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Shot by a City Insiders curator.
The Red Lion
★ 4.0(1 review)Bar
local-crowdspaciousfriendly
About the Vibe
The Red Lion on Linkfield Road has shed its dive-bar reputation and emerged as a proper local hangout with serious beer credentials. This big, friendly pub splits into three distinct areas—pool table zone, dartboard section, and the welcoming front bar—giving you plenty of room to settle in for a proper session. What really sets it apart is the staggering selection of real ales, particularly their impressive Sharps collection, though they've got enough international lagers for the casual drinkers too.
Known For
- •extensive Sharps beer selection
- •pool table and dartboard
- •Welcoming front bar area
- •CAMRA Good Beer Guide recommendation
Best For
afternoon pub sessionsgroup gatheringscasual beer tasting
1 review
City InsidersEditorialApril 2, 2026
A Proper Local Pub That's Come Good
The Red Lion has clearly come a long way since my last visit—it's gone from a proper locals' dive to a genuinely welcoming neighborhood pub that still keeps its authentic edge. The space is impressively large with three distinct areas, so you won't feel cramped even when it's busy. I spent time chatting with the new landlord who's clearly passionate about getting the pub back on CAMRA's good side, and it shows in the beer selection.
What you'll find here is a solid mix of traditional and modern pub amenities without feeling pretentious. The pool table area has plenty of room to move your cues, the dartboard board doubles as a suggestion board for guest ales (though don't expect too much inspiration there), and the front bar feels distinctly more inviting than the back sections. The beer list is where this place really shines—I've rarely seen such an extensive Sharps selection in one place, alongside solid choices like Wolf Rock, Doom Bar, and local Petersham Porter.
It's not fancy, and you won't find gourmet food here, but that's not what you're coming for. This is a proper session pub where you can relax, grab a pint of real ale, and enjoy the friendly local atmosphere. Best to go when you have time to make a proper outing of it—plan a day out and take advantage of all the space and amenities they've got going for them.