The Red Lion, Gloucester

A prominent pub in an idyllic setting on the banks of the Severn, it’s a substantial red brick building with an extensive garden along the river’s edge and this was very busy even on a recent mid-week lunchtime visit. I didn’t inspect the menu, but the food offering certainly seemed popular with a constant stream of plates emerging from the kitchen. Internally it consists of a good sized L-shaped room to the left with a couple of smaller ones off to the right. Décor wise, it’s perhaps a little more contemporary than I might have expected from the outside, certainly not overtly so, but it didn’t have quite the rustic charm that I had anticipated. There are sanded wooden boards on much of the floor, although there are at least some old flagstones in the entrance hall, and plenty of exposed brickwork in the front half with cream plasterwork and pale grey painted wood panelling elsewhere. Light fittings were rather industrial in style, and there were several old black and white photographs of the locale on the walls, including some of the river in flood. A couple of fireplaces were at either end of the bar. A small snug just inside the entrance looked a little cosier, and next to this was a slightly larger room that was perhaps more intended for dining, with the tables being laid up for food. This had some very old bookshelves in the corner and a large brick fireplace with wood burning stove. Despite six hand pumps on the bar, there were unfortunately only two beers on offer, with one pump being used for cider and three seemingly unused. On this occasion they were Butcombe Original and Butty Bach. Ciders fared somewhat better though with Stowford Press, Mortimer’s Orchard, Strongbow Dark Fruit and Old Rosie. This is a little tricky to mark, as much of the pub’s appeal is down to it’s lovely riverside setting, whilst the pub itself, although pleasant enough, is certainly nothing outstanding.