The Red Lion - Eastbourne

Popped into the Red Lion at Willingdon today for lunch (12:00) we were the first in the lovely garden. When asked, we said straight up on arrival that we 'd have sandwiches for lunch (as we know they struggle with 'unexpected ' visitors). Having had drinks we went to order food but were told they 're too busy and we couldn 't order. Only to be followed immediately by two much larger tables behind us placing orders and sitting down exclaiming their food would be 15mins (we were the first in the garden, the two other tables were much bigger [there was two of us], and they were walk ins too). Not sure why we weren 't allowed to order food today. But can say the service when questioning this was very dismissive and very blunt. Today 's visit was very very poor and handled even worse. We 'll be giving the Red Lion a wide berth from now and sharing our experience. Shame.

Have recently started using the Red Lion when visiting family in the area. I have eaten there several times, most recently last weekend on two days. The food was of good quality and good value. The service was professional yet friendly and there was a good atmosphere both nights. I'm not a fan of Hall and Woodhouse ales but good to see Ale for a King as an addition to Tanglefoot Fursty Ferret. If The Red Lion had regular guest ales it would get a 5* rating from me.

We absolutely love The Red Lion, a gastro pub in Eastbourne. The owner and his team are incredibly welcoming and efficient, always willing to go the extra mile. Even with a table of 10, our meals arrived simultaneously and steaming hot. The dishes are consistently well-presented and portions are generous, not to mention delicious. Their Sunday roasts are a great deal, with perfectly cooked meats and vegetables. The liver and bacon dish is particularly tender and flavorful. We will definitely be returning soon.

The staff at this restaurant was incredibly friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had a great experience. The food was delicious, reasonably priced, and a great value. Additionally, they are dog-friendly, which is a bonus.

We recently celebrated a 70th birthday at this restaurant. The staff were exceptional, the food was delicious, and they went above and beyond to make the evening memorable. All 17 people in our party thoroughly enjoyed their meals. The service was absolutely fantastic. A big thank you to all the staff for making our experience so wonderful.