Ipswich Star Pub of the Week is The Red Lion in Martlesham

This week, I went for dinner with friends to The Red Lion in Martlesham.

I have been here a number of times before, been with friends and family, and it has never disappointed.

We went on a Thursday evening and it was so much busier than we thought it was going to be, with very few spare tables in the pub.

Ipswich Star Pub of the Week is The Red Lion in Martlesham (Image: Tom Cann)

The Red Lion in Martlesham (Image: Chef & Brewer)

We were welcomed at the front desk the minute we entered and shown to a table.

There is a great selection of drinks available from the bar, Cruzcampo and Peroni both on offer, top beers if you ask me.

There is also a selection of ales on tap, with the pub serving a range of Greene King drinks. They also offer a number of cocktails, spritzes and wines.

I didn't realise they had Cruzcampo or Peroni, so when I was asked what drink I wanted, I panicked and said Moretti, but it's still a decent beer.

For dinner I had the Blackstone Barbecue Chicken, which cost £16.25.

Ipswich Star Pub of the Week is The Red Lion in Martlesham (Image: Tom Cann)

Ipswich Star Pub of the Week is The Red Lion in Martlesham. The hunter's chicken (Image: Tom Cann)

The chicken was served in a separate heated griddle which kept the food nice and hot for a while after it arrived. This was served with salad, onion rings and chips, all cooked brilliantly.

Now, prices, considering my previous Pub of the Week was at The Cricketers in Ipswich, you couldn't have picked two more contrasting places.

It's not cheap at The Red Lion, nothing really is nowadays, with the most expensive main meal option being the lamb shank shepherd's pie at £24.75.

This is expensive, but for most mains it ranges from £15 to £18, which is about standard for this sort of establishment.

Inside the pub (Image: Chef & Brewer)

Inside the pub (Image: Chef & Brewer)

Now, my drink. £7 for a Birra Moretti is what you'd expect to pay in London, not in Martlesham, and I do think that slightly lets it down. If one pint is that price, it certainly isn't the place to go if you want to have drinks with friends.

However, if you are out for a nice meal on a special occasion, then it's perfect, well worth the money.

Staff are really friendly and attentive, food was delicious, everyone in the pub was having a nice time and plenty of car parking available.

Now, coming on to one of the highlights of the pub - the beer garden.

Ipswich Star Pub of the Week is The Red Lion in Martlesham (Image: Tom Cann)

Wow - it's lovely. It's beautifully decorated with plenty of spaces for people to sit, perfect for the upcoming warmer months.

I imagine when it is the summer, there is not a spare seat to be had in the garden. That is what the pub has done really well in. Inside, you feel it is the perfect space for a winter meal with the log fires and cosy feel to it, but then when it is summer, they have the perfect beer garden available.

Outside there is also a smoking area and at the back of the garden there is a wildlife section for just insects.

The bar in the pub (Image: Chef & Brewer)

The pub underwent a refurbishment in 2024, taking just four weeks to complete the six-figure revamp.

The garden was a main focus of the refurbishment, with the inside also being done to make it more dog-friendly with the removal of some carpets, new furniture being put in and the opening of the bar space.

In all, I am a big fan of this pub. It is perfect for a special occasion with family or friends.