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The Red Lion (JD Wetherspoon), Bitterne, Southampton

448 Bitterne Village
Bitterne
Southampton
SO18 5EF

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Pub Type

J D Wetherspoon

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Quinno _ left this review about The Red Lion (JD Wetherspoon)

Pleasant suburban Spoons with an attractive circular exterior swoosh courtesy of an upper balcony, with a commanding position overlooking the pedestrianised shopping centre. A 2017 opener, the inside is a mix of pleasant burgundy and cream shades with a nice laid-back feel on a late Saturday morning. There’s also a small quiet area upstairs, ideal for readers. A platoon of friendly and helpful young staff in situ. Three guest cask, my Hanlons Devon Dark was tidy (NBSS 3.5). A good all-rounder. 7.5

On 27th December 2024 - rating: 8
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]

E TA left this review about The Red Lion (JD Wetherspoon)

As described below, this pub occupies a commanding position overlooking Bitterne’s pedestrian area in an almost dystopian setting, making us feel we could be attacked by zombies at any time. Thankfully this didn’t happen, probably because the undead were actually in the ‘Spoons when we went in, or so it seemed. That probably also explained the décor, as it was nowhere near Hallowe’en. The staff were unusually thick for a ‘Spoons - maybe they were also existentially challenged, there was a group at the side playing darts, and there were more gaming machines than you might expect. Ales on were Abbott, Ruddles, Doombar, Oakham JHB, Salopian Hop Twister and Citra Pale Ale. We risked the curry, which was from the standard list, but it was differently prepared: crunchy rice, chewy poppadoms and naan bread with the texture of nougat. Not Tim’s (Martin, not Burton) best by a long way.

On 31st October 2024 - rating: 5
[User has posted 3516 recommendations about 3480 pubs]

Graham Coombs left this review about The Red Lion (JD Wetherspoon)

A rather basic sort of Spoons in a recent conversion of an old pub on the pedestrianised High Street. It has the usual JDW features but the lowish ceilings make the place feel hemmed in and it was quite noisy. Later venturing up the labyrinthine route to the gents I found a much nicer room upstairs with an outside balcony (but sadly no bar). The guest ales were not very exciting either - Hobgoblin and Ringwood Fortyniner - but condition was ok. Adequate if you are nearby but not worth the trek out of town.

On 25th September 2024 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Aqualung . left this review about The Red Lion (JD Wetherspoon)

The Red Lion opened as a JDW on 28th March 2017.
This is an original pub that according to the JDW web site was built in the 1860s. The Wetherspoon incarnation of it looks much more modern. You have to go through a front patio garden to get inside. On my midday visit on a hot sunny Thursday this was full of people intent on risking getting skin cancer as well as the usual nicotine brigade. There must be a wheelchair entrance somewhere but I didn't see it.
Inside the ground floor seems to be just the original pub but I may be wrong. It's an open plan room split into different areas with the bar at the rear. Upstairs are the toilets (inevitably) and a smaller eating area by the kitchen. There is also a balcony overlooking the front patio. The food service area downstairs consists of a couple of lifts and a hot plate.
The fixtures and fittings are a bit better than usual but downstairs at least they are rather crammed in. Like most new Spoons they have the Pizza option which I assume is on trial and I noticed the food clubs are dearer then average.
The bar has twelve hand pumps which had the JDW Trio Of Doom with Ruddles & Doom Bore doubled, two ciders, Fallen Acorn Twisted Oak, MASH Copper Ale, Everard's Arcadia Session IPA, Orkney Dark Island and Adnam's Lighthouse. I went for the Twisted Oak (£2.39) which was excellent.
I found this to be a reasonably good Spoons. I can't see many regular correspondents getting to it as it's a bit off the beaten track.

On 26th May 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

hondo . left this review about The Red Lion

JD Wetherspoon has bought the Red Lion in Bitterne precinct for £650,000.

On 13th May 2016 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2933 recommendations about 2866 pubs]