Red Lion Pub Bistro

I live locally and a friend had suggested meeting here for lunch, as it’s roughly a halfway point for us. Given that I was last here around forty years ago, when I’d come with my family for Christmas Day lunch, I wondered what changes would have taken place whilst my back was turned! As it turned out, I barely recognised the place but it was all for the good. The dining room is lovely and bright, with nice decor as well as comfortable booth-style seating which gives a bit of privacy. The toilet was spotlessly clean and there was ample toilet tissue, hand wash and disposable paper hand towels. Our meals were good; fish, chips and mushy peas for my friend whilst I opted for the gammon which was served with two eggs and, at my request, salad rather than chips. However, although the gammon was thick, lean and very tasty, the portion size of the salad was extremely small, almost verging on miserly. Also, I was slightly disappointed that they don’t sell Fever-Tree tonic, although I was told that they had another premium tonic water. Despite the little moans, we had an enjoyable meal and I’m sure I’ll return in the not too distant future.

Having this on our doorstep used to be something we were really proud of but it 's evident this establishment is now only interested in diners and hotel residents. They have now enforced a tap room and rather bizarrely, table service for drinkers. The charm of the Red Lion was the bar area with the large sofa and chairs and 'library '. This area is reserved for diners only now. Don 't quite understand the logic for it other than they now no longer want drinkers only. We were frequent regulars, found the space a safe environment with a new born, somewhere lovely to host visiting friends and family, always a nice selection of drinks and helpful staff. Unfortunately, they have lost their way. Those visiting for just drinks don 't want to be shoved around the corner to be made to feel that they 're out of the way. The tap room is nice enough, a little cramped in areas and I know effort has been made to ensure it ties in with the bar area but quite frankly, shouldn 't it be the customers choice where they wish to sit? Why do those dining need two designated area 's to sit? Why do they need the restaurant AND the bar area? Take it back to how it was, let drinkers visit and purchase their drinks at the bar and sit where they please (obviously not in the actual restaurant) The investment in this place must have been huge in recent years, don 't let it go to waste by carrying on with these silly rules. Please also do not reply to this review with the same lack of acknowledgement of the issue you have on other posts. I 'm writing to you trying to help, not complain. As a regular who attended frequently and also dined occasionally, I won 't be returning until these issues are resolved. All the best,

Ask if we were dining with them today, said no we just wanted drinks so we had to sit in the tap room end of the bar on most uncomfortable seats and in surroundings that do not belie the quality of the place or the prices charged, also I do not know who thought it a good idea to stop bar service and just offer table service, this was so slow and I do not expect this level of service for the price, I do not expect to be put into an inferior place within the premises when I am paying premium prices for drinks. This is not the first time I have experienced this situation but it will be my last, I shall not be put in this situation again I will not go anywhere near the place and I shall no give a good review if asked.

We've come to love eating here but each time we go the service gets worse. The food is excellent and the staff friendly, but it's clear they are either struggling for staff or just not employing enough of them. If you pay top prices, which you do here, you expect top service. repeatedly asking for our drinks, our wine arriving half way through the meal and then hand waving in the restaurant to get service or even basics like getting our table cleared is not good. It's a shame, as I said we really loved the place and the food is fantastic, but it's expensive, which I don't mind if the service matches, at the moment it doesn't. I've had similar feedback from others who have been recently. Get it sorted or eventually wonder why no one's coming anymore!

We had been visiting Matlock and ended up on a road in the middle of nowhere, when we decided we wanted something to eat. I searched for pubs on the map and were pleasantly surprised to find the Red Lion within half a mile. On entering we found a warm and cosy bar and a very pleasant restaurant. The staff were friendly and the food was excellent. We enjoyed the lamb rump, cooked to perfection, and the apple and blackcurrant crumble was delicious, although we were a bit disappointed that they’d run out of sticky toffee pudding! It was quite pricy, but not unreasonable for the quality of food and surroundings. The only disappointment was that we’d been told to leave our coats where we’d been sitting in the bar and they would be hung up for us. We came back to find my coat still on the chair. Nothing valuable in it, luckily, and it hadn’t been touched, but still not what we were told would happen. Other than that, an excellent find, and we’re considering coming to stay in the future.