Secret Drinker reviews The Red Lion in Spilsby
“I’m calling it a night,” said the bloke, slapping his empty pint glass on the bar and staggering a little uneasily out the door.
Considering it wasn’t yet 5pm, our mate had certainly had an afternoon to remember - or forget, considering his brain had appeared to skip the concept of evening.
I’d only been in the Red Lion long enough to order my drink when this exchange happened, piquing my interest as to just how lively this pub could be.
And, sure enough, there weren’t many in but they all seemed to be enjoying themselves.
A foursome by the incredibly cosy fire laughed loudly as they chatted, their Alsatians sat obediently while a small group sprawled out across the comfy sofas round the back of the bar, nipping in and out to vape or smoke or whatever was creating those small clouds above their heads.
This column has spent far too much time stuck in lifeless pubs where punters sit staring at their lonely booze rather than engaging with those near them, so to see the clientele having the sort of animated chats that pubs used to be all about instantly won me over.
But it wasn’t just the atmosphere that offered up a little nostalgia.
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With its patterned carpet, visible brickwork, plain white walls and no-nonsense brown bar tables and chairs, there was something of a late 70s, early 80s feel to the place.
The framed painting of the pub above the fireplace, the Guinness Toucan ads, the Smirnoff mirror, the KP nuts, Scampi Fries, Bacon Bites, pool cues slapped in a big red bucket and John Smith’s lamp and matching free house sign only added to the mood.
It felt like the kind of pub where Bob could take Rita and Sue for an inconspicuous drink.
The only real hints to modernisation were the pumps at the bar, a giant neon jukebox, flat screen TVs and a sign explaining well behaved kids were welcome until 8.30pm.
Of course, back in the day those kids would have been passed a can Top Deck shandy, bag of Salt ‘n Shake and told to make their own fun in the back of the Austin Alegro while mum and dad went in to see their friends.
Unplanned, this was my second Red Lion of the day, and the third I’ve visited for this column, but easily the one with the greatest community feel, a trait which I appear to be learning the pubs in Spilsby pride themselves on.
Yeah, the Red Lion felt a little bit dated in parts, but that doesn’t matter one bit when everyone’s having a good time.
It knows what it is and it does it very well.
THE RED LION, MARKET STREET, SPILSBY, PE23 5JT
DECOR: The place had something of an early 80s local pub feel, but it knew what it was, stuck with it and was good at it. A nice nostalgic trip. 3/5
DRINK: I had a pint of Batemans XB (ABV %). 3/5.
PRICE: At £4 I’m not complaining. 4/5
ATMOSPHERE: Lively considering the time of day, a nice community feel. 4/5
STAFF: The one barman on shift was a nice bloke, chatting, serving and keeping the warm fire going - didn’t even bat an eyelid as our mate staggered out. 3/5
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