Red Lion Inn

Used to use this pub when we had finished duty at the old Southlands Hospital. It was great then and it has to be said that it hasn’t lost it. Menu has changed and they now even offer 2 for a Tenner, but I wouldn’t bother. Stick with the traditional menu. Still an enjoyable place to be on a sunny or rainy afternoon!

This is a very popular ‘Olde Worlde’ pub, with low beamed ceilings, real ale and cosy fires. (It’s also the perfect place from which to watch the Annual Shoreham Air Show).
The Red Lion is situated in what was once the pre-​Norman heart of Shoreham, before the port and town moved nearer the sea (‘New Shoreham’) in the 12^th century. The river lies just a few yards away on the other side of the road, as does the original wooden Shoreham Toll Bridge, which dates from 1781 and is now a listed monument. However, what could be an idyllic spot is rather marred by the busy road junction in front of the pub and the noise of distant traffic on the new A27.
The pub itself dates from the 16^th century, and the old part has beams so low that anyone over 5ft 7in is going to have to get used to having to duck. There are two bar areas, a further room and two very cosy booths which sit four people (just about — you’ll be very good friends by the end if you weren’t at the start) alongside a passage off the main bar. There’s an outdoor area at the front, which is fine if you don’t mind the passing traffic.
They serve a range of up to 5 real ales, which on my visit included two local brews, Adur brewery’s ‘Velocity’, W J King & Co’s Horsham Best Bitter, as well as Shepherd Neames’ Kent Bitter. They have an extensive food menu of traditional pub grub, with a very wide range of starters, with grills, traditional meat and fish dishes, and salads. Vegetarians are less well catered for in the standard menu when it comes to main courses, although for £10 they sometimes do a mezze of starters which might suit two people.
The pub attracts a wide range of visitors, especially at lunchtimes and weekends, but on quieter weekday and Sunday evenings it tends to attract mainly locals. The only downer for me was that the staff were a bit distracted on my visit — more interested in texting than serving.
There’s a small car park at the side (access from the rear) and the bus stop for the hourly 2A Shoreham-​Steyning bus is located opposite the Amsterdam pub on the other side of the roundabout. The return stop is literally in front of the pub.

The red lion Inn is a great pub. A fantastic place to drink on a summer’s day with its large outdoor seating areas front and rear. Its location close to the Adur River and accompanying cycle path makes it a fantastic place to stop and enjoy a relaxing, or indeed restorative, drink while out on a long ride. Somehow, despite being so close to a roundabout and busy road, when you sit outside this living portrait of all that’s good about Sussex it’s every so easy not to notice the sound of motorbikes and heavy haulage storming by, which might mean that it’s better for those with children to take advantage of the beer garden.
Every year around mid April, the Red Lion plays host to the annual Adur beer festival. This is a real treat for ale lovers like myself. The festival lasts for three days and you pay for your glass and then walk among bearded kings of the ale world trying a massive variety of real ales from all over the country. I believe Camra members get in a day early, but in my experience they seem to leave a day late too so there’s plenty of good product knowledge on hand if it all seems a bit bewildering.
Summer is not the only time to drink here though. With its low ceilings and hearty pub food the Red Lion makes for a perfect cosy winter hideaway.

What a beautiful little pub this is. They really have got the perfect combination of an old pub with a contemporary feel to it. Low oak beams (really low I’m 6ft 3 and had to walk around looking pretty strange), open fire and these lovely little old fashioned booth style seats. The walls are adorned with old paintings and photographs of the pub which I always think shows real pride in your establishment. Local wise, there was an equal mix of young and old all enjoying themselves.
Food choices are on blackboards around the pub which I much prefer to menus and looked fantastic — good old pub grub cooked freshly. On the bar, there was no Harveys but there was that dangerous liquid treat; Old Thumper. They had Horsham bitter too which was quite nice. They also organise beer tasting nights which sound really good. £30 which includes 15 beer samples, lunch and nibbles and a comprehensive bundle of tasting notes!