The Red Lion - Braintree

We popped in here for lunch in early August and the food was great and service excellent, so when back in the area a few weeks later we came for an evening meal with family, and were not disappointed. Well recommended.

Visited on a beautiful sunny Sunday for drinks. The pub is very quaint and food is good (from previous experience) but that is where the positivity ends. We were told on ordering our drinks at 3:35 that this was last orders and they closed at 4 despite all online literature saying 5pm. Not too much of an issue in insolation really these things happen. My husband returned to the bar for crisps to overhear the land lady complaining that she couldn 't get closed up to enjoy the sunshine as people kept coming to the bar. We all have a moan now and again about work but maybe this should be done in private rather than in front of the customers who are here to support your business? Then it went downhill. Whilst there I potentially lost an important item but didn 't realise until the next day. So on Tuesday when passing I popped in to see if it had been handed in as this was the last time I knew I had it. The pub looked open from the front all signs out and the beer garden door was unlocked. On opening it was dark inside so I just popped my head round the door and called out 'Hello '. After another 'hello ' the landlady stuck her head around a corner and my interaction went as follows: Me: Hi I 'm so sorry to interrupt but I was here Sund.... Her: We are closed (very abrupt and rude) Me: Oh I 'm sorry the door was unlocked can I just ask if.... Her: NO we are closed you have to leave. I am just a chef here I don 't know anything. Leave now. Me: Umm ok I just Her: GO AWAY Me: OK, do you have a number I can call about lost property, its just it is a very important key Her: Find it online now you need to leave. Get off the property!! Me: There is absolutely no need to be so rude, don 't worry I will take my business elsewhere I am still pretty shocked at being spoken too with such unprovoked rudeness. I did not just barge into the pub I popped my head round the door to ask a question. I apologized as I hadn 't quite realized they were closed as you can 't really see in through the door. Also to barefaced lie and tell me she was just a chef? Having been a few times I very well know she is the land lady. It 's ok if you can 't help me but just be polite or at the very least civil. Absolutely disgusted and certainly will not be back. So disappointing as the pub used to be so welcoming a few years ago, we used to go a lot. Local businesses need all the support they can get right now so why on earth would you treat people like this?

So at 12.00 today not so customer friendly! Why the poor attitude when speaking to my wife? Discourteous, impatient, and down right rude. Needless to say we did not stay.

Went for dinner with family, against their wishes,as said the Landlady is incredibly rude.They were not wrong.Asked if could have potatoes instead of chips, a quick and sharp NO asked why,really gave no answer,just bad attitude. Almost took Mum in her Wheelchair to have a lunchtime drink,she had Whiskey and gingerale, (she also had this when we were there for dinner), went yesterday lunchtime only to be told ,they don 't and have never served Gingerale. To which I replied, we had it twice last week . The Landlady became SO RUDE and SNARKY,told me I was rude,of course I told her she was rude,she then suggested maybe we should find somewhere else to go .In all my years of traveling globally, never have I encountered such a vile,rude and snarky Landlady..She has no business running a Public Inn!! I 'm surprised she has any business. The staff are all very young adults, a older adult would tell her where to go..The food served is good,I can 't fault that,but just as good somewhere else without the the foul attitude.. If you want a pleasant experience, do not visit this establishment..I recommend AVOIDING this Pub.

Visited here at the end of August and had a great experience! I was quite shocked to read some of the recent reviews on here as this was not my experience at all in fact, the landlady was very friendly and welcoming, pausing to chat with our table and other guests, and made sure to check on us during service. The food was absolutely delicious I had the Phad Thai which was very authentic and tasty and the portion size was huge. My family had the steak and ale pie and the swordfish niçoise salad which they both said was equally as good. I would definitely recommend The Red Lion to anyone in the Suffolk/ Essex surrounding area and I will also be returning!