The Red Lion, Derby

Quinno _ left this review about The Red Lion

Getting a bit more out of it this visit though it's an awkward layout when you come in, with a gaggle of blokes squashed in the alcove by the servery. Ales are round the other side but there is a blackboard listing them at the main bar, plus clear pricing. Eight on (surely too many for a small town?), fairly samey style-wise bar the Titanic PP. Bass sighted so I went for that, barmaid made a pig's ear of the pour but the resultant pint was decent (NBSS 3). Pretty quiet Saturday lunchtime – there were more people in the Cap. No other ales poured during the 30 minutes I was in. Still think the local CAMRAs are Guiding the wrong pub here, you know…

July 2025
Bit of a Frankenstein's monster of a pub. The original building has a couple of rooms which are grey and boring, with a much modern extension grafted onto the side and rear. It is * CAMRA Heritage listed which I was surprised to discover after the fact. Eight ales on in this GBG pub which seemed like a stretch and my Titanic Plum Porter was passable without being the quality pint I usually expect from this well-drunk brew (NBSS 2.5). Add in some mildly hostile locals and I didn't settle, all felt a bit odd. Maybe I was unlucky? But you can only play the cards that are dealt. I think the CAMRAs might have Guided the wrong pub in town, like AC Milan signing Luther Blissett instead of John Barnes. Rated 6

On 16^th August 2026 - rating: 6
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