The Red Lion is an independent free house and has been run by the Sutton family for over eight years.

“I lived in Thorncliffe as a child and always wanted to return. When the Red Lion was put onto the market in 2002, Phil and I knew we had to go for it. We saw the Red Lion as a perfect opportunity to take over the reins of this beautiful old pub and identified where we could make improvements. Eight years on, we are at a stage where most of our food is sourced locally, and virtually everything is homemade. After updating the menu we set about sympathetically restoring this beautiful old building. Although the work is still ongoing, we are extremely proud of the improvements we’ve made so far.”

Sue Sutton

“I was working as a chef in a local pub when I first met Sue, she was a waitress and after four years of courting we were married. In the 25 years since then we have worked at several local pubs, bars and restaurants and picked up plenty of priceless information along the way. We both have a real passion for local, fresh, seasonal ingredients and for providing the very best service to our customers. Being a publican involves extremely long hours and physically demanding work, so drive and determination to succeed are vital in this industry. We are fortunate that all the hard work we’ve put in over the past few years has paid off and that our customers leave happy and full. That’s the most satisfying part of the job!”

Phil Sutton

The Red Lion enjoys a superb reputation for food. Head Chef, Mark Sandall who has been at the Red Lion for several years, has brought his unique culinary flair to the menu. Mark along with James Nicol and Richard Gould all have their own specialities in the kitchen. This means the Red Lion is able to offer an extensive selection of locally sourced, home-cooked food for all appetites. We can also cater for any special dietary requirements you may have. Please ask our staff for details.