The Red Lion Brasserie in Colchester

Every time I go here I am greeted in such a personal friendly manner, always remembered from previous visits. Every meal has been uniquely fabulous in a gorgeous environment, inside or in the bohemian tent.Tonight surpassed all, I was dining with a friend, who in the end couldn't make it. I called to explain, half an hour later James bought to my door a delicious pizza and a bottle of wine.....I will remember this for a very long time.

Fantastic Sunday roast. Perfect beef and trimmings. Perfect portion size for me but don’t expect to leave feeling uncomfortably full! Great service too. We walked in without booking and were sat eating within 10 minutes!!

In July 20221 my husband and I were looking for a venue to host our guests the day after our wedding in a countryside location with a relaxed atmosphere, some delicious food and drink so we could create some more ever lasting memories with our nearest and dearest. Whilst in the area for wedding prep, we across the The Red Lion and stayed for lunch one day and fell in love with the setting, pizzas and the team there. When we sat down with James, the front of house manager, he immediately understood our brief, our ideas, budget and set to work with the head chef on creating a special day for us. He was extremely attentive to our requests and very communicative in the lead up to our event, nothing was too much for him or the team (even all our GF and nut free requests of the menu!) And boy did they deliver. As you can see from the photos, the food looked (and tasted) amazing and many guests complimented us on such a wonderful lazy post wedding occasion. I'd really like to thank James and the team as they delivered way beyond our expectations and this place will forever hold a special place in our hearts. 100% recommend The Red Lion for any occasion, an Al Fresco lunch with a glass of vino and one of their woodfire pizzas, a cosy sunday roast or a special venue hire occasion like ours! x

Absolutely loved it. Dropped in with our family of 5 today and they managed to fit us in with the warmest of welcomes. Even accommodated our 2 year old twins with high chairs and an excellent children's menu. We were very impressed with the quality of food and have been searching for a place just like this since we moved from London. Dessert was an absolute dream and I love that they refuse to serve 'dumbed down food for kids - child size portions of adult food, thank you!!

Excellent brunch with Santa at The Lion Brasserie! The kids (and parents) really enjoyed meeting Santa and decorating Christmas biscuits. Delicious food, great service, and attention to detail. Thanks to the team at The Lion for making it a great experience.

We had dinner here last night, 4th December. The staff were lovely, the ambience great. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. My nut roast was nice but the rest of the plate was bland and lacking. My one carrot was cold. My partner opted for the steak but was hesitant due to the £35 price tag plus £3 for a small jug of blue cheese sauce. He therefore expected it to be extra special. It was not very tender, lacked moisture and flavour and the sauce lacked blue cheese. This was therefore very over priced. We are sorry to leave a negative review but know you appreciate feedback. Annabel and David.

A large group of us ate here, the service and the food was exceptional. Horseradish pate, followed by Lobster Thermidor and cheesecake for dessert. Would definitely return.

Delicious, honest food, in a lovely setting. We've been to the Lion a few times now; a few lunches and dinners, as well as a Sunday lunch. Each time the food has been great, the staff very friendly and attentive. Very pretty location, with a lovely garden to sit in when the weather behaves itself. Good cocktail menu too, we've been along for the happy hours on Thursday a few times now as well. Variety on the menu is good, usually a couple of fish/seafood options alongside the meat dishes. We will most likely be back soon.

Stopped for coffee this morning on a rather damp Tuesday - the atmosphere was so relaxing, the staff were really welcoming and the coffee was so good we ended up staying for lunch which was delicious. Lots to choose from from the daily special menu and the main menu - a fabulous way to spend the day - highly recommend.

Finally, we have found a resturant with a high quality out door eating area, the owners have a great eye for detail, fresh flowers on all the tables, comfortable chairs coupled with a beautifully decorated roof of the marquee.All the staff were all cheerful and attentive, nothing was too much trouble.The menu was a delight to read and eat, the kitchen staff clearly are at the top of their game.This restaurant will become a regular eating venue for us and we will definitely recommend this gem to all our friends and family.