The Red Lion

Address

48 The Quay, Bideford, EX39 5TF

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Always something going on at The Red Lion. Have a scroll and see what catches your eye.

Upcoming events at The Red Lion

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The Pickwick Papers – Open Air Theatre
Theatre

The Pickwick Papers – Open Air Theatre

Open air theatre returns to Clovelly in 2026! Rain or Shine Theatre presents The Pickwick Papers Follow the adventures of Samuel Pickwick and his three companions as they travel through South East England getting into mischief and embarrassing scrapes! This Dickens tale is a hilarious and light-hearted story which will be a great start to the open air theatre performances at Clovelly Court Gardens. This performance will take place on the terraces by Clovelly Court Gardens, with the stunning backdrop of Bideford Bay and the Clovelly Estate. Bring a picnic and something to sit on! Who are Rain or Shine Theatre? “Rain or shine is a Gloucester based professional theatre company which specialises in outdoor ‘Pop-up theatre’ summer tours of classical theatre to castles, stately homes and gardens throughout the UK. We have performed classic comedy productions of works by Shakespeare, Sheridan, Goldsmith, Wilde and Vanbrugh to tens of thousands of happy theatre goers. Our indoor winter season features original adaptions of classics transformed into Morecombe and Wise style comedies; always fast, furious and funny, touring small theatres and village halls.” Tickets to go on sale here on 12 March – keep up to date by following our Facebook event!

Fri 19 Jun19:00The Red Lion
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Comedy of Errors – Open Air Theatre
Theatre

Comedy of Errors – Open Air Theatre

The second of the four open air theatre shows at Clovelly for 2026! Festival Players present Comedy of Errors Shakespeare’s tale of identical twins separated at birth but end up in the same city is a joyful story of adventure, mistaken identity and family reunions. This performance will take place on the terraces by Clovelly Court Gardens, with the stunning backdrop of Bideford Bay and the Clovelly Estate. Bring a picnic and something to sit on! Who are Festival Players? “The Festival Players Theatre Company is now well established as a professional company delivering the best in open-air Shakespeare.  It continues to grow in reputation internationally.  2014 saw a change to the Festival Players set up; the company now tours as an all-male rep company staging two shows featuring the same team of performers. The Festival Players’ patron is Dame Judi Dench, and the company is committed to presenting the very best in touring theatre, providing an accessible and fun filled enjoyable evening for all types of audiences.” Tickets to go on sale here on 12 March – keep up to date by following our Facebook event!

Sat 11 Jul19:00The Red Lion
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Herring Festival
Food & DrinkFestivals & EventsHistory & Heritage

Herring Festival

Clovelly Herring Festival always falls in November, so it’s the time of year when our historic village celebrates the coming of the great “Silver Darlings”, better known as Herring. We celebrate and promote this tasty, nutritious fish whilst supporting sustainable fishing. Herring, an oily fish, whether fresh or smoked, is an excellent source of some great health benefits, such as low mercury and high protein content. Herring contains many key nutrients, such as Omega-3 fatty acids (apparently giving good effects on brain, eyes, heart and muscle function) and other nutritional benefits with so many vitamins, including Selenium, etc. The Maritime historian and writer, Mike Smylie, attends with his “Kipperland” exhibition, which is devoted to the history of all things herring. Mike also turns the herring into delicate-tasting kippers and bloaters in his smokehouse for sale. On the quay, there will be a variety of delicious herring specialities along with natural fibre, local food and craft stalls. Throughout the day there will be live music, free kids face-painting, and children’s activities. Music and Entertainment To be announced! Stallholders Flaxland – exhibitions and demonstrations – an opportunity to discover how the flax plant is used to make a vast range of goods. They will also be running their net-making competition! More to be announced!

Sun 15 NovThe Red Lion
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RNLI Christmas Lights
CommunityFestivals & Events

RNLI Christmas Lights

Celebrate the festive season with the enchanting tradition of our RNLI’s Christmas Lights switch on. The village comes alive with holiday spirit as a local brass band leads a joyful procession down to the harbour, accompanied by the singing of festive carols. At the harbour and Lifeboat Station, you’ll find delicious treats, and Christmas grog, along with other refreshments to keep you warm and merry. Keep an eye out for a special visit from Father Christmas himself. The festivities continue with a heartwarming carol service, after which the village and harbour are illuminated in a breathtaking display of Christmas lights—a truly unforgettable sight! For a perfect end to the evening, enjoy a bite to eat or a cosy drink at the Snug or at the New Inn. All proceeds go to support the lifesaving work of Clovelly RNLI. Any questions please

Fri 4 Dec16:00The Red Lion
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Clovelly Court Garden - Christmas Illuminations
Nature & OutdoorsFestivals & Events

Clovelly Court Garden - Christmas Illuminations

Get into the festive spirit and see the Clovelly Court Gardens like never before. Explore our historic gardens after dark as twinkling lights and seasonal cheer fills the air at the Clovelly Court Gardens Christmas Illuminations! Experience the magic of Christmas in the Clovelly Court Gardens Christmas Illuminations with magical lights throughout the gardens, wander around our Christmas stallholders, and enjoy a great selection of drinks (including mulled wine!) and hot food to keep you warm. We will have live music – to be announced soon! Running from Friday 18th December to Sunday 20th December – it’s a great way to get into the Christmas spirit! Tickets to go on sale in Autumn 2026!

Sun 20 Dec17:00The Red Lion
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Event details on Near Here are aggregated from third-party sources and may change. Always verify times, location, availability, and any price directly with the organiser before travelling. See Terms.