilst they offer mini-starters and desserts, we all know we wanted a steak. 6oz of 28 day aged meat, chips, peas, mushrooms and onion rings, In fairly short order, the steaks arrived (no starters for us) and we tucked in to flavoursome meat: lovely! The chips and peas were good. The mushrooms a little plain but fine. The onion rings looked like they had been overdone, having quite a dark batter by tv the tasted fine. The mesl comes with a glass of wine or beer. We had a soft drink too (Pepsi on tap or you can have bottled Coke). Followed that up with a pleasant sticky toffee pudding which was served slightly warm with lovely shaped decorations. I managed to remember to photograph that (oops!), the menu an DC the bill. Good meal- not enough meat if you are a big chappie but more than enough for a pleasant date night. Thor star of the evening must be the staff. All were friendly, welcoming and not too gastro-pub pushy. All done in old fashioned surroundings in s pub sitting on one corner of the village green.

Lovely pub. Stopped to get something to eat, it was so good! Definitely coming back to this gem.

Went in for a meal a month ago. Portion sizes seem to have shrunk, and was told that I couldn't have a pudding as the kitchen had closed at 8:55. LEFT HUNGRY!!!!!!, will give another chance

Homemade steak pie and mash. Can not beat that!!!

What a lovely find. Sat outside in the back garden and enjoyed a Gin. Great traditional English pub with cosy corners, a view over the village green and good beer. The staff were friendly and helpful.

Gastvrij, niet te duur en heerlijk gegeten.

Excellent value for food, great menu.

Good location. Excellent food and service. Good range of beers. Will be going back.

Lovely spot for a drink with a great view of the sweet village houses and green!

Perfect little local. All you could want from a pub. Nice staff, great outdoor space in the summer and cosy indoors in the winter. The fire is great! Brilliant food - an all around win

This pub is my local is very friendly (all staff) and every tuesday evening is a steak night and the food is excellent..

Great pub with great service. I have eaten there several times, and the food is very good.

Great pub, great food and friendly staff.

First visit to this beautiful historic Pub, Delighted they had a full menu on Monday lunchtime. Food was sublime - Burger and Calves Liver with Bacon which came with 5 fresh vegetables. Hearty portions perfect on a Winter’s day. Washed down with a Pint of Pride. Staff and service were excellent. Will be back!

Superb food, reasonable prices and great service

We've just had a lovely Christmas 🎄 lunch for 10 people, the food was wonderful and the staff were very attentive, it's the first time we have eaten here and would highly recommend thankyou

Amiable staff, good food, pleasant atmosphere,we had a very nice lunch experience.

Delicious food. Cozy atmosphere.

We had a great lunch there and the service was very good, so much so I have booked a meal there with 3 friends for my birthday in December

Great food and friendly atmosphere, dog friendly.

The family had a lovely tasty well presented lunch the staff were very helpful and friendly o

Excellent home cooked food! Well done chef. Exceeded expectations...

Nice pub,lovely outside seating area,with a log burner for chilly evening's

Great outdoor area in the sun. Food is great, epic roast. Friendly staff

Very nice pub. Has tables outside the front door and in the garden. Bookings advised on weekends, food can take a while to be cooked. Specials menu is very nice.

Nice pub and food will go again for sure

Fantastic lunch here yesterday - calves liver unctious and the fish and chips divine. Highly recommend the food and ambience!

The red lion has a lovely garden,different area's a nice outdoor snug and cosy dining. Indoor is lovely too. Friendly staff. Would recommend.

Firstly this is a lovely village pub - great garden, bar and restaurant. But also all of the staff are great with my coeliac allergy with plenty of options and reassurance that my meal will be gluten free. The food is great! Thank you!

Great pub in a classic village setting. Quintessentially English. Highly recommended.

We saw this pub online and thought how nice it looked. Unfortunately the landlord was very child unfriendly. We had 2 7year olds and a toddler with us who behaved impeccably, just having a run round the garden after they had eaten. This pub should not allow children if they are going to complain and moan about them when they are just being children. Will not be going here again.

Only popped in for a drink but friendly staff, lovely location and Fullers beer.

Excellent pub to have pints and meals while walking around this area!

I visited The Red Lion in May 2021 with a group of 12 other ladies. We stopped in for lunch to end a hen do weekend away. The staff were friendly and attentive. The food was lovely. I ordered roast beef dinner and the waiter/manager(?) noticed that I wasn't eating the beef as it was a little too pink for me. He brought me over a whole plate of well done beef and they wrapped up the meat I didn't eat to take home to the dog. The staff gave the bride her meal on the house, which was a really lovely gesture. Thank you for having us :)

Excellent food but slow service.

Nice ploughman’s lunch after long walk, their beer garden has plenty of seats and good service too

Stopped on spec for a lunch last Sunday while passing through the area. Luckily they had room for us in the lovely back garden, more so it's was under cover as a heavy shower passed. Food and service was good and I would like to experience a drink in the bar and a bite if ever passing again.

Just brilliant. Service great, food was brilliant. We will be back

Had a really nice meal here, the steak night on Tuesdays is exceptional value and the pub itself is lovely. Staff were great too!