The Red Lion
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Quick info
About The Red Lion
The Red Lion is a pub and restaurant at 55 High Street, inside Southampton's old walled town. The building is a Grade II* listed coaching inn with cellars that date to the 12th century, and its open fireplace and beamed ceilings, some sections reaching around 35 feet, give the ground-floor rooms a clear sense of age. The kitchen serves home-made pub meals including steak and ale pie, with portions large enough to feed a hungry table, and two to three real ales are poured alongside. Upstairs, a beamed room known as the Henry V Court Room adds another historic setting for diners and drinkers. Dogs are welcome inside, and the staff cover bar, food and floor in rotation.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingPaid street parking · Usually somewhat difficult to find a space
- AccessibilityWheelchair: restroom
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Menu & Prices
78 dishes · mains £5–19- Prawn Cocktail£6.95
- Stilton Mushrooms£6.95
- 4 Mini Spring Rolls£5.45
- Soup Of The Day£5.25
- Garlic Steak£18.95
- Black Pepper Steak£18.95
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention steak and ale pie, real ales, open fire and beamed ceilings.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention steak and ale pie, real ales, open fire and beamed ceilings.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers consistently single out the building's age and history, from Tudor beams to a 35-foot ceiling and an open fire, as the main draw. The steak and ale pie draws repeated praise for being generous and home-cooked, with a friendly server handling bar and tables on her own. One reviewer warns the kitchen does not always run during pub hours.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers consistently single out the building's age and history, from Tudor beams to a 35-foot ceiling and an open fire, as the main draw. The steak and ale pie draws repeated praise for being generous and home-cooked, with a friendly server handling bar and tables on her own. One reviewer warns the kitchen does not always run during pub hours.
Featured reviews
- Andrew Rodger
“I could easily have walked past the Red Lion with its small frontage. But once inside you are treated to a historic coaching Inn. Beamed ceilings, and I estimate 35 foot high in places. The pub food was really well priced. Two to three real ales. Fantastic open fire. OK it was the hight of summer and it wasn't lite, but still very impressive.”
- kirk hummel
“Google needs to include the kitchen hours. Food not always available when the pub is open 😔”
- Dany Barajas
“El Red Lion Inn en Southampton es uno de los pubs más antiguos y con más historia de la ciudad, ubicado en High Street dentro del casco antiguo amurallado. Los cimientos y bodegas datan del siglo XII y originalmente funcionaban como una cámara o tribunal medieval. Estructura Tudor: El edificio principal actual fue construido a finales del siglo XV y principios del siglo XVI como una casa solariega medieval. Licencia: Recibió su primera licencia oficial como establecimiento de bebidas en 1552. Protección: Está catalogado como edificio de Grado II* (Grade II listed*) y forma parte del inventario nacional de interiores históricos de pubs en el Reino Unido. El juicio de Enrique V (1415) El pub cuenta con una sala de planta alta con vigas de madera conocida como la Sala del Tribunal de Enrique V (Henry V's Court Room). Según la tradición local, en el año 1415 se celebró allí el juicio por alta traición contra los conspiradores del "Complot de Southampton" (Southampton Plot) contra el rey Enrique V: Richard (Conde de Cambridge), Lord Scrope y Sir Thomas Grey. Fueron hallados culpables y ejecutados cerca de la puerta Bargate. Conserva elementos tradicionales y está reconocido por mantener un ambiente histórico único, incluyendo leyendas de fantasmas y espectros locales.”
- Debbie Smallwood
“Came here last Tuesday night after reading reviews online. Wow, food was amazing. Only complaint was the portion size was enormous! Food was freshly cooked and had a huge variety. Lady who served us was lovely and seemed to do everything from serving at the bar, serving food, clearing up and all done with a smile. She was really friendly and did an amazing job. Looking forward to coming back to Southampton to visit again. Family who live in Southampton say they will be going again soon”
- Kathryn Paterson
“The historic Red Lion isn't just a pretty face. The service and meals are outstanding. Proper, home made pub meals. Our steak and ale pie was sooooo tender and generous we couldn't finish it. It's so rare to find meals ao honest and real these days. If you're in Southampton be sure to pop into the historic Red Lion for a pint and a proper pub feed.”
Highlights
- Great beer selection
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Paid street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Takeout
Show more amenities
- Dine-in
- Food at bar
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Food
- Offerings· 3
- Alcohol
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Atmosphere· 1
- Casual
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Parking· 1
- Usually somewhat difficult to find a space
- Dining options· 1
- Seating
- Highlights· 1
- Great beer selection
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
Location
Bars near The Red Lion
- Stein Garten4.41,2320 mi£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
erdinger beer, currywurst, oktoberfest
- Oasis Bar4.33690.1 mi£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
guinness, drink prices, late night refuge
- Duke of Wellington4.51,8380.1 miWheelchair accessible
crispy pork belly bites, roast beef Sunday lunch, steak and kidney pie
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Red LionReservations · Outdoor seating · Takeout | 4.51,310 | — | £10–20 | steak and ale pie, real ales, open fire |
| Stein GartenReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.41,232 | 0 mi | £10–20 | erdinger beer, currywurst, oktoberfest |
| Oasis BarReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.3369 | 0.1 mi | £10–20 | guinness, drink prices, late night refuge |
| Duke of WellingtonWheelchair accessible | 4.51,838 | 0.1 mi | — | crispy pork belly bites, roast beef Sunday lunch, steak and kidney pie |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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