The Red Lion, Gloucester

A pleasant enough village centre pub in this somewhat isolated community, it consists of one long room running along the centre of the pub which has been divided in to three areas, as well as a few picnic benches at the front and a beer garden at the rear, as well as an old skittle alley. Décor wise, the pub is fairly unremarkable and looks a little dated in places perhaps, but has nonetheless had a coat of paint and is now finished in shades of gastro-pub green and brown. It’s all been opened out in to one long room, with the central area being the main bar and this had a wood strip floor, whilst two smaller areas to each side were carpeted and perhaps more intended for dining by the looks of things, although I would say that this is by no means a food orientated pub. In some ways it felt almost like being in an elderly relative’s living room, with an old electric clock on the wooden mantelpiece, for example. There were a few oak beams on the ceiling and a couple of stone fire-places with wood burning stoves. Various local pictures were on the wall including a panoramic shot of the nearby horseshoe bend of the River Severn. The skittle alley at the rear included a projector screen, although this all looked quite tatty and had a rather musty smell about it. Beyond this was a garden, but this too was in need of a little TLC. Beers on tap were Butty Bach and HPA from Wye Valley along with Bespoke Brewing’s Leading Light. A further pump had run out, whilst another was unused. A chalk board next to the bar noted a small selection of further ales that were coming soon. Ciders meanwhile were Stowford Press and Pheasant Plucker. Not a bad pub overall, but not worth making a special trip either when there are better options nearby.

Official site of The Red Lion - www.redlionarlingham.co.uk

Official site of The Red Lion - www.redlionarlingham.co.uk

Has been bought from Enterprise Inns by the locals for £300,000 which was raised in 48 hours after EI threatened to de-licence the pub and seek to convert to residential use.