The Red Lion, Ealing Broadway, W5

Tris C left this review about The Red Lion

Dating from the early 19th century but probably rebuilt later in the century, this is a pretty Fuller’s pub in an attractive Ealing enclave diagonally opposite Ealing Studios, so it’s no surprise that this was the watering hole for a multitude of stars (see photo) up to and including cast members from Downtown Abbey.
The interior is broadly L-shaped and reassuringly traditional, their website doing the place no favours in that it makes the place look like a gastropub/cocktail bar, which it isn’t. Out front there’s a charming, well-tended verdant drinking area. Inside, there are essentially four sections: the rear is painted wasabi and geared towards dining, the central sections painted burgundy, the front area and bar a dark period green all-round colour scheme, including the Anaglypta ceiling. The floor is dark bare boarded, furniture is traditional with some settles at front, Victorian-style crystal chandeliers, miscellaneous framed prints (many of Ealing comedy posters) and knickknacks, then a very attractive probably original dark wood pot shelf and bar, with embossed metal cornice; customers were mixed, but quite a few students from the adjacent UWL.
A predictable Fuller’s ale line-up, with a King Charles III coronation beer, then Hophead in great nick at £2.70 a half, served by a smiley barmaid.
I thought this was the best of a very decent quartet of pubs in this area and could happily have spent an evening here, but the Fuller's ale range somewhat hamstrings the place.

On 15^th May 2023 - rating: 7
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