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Detail Pages
The Red Lion, Ealing Broadway, W5
W5
W5 5RA
Pub Type
Fuller'sReviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Red Lion
Dating from the early 19th century but probably rebuilt later in the century, this is a pretty Fuller’s pub in an attractive Ealing enclave diagonally opposite Ealing Studios, so it’s no surprise that this was the watering hole for a multitude of stars (see photo) up to and including cast members from Downtown Abbey.
The interior is broadly L-shaped and reassuringly traditional, their website doing the place no favours in that it makes the place look like a gastropub/cocktail bar, which it isn’t. Out front there’s a charming, well-tended verdant drinking area. Inside, there are essentially four sections: the rear is painted wasabi and geared towards dining, the central sections painted burgundy, the front area and bar a dark period green all-round colour scheme, including the Anaglypta ceiling. The floor is dark bare boarded, furniture is traditional with some settles at front, Victorian-style crystal chandeliers, miscellaneous framed prints (many of Ealing comedy posters) and knickknacks, then a very attractive probably original dark wood pot shelf and bar, with embossed metal cornice; customers were mixed, but quite a few students from the adjacent UWL.
A predictable Fuller’s ale line-up, with a King Charles III coronation beer, then Hophead in great nick at £2.70 a half, served by a smiley barmaid.
I thought this was the best of a very decent quartet of pubs in this area and could happily have spent an evening here, but the Fuller's ale range somewhat hamstrings the place.
On 15th May 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Red Lion
Traditional Fullers pub largely unchanged since Pub SignMans review below apart from the covid restrictions meaning I had to stay sat where I was put unable to freely wander around. The main front bar is L shaped with a wooden floor, the walls adorned with the aforementioned film memorabilia . Five hand pulls on the bar with a choice of two , Pride and Hophead.
A very nice looking pub but the experience would be much better in more normal times.
On 4th October 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Red Lion
This attractive, traditional Fullers pub is located opposite Ealing film studios, earning it the nickname 'Stage Six' thanks to the many visitors to the pub from the studio's five stages. Happily, the pub seems very proud of this association, so we are treated to a great deal of Ealing Studios memorabilia throughout including lots of photographs and some marvellous old posters for some of those great Ealing comedies. The pub has put a great emphasis on dining, but retains a very nice front bar which seemed ideal for those just wanting a drink. This area has separate doors to the front and side, with the latter sporting an etched glass pane denoting entry to the Saloon. The bar area now forms a single L-shaped space of modest dimensions with a fine curved bar counter with a lovely brass lion's-head rail to the rear right under a dark wood canopy and anglypta-effect bar back. Smart back-to-back pews create cosy seating options under the front windows from which to admire some of the aforementioned photographs, whilst pews and low stools run down the left hand wall including in front of a rather nice tiled fireplace surrounded by more portraits of the stars. The room then extends rearwards through two distinct dining areas with exposed floorboards and plenty of banquette and chair seating in an area dominated by old movie posters. The rearmost section is a small conservatory-style extension with enough space for just one or two more tables before you're ejected out into a nice walled garden with some great old Fullers lamps dotted around the perimeter. There is a good deal of garden furniture and picnic benches out here plus a handsome old Fullers sign, with part of the space under a gazebo and the remainder under a very rickety looking wooden frame that looked like it might collapse at any given moment. There is also a limited bench seating area to the front of the pub and with so many customers opting to eat on this Saturday evening visit, plenty of drinkers were taking advantage of these al-fresco drinking options.
There were three Fullers beers on the handpulls - London Pride, ESB and Oliver's Island - plus a couple of guests in the shape of Butcombe Gold and Bootleg Brewing Contraband. I decided to try the Oliver's Island and seem to recall it being pretty expensive, although I forgot to note the actual price. Thankfully it was in pretty good shape and went down nicely after a walk out here in the sweltering heat.
This is a very nicely presented pub that offers a comfortable and interesting environment for drinkers and diners alike. I thought the bar area and beer garden were both great places to stop for a drink and my only reservations would be the overly food-led feel of the pub plus the cost of a pint. Ultimately, this is one of Fullers' better efforts and a good bet for a quality pint in Ealing.
On 14th June 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Red Lion
I have walked past this pub loads of times but may,be because its a Fullers pub have never went in.Lovely cosy sort of pub with a big walled garden with real coal fires and blankets to keep the cold out.Good selection of Fullers beers inc latest seasonal beers from the brewery.Beer in great nick.I will be back.
On 5th April 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Red Lion
A fine old Fullers house (a point which you could hardly miss given the ultra-bold lettering at the top of the facade, and above which perches the eponymous red lion). Inside, the traditional bar area uses pew-type seating to good effect and there are regular tables in the rear extension (beyond which there is also a decent patio beer garden). There are four beers from the Griffin brewery plus a guest (e.g. Ossett Pale Gold when I visited). It has a good location at the south end of Ealing Green, nearly opposite the famous studios, and is well worth the walk from the Broadway or South Ealing underground stations.
On 21st August 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Red Lion
A traditional proper pub, the bar is in the front area where seating consists of booth effect benches at right angles to the bar, but without screens. The pub continues passed the bar with a narrow area, then up a couple of steps to a wider area beyond. The rear courtyard has a large "Jumberella".
Traditional tables and seating plus small stools to the rear, wood panelling, dark red ceilings, corner tiled fireplace in the front bar. There is some sort of plant growing over the bar wrapped in Christmas lights.....I'm pretty sure it isn't a vine, however this is still a traditional pub. Etched windows to the front and side elevations state "Beers and Ales", Wines and Spirits" and "Saloon Bar".
Decor is mainly stills and flyers from old classic Ealing Comedies, the studios are just across the way. Note also though the bar footrail, brass with the support brackets made in the form of a lion's head, gripping the rail in his teeth.
A Fuller's pub, Chiswick, Pride and ESB, Gale's Festival, and rather surprisingly Hydes Original Bitter. Good friendly staff and a guv'nor clearly healthily into his beers from conversation overheard. Very good indeed. Local Camra branch POTY for several consecutive years. A fair hike from Ealing Broadway Stn, but the 65 stops very close by.
On 12th April 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Red Lion
This is a Fuller's pub that had Chiswick, Pride, ESB, Red Fox and Hobgoblin on offer when I was in there on Monday lunchtime. I had the superb Red Fox, which was at the current approximate going rate of £3.05 a pint. As you enter there are three booths on the right taking up that side of the pub; a couple of settles and normal chairs on the left; leading to a back room with more normal tables and chairs. Décor on the walls amounts mainly to black and white photos – didn't get close enough to discern the subjects. On the face of it a pretty decent and straightforward little pub, and apparently thoroughly deserving its recent accolade of being chosen as the CAMRA West Middlesex branch's pub of the year.
But the food is certainly upmarket. I had the ciabatta/fillet steak/rocket/parmigiano plus some chips, which weighed in at £8.95. Not exactly traditional pub grub then, but nonetheless of a very high standard and most enjoyable. The service I received was friendly and welcoming, and I reckon this is an excellent pub and certainly worth seeking out if you're in the general area.
On 19th October 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Red Lion
What a transformation since my last visit in the early/mid nineties. This used to be a tiny little sweat box of a pub, but a wall has been removed and the rear has been extended out to the back of the building and then a conservatory has been built as well as a large beer garden. I wouldn't have recognised the place if it wasn't for the bar area that is exactly how I remember it.
I wasn't surprised to see Pride, Chiswick, ESB and Porter on as I can remember there always being a full selection of Fullers ales, but I did spot Golden Pride. Unfortunately I was unable to try it as it rocks in at 8.5% and I think that the local constabulary would have something to say about my journey home around the North Circular. Hoegarden, Staropramen and a couple of standard lagers were also available from the polite barmaid.
I think that they have done an excellent job with this place and it was great to still see all of the Ealing Studios photos still up on the wall.
I highly recommend this pub.
On 22nd December 2008
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5250 recommendations about 5218 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Red Lion
Comfortable single bar Fuller's pub selling good food and beer.As with most Fuller's pubs it still retains its traditional look and feel.
On 15th December 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]