The Red Lion

Walk into The Red Lion and you'll clock immediately why Hackbridge regulars keep coming back. This is the kind of pub that doesn't need to try too hard — there's a confidence to the place that comes from doing the basics brilliantly. The bar staff know their regulars by name, the real ale selection rotates properly, and there's proper food on offer that you'd actually want to eat, not just tolerate. It's the sort of place you pop into for a quick pint after work and somehow end up staying for three.