please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
If I'm being totally honest, Adnams beers are not my favourite. I find Southwold bitter average, Ghost Ship not zesty enough and Broadside a little on the sweet side. That said, their pubs are fantastic, often lovely buildings in stunning locations with the prevailing nautical theme and with a good mix of clientele. The Red Lion is a fine example, catering for tourists and locals aside, with a lovely setting on the south green. Beers were Ghost Ship, Southwold, Broadside and Freewheel. For the cider drinker, Wild wave is a pretty decent Adnams cider. The landlord at The ship in Dunwich said it was on the sweet side, but I found it dry enough to refresh with a good 'apple' base. You can still drink on the green, but as stated below, only in plastic glasses.. Can we end the 'nanny state' when we finally achieve Brexit?
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Being so close to Adnams brewery it was no surprise to see their beers on the six hand-pumps.
Four of the pumps were dispensing Southwold Bitter, the other two Broadside (two beers from six pumps - you must be joking?).
Whose in charge of ordering the real ale here?
If you can't get a range of Adnams brews then get some guest ales in.
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We went in here 3rd Sept for something to eat.The Adnams Ghostship was very good so too was the fish and chips.Friendly barman and general atmosphere inside,dog friendly pub.Food arrived quickly.Pleasant young lady bringing out food as we sat outside. Several tables available to enjoy the comings and goings on the green.The toilets were clean and tidy with good hand washing facilities.Our experience this evening deserves a 9/10
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Scores out of 5
Beers on offer 4 - Beer quality 5 - Full pint? 3 - Service 3 - Clientele 3
Garden & view 3 - Welcome & staff 3 - Parking 2 - Toilets 3 - Comfort 4
TOTAL 33 out of 50 OVERALL RATING 31 to 35 = 7
Comment: This is my favourite pub in Southwold and a nice view but since the Elf N Safety has stopped the drinking on the Green (except for plastic glasses pthst!) I can�t give a higher score. Very nice though.
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I admit to being a lager drinker (preferably Stella) this is not a good thing to be in Southwold! Enquired whether the Carlsberg was Export variety and recieved such a withering look from the barman that you would think I'd asked for his pin number or the combination to his daughters chastity belt. I appreciate that Southwold is the epitomy of genteel but I find the pubs complacent. Needs a Wetherspoon to liven it up ( I suggested this to a taxi driver who nearly crashed)
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My favourite pub in Southwold. Wonderfully situated on that green common, and next to no distance from the sea front. Perfect to sit outside of in the summer, and perfect to sit comfortably in during the other 10 months of the year. as with most of southwolds pubs, the Adnams beer is great.
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Nice food, let down by inflexable, verging on rude attitude about ordering food. Don't dare to irder your food 1 minute before 6!
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Good food and usually good beer (though not as well kept as some of the other Southwold pubs) and in Summer you can't beat sitting out on the green looking out over the sea and it's cosy in the winter but the barstaff can be right miserable gits at times which detracts from the whole experience a bit.
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the absolute best food of all the pubs in Southwold. Very friendly and might I add cute staff when we were there....they maybe play Johnny Cash a bit too often , but other than that it was our favourite pub in Southwold
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Went in to here straight after the Lord Nelson just round the corner and had the best beer of the day, really well kept. Found a seat easily enough, it doesn't seem to get as packed as the Nelson. The front bar area, though busy is a nice place to be, comfortable and friendly, but I started to notice all the warning boards on the walls, dogs on leads, food ordered from a particular place and kids banished to the back, that sort of thing, thought I was back in the Forces. I had a look at the back, there seemed to be a shed arrangement on the way to the loo which I presume to be the kids room as the garden seemed to be a big smokeathon. The people I shared a table with had meals which looked great. Decent place to go apart from the constant written instructions.
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We had gone to this pub after hearing adverts on the local radio about the friendly atmosphere. We wanted both food & drink but the 2 men behind the bar had such a bad attitude it didn't take us too long to realise that their bad mood was here to stay. We ended up walking out. Will not return.
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Quite how this place gets a 8.2 rating is beyond me, the place was filthy, poor Adnams, full of horrible screaming kids � avoid - go to the Lord Nelson instead.
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To be fair only had a beer here and it was OK but the pub seem to lack any atomsphere but it was mid week and March. Friendly staff and locals.
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Nice pub with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Well kept range of Adnams ales and some superb food; especially the fish and chips. This and the Nelson are two pubs that I never fail to visit when in Southwold.
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An excellent establishment, good beer and service. (A bonus on Sept 13, I had booked a table for 9 at the Kings Head which lost power due to an electrical fault.Jack at the KH not only contacted me but made arrangement with Derek @ the Red Lion to honour the booking, and a very good nosh it was. I was most impressed with both parties. Thanks Jack and Derek.)
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Really great place. Adnams good as always, food excellent with unbelievably generous servings. Staff unfailingly friendly and polite even though they are always busy. You get the feeling your custom is welcome and don't get overlooked waiting to be served even if 'only' a seasonal visitor. (Sole Bay Inn are you listening?)
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My favourite pub in Southwold, Cracking home cooked food and a great pint of Adnams Broadside.
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Visited yesterday (17/7/08) whilst working in Southwold and was very impressed. Staff very friendly, and Adnams beer very well kept, could have stayed all day slowly sinking into a quiet fugg but only had time for lunch. The pub is renowned for it's fish and chips and it's obvious why. Fish perfectly cooked (I had plaice) in delicious crisp batter with perfect chips and peas. Generous portions (the lady with us only ate half of her haddock which she described as excellent). The main bar area is fairly small and the tables fill up quickly but there are two dining areas to the back of the building full of Adnams memorabilia and a large covered area outside at the back with large tables where smokers can poison themselves quietly amongst hanging baskets and trailing greenery.
Drinkers are allowed to spill out onto the Green as long as they use plastic glasses and don't annoy the local residents (this is one of the most sought-after second-home places in the UK).
The landlady is also the Town Mayor of Southwold and knows everything there is to know about the area, and all the people that matter.
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Later in the day when we staggered back from Walberswick to the Red Lion, which was now very busy around the bar but we mercifully grabbed a table in an anex room. Exhausted from drinking and improvised twilight dune 'boules' (rock throwing) it all seemed a bit raucous for me, especially with an upstairs party getting into gear, but that would be an unfair reflection of the pub. Omnipresent Adnams beers were good, the folk were friendly, the long chalkboard menu looked appetising. Another good pub but, by now, (& whisper it quietly in Adnamsland), I was sacrilegiously craving a guest ale!
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This pub is a great one if you like real ales and good food, situated not far from the beach, if the weathers good , then sit outside and eat while you enjoy a pint of the Adnams from the brewery around the corner....bliss
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This pub pushes the Nelson all the way for the title of best pub in Southwold. Great grub, great beer of course. It's The Nelson by a short head but it's blinkin close.
anonymous - 29 Mar 2006 15:39 |
