Ye Olde Red Lion — Restaurant in Boston

Plese note... I wrote this review but in hindsight, I wish I had been able to speak to Rebecca first. This wasn't possible on the evening (for personal reasons). Having discussed it with her I think our difficulties can be put down to a lack of communication. Rebecca has been very gracious and we are definitely going to try here again as there was much to like...beautiful setting, lovely building, very clean etc. The food was also very good. 'First time visit with friends. Sadly not the best experience. Shown to a table at the far end of the pub in any empty room. The pub wasn't full or busy. We had pre-ordered as there were 8 guests. Waitress sat us down and left saying nothing. Almost 1 hour later no food had arrived and no waiting staff had checked in with us. One of our group went to chase up our order and a waitress then came to say our food was on its way. While I appreciate this is not in any way a fast food restaurant I do think that an hour is a long wait when you have pre-ordered especially with no attention or information from the staff. Two of us had ordered salmon. Our meal arrived with a small portion of fish which wasn't salmon. When we asked what fish it was the waitress said 'I think it's hallibut' but no mention of it not being what we had ordered. It might have been nice to have mentioned that there was a change to the order....perhaps a reason? I'm guessing salmon is readily available but perhaps it was sold out or hadn't been delivered that day....? The dish was nice ... Pudding was also very very good. Having cleared that away we were just left again.... eventually we managed to call out and a waitress bought the bill. Tbh it felt like we were a bit of an inconvenience and we had been forgotten.... We may try here again as we were hoping that this would be our new, local 'high end' dining 'go to' place.... not so sure now.' Ps. We will be definitely be visiting again. I am reassured that this was down to a lack of communication which I'm sure will be addressed...

This review has been deleted on google We had a booking for 12:30pm and arrived early at 12pm. The restaurant was empty but for a handful of diners. The waitress placed us on the worst table for two in the pub. She asked if this table was ok. I said no can we be moved to the table on the other side of the partition wall which was empty. She said no because someone has asked for the table when booking. However there was no reserved table sign on the table. The other tables of two which were better located were all empty as well. I am Indian so did she display unconscious racism by placing us on the worst table. When all the other tables for two were empty. I showed my disappointment in her placing us at this table when the restaurant was empty. She came back be placed us on another table for two which was on the other side of the partition.

After when other white customers for a table of 2 came into the restaurant, they were not placed on the bad table which we were placed on. Even two old white ladies who were there before us weren’t seated at this bad table which is in a pathway to the other tables. They had arrived before us.

I would understand if the pub was busy and then given this bad table. But to offer the bad table to the brown customer is bad practice. I think it’s unfair to be treated this way because of their unconscious racism. This did ruin the meal for me. This was our first time in Bicker. We were on our way to Sandringham for the Robbie...

Having looked at the December sample menu, we called in the hope of finding a table at very last minute and the lovely lady on the phone was only too happy to accommodate us at such late notice.

We arrived 20 minutes later to a warm welcome and such cosy surroundings. Having never been here before we were shown to our seats, advised that the menus change every two weeks and sometimes dishes are replaced every few days.

Wow, what a menu. No sign of pate, soup of the day as starters, or ham egg and chips on the mains. Instead what greeted us was a menu full of delicious dishes, with options of having a tapas style evening or traditional three course.

Tonight we opted for three courses of gastro delight. We both had the scotch egg to begin, accompanied with the endless dish of firm, juicy olives. The scotch egg itself was delicately seasoned with a delicious fondant egg. Alongside was the homemade piccalilli.

For mains my husband had the filet stake with trimmings which he said was delicious. I had the seabass with fondant potatoes which was cooked so well and I left nothing.

Finally even though there was no space, we couldn't resist the sticky toffee pudding having seen it pass us to other tables. It was such a light sponge, plus the ice cream allowed me to indulge in more.

In summary this is not your traditional pub fayre, but a higher end restaurant with seriously good food, a wonderful setting and fantastic staff.

We will be...