Red Lion Inn, Redcar Terrace, West Boldon

Sep 5 2010 by Eddy Eats

Rating: 16/20
Character: 3
Quality: 4
Service: 5
Value: 4

OVER the years, Mrs Eats and I have done more miles than we care to remember in the old Eatsmobile.

And when doing so, there are a number of places we have passed but never actually been inside.

One of those was the Red Lion, in West Boldon, South Tyneside, which we regularly passed on our jaunts on the south side of the River Tyne. Three years ago we finally pulled up and entered in.

So, recently, we decided that we ought to make a return visit to make sure things were stilll up to scratch. And to guarantee we went through with the plan, I even rang up in advance to book a table, so it was fixed in the diary.

And it was a good job we did, as the car park was jam-packed when we pulled in. Thankfully, we managed to get a space for the Eatsmobile after a bit of manoeuvring.

As we walked into the place, we spotted the conservatory area and crossed our fingers that is where we would be sat.

We actually entered the Red Lion through the front entrance, which faces onto the main drag that technically links Newcastle with Sunderland if you follow it for long enough in each direction.

The bar area has an old-fashioned pub feel to it, with the room opening up at the back into a large eating area, which feeds off to the conservatory at the right.

And, as luck would have it, we got our wish and were sat where we wanted to be, with a couple of brave souls enjoying their dinners on decking outside.

Through the week, the Red Lion offers a range of home-cooked options but reverts to Sunday lunch classics on, er, a Sunday lunchtime, and we were glad as it was just what we were in the mood for.

But not before a quick starter. We took advantage of the pub’s three-course special offer, priced at £11.95, and I opted for the chicken liver pate to begin, while Mrs Eats went for the classic prawn cocktail.