The Red Lion (JD Wetherspoon), Bedlington

Plus points - Nice decor, nice clean toilets, passable reasonable priced food and drink, good offers like beer and burger or curry nights. Quiz machine Family friendly? Sometimes! If you take your child in on a busy night (e.g. 5pm Thurday - curry night) expect them to come up with rules to deter you - you are not allowed to have an alcoholic drink if you don't buy a meal if you have a child in the party - rules that they didn't mention on the other 15 or so occasions you have visited just for a quick pint after a long day with a well behaved child who will happily sit and draw or colour in the books we bring with the pencils we bring. if you get a childrens meal make sure you get the fruit bag as they often won't give it unless you ask. They had ran out of the fruit bags the other week and sent my husband away empty handed - I had to ask what they were offering as an alternative at which point they offered a bannana or apple - fair enough but they should either reduce the price or offer an alternative without being prompted, the deal is clearly advertised on the childrens menu (if you can get hold of one, 9 times out of 10 they have ran out.) If they don't want kids they should say so, if they have a rule no kids unless you are eating they should have a sign. SIGNS PLEASE - It is not best practice to upset a 5 year old because she can't have a smoothie because the pub won't serve her parents because they have a rule that they don't tell you about until it suits them

On the 16th November this will be a J D Wetherspoon pub