The Red Lion makes a welcome return to our High Street!
Located on Leytonstone High Road opposite the junction with Church Lane, the Red Lion has stood for over 300 years and been through many incarnations. Thankfully it has now returned to being a community local, and although it’s only been open since 15 June it is already establishing itself as the sort of place where you will run into someone you know.
They have an impressive selection of drinks – 7 real ales on cask (2 of which changed while I was visiting), and 3 more on keg along with a cider and a lager. Otherwise, there’s the traditional fare of lagers and ciders on tap, but these are backed up by several interesting alternatives in bottles. There are a good range of spirits too, usually of a high quality – Hendricks gin for example – and even three tequilas!
The pub is still a little rough around the edges – level access and a wheelchair accessible toilet are due to open in the first week of July, with the kitchen to follow a few weeks later. The space is big and open plan, and the lack of carpet or curtains means it gets quite noisy and in some seats can be hard to hear your friends.
Although they don’t yet serve food from the kitchen, they offer pork pies and scotch eggs, and vegetarian versions of both (my friend enjoyed the veggie scotch egg). They also have cashew nuts in jars, flavoured with either salt and pepper or chilli. This, as well as crisps, meant that we didn’t go hungry.
Opening hours are currently 4pm – close on weekdays, and 12pm - close at weekends. No doubt when the workmen have left and the kitchen has come on stream, these hours will be extended.
Altogether, the Red Lion has got off to a promising start, and is already attracting a good crowd through the doors. With the addition of noise-muffling drapes around the window, disabled access, and of course hot meals, it would be an even better venue. I can’t wait!
Review by Flash Bristow, 28 June 2011
Update (February 2012): If you haven’t popped into the Red Lion lately, it’s worth a go! They now serve food (very tasty when we tried it) and have a DJ on Saturday nights with jazz or acoustic music on Sunday afternoons. The Lion still has a great range of real ales and bottled beers and ciders for all tastes. They have also got some drapes in the window now so it’s easier to hear a conversation!
WOW!
I sampled WOW! at around 8.30pm on a weekday evening. By this time there were just 3 dishes left; curry goat, jerk chicken and oxtail. Everything else had sold out over the course of the day. I bought curry goat with rice and peas for £6.50 and received a portion which filled one foam takeaway container. This seemed slightly expensive particularly as they only charge £4.50 at lunchtime. The food had obviously been made fresh on the premises but was then microwaved for me when I ordered. It was perfectly acceptable – nothing special, but perhaps the other dishes are more exciting as they’ve had rave reviews from local workers. It wasn’t my usual cup of tea but if you like West Indian food it’s worth a try.
I would be willing to try WOW! again, but at lunchtime when the prices are lower and there’d be more choice. However it’s good to see a new business in Leytonstone and I wish them luck.
Review by Mike Bristow, October 2011
