£44 per person
Friday 27 November 2026·November 2026
The Lion's Big Night Out
An Indian feast with 90 minutes of unlimited beer or wine from arrival, a live DJ and dancing, and karaoke into the night.
Tel01206 584000
The Lion of Bengal
Your Next Curry Night in Colchester
Join us in Ardleigh for a curry with friends, a family dinner or a special occasion. Staying in? Order your takeaway favourites.
Dine In
Make a night of it at The Lion of Bengal
Join us for Indian food and a drink from the bar in our timber-beamed dining room in Ardleigh, near Colchester. Whether you're meeting for a midweek catch-up or getting everyone together for a celebration, we'll be glad to see you.
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Open Monday, Wednesday to Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
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Bar service alongside the full Indian menu.
Guinness on TapThe Lion of Bengal Bar
Fully Licensed Bar
A well-stocked bar — with Guinness on tap
Enjoy a freshly poured pint before dinner or settle in with a drink alongside your curry. Our bar is fully stocked with draught beers including cold Guinness and Cobra, wines, spirits, soft drinks and liqueurs.
Draught Beers
Guinness on tap alongside chilled Cobra and cider.
Wines & Spirits
Carefully chosen red, white, rosé, spirits and liqueurs.
No booking needed
Just Pop In
Pop in for a drink and sit at the bar — no food order necessary.
A Taste of the Menu
A flavour of what's cooking
From tandoori starters to chef's specials and biryanis, here's a taste of the dishes waiting for you. See the full menu for the complete selection.
Tandoori Starter
Bengal Platter
Chef's Special
Butter Chicken
Biryani
Bengal Special Biryani
Exotic Tandoori
Tandoori Mix Grill
House Special
Chicken Tikka Massala
Chef's Special
Bengal Delight
Dine-in prices shown. For dietary requirements, please contact the restaurant before ordering.
Every Wednesday
The Wednesday Banquet
Four courses — your choice of starter, main course, side dish and rice or naan — all for £22.95 per person. A generous midweek Indian spread, served every Wednesday.
- ✓Starter
- ✓Main course
- ✓Side dish
- ✓Rice or naan
£22.95 per person
Takeaway
Staying in? Order your Indian favourites
Browse our current online menu and order your takeaway for collection or local delivery where available. It's the same Indian cooking, ready for a relaxed evening at home.
For dietary requirements, please contact the restaurant before ordering — we cannot guarantee any dish is completely free from allergens.
What's On
Upcoming events at The Lion
From big nights out to quiz nights, here's what's coming up at The Lion of Bengal in Ardleigh.
£10 per person
Tuesday 22 December 2026·from 7pm·December 2026
Quiz Night
A mixed platter is included, and the winning team takes home a £50 meal voucher.
Our usual Tuesday closure doesn't apply on this special night — we're open for the quiz.
£64.95 per person
Friday 25 December 2026·12–2pm or 2–4pm sitting·December 2026
Christmas Day Lunch
Four-course festive banquet with halwa and vanilla ice cream. Choose either the 12–2pm or 2–4pm sitting.
£59.95 per person
Saturday 26 December 2026·December 2026
Boxing Day Prosecco Feast
Four-course festive meal with unlimited Prosecco for 60 minutes from arrival.
£64.95 per person
Thursday 31 December 2026·December 2026
New Year’s Eve Celebration
Festive banquet with the first round of beer or wine included, plus DJ, dancing and karaoke into the new year.
Christmas Parties
Now taking Christmas party bookings
Planning a festive get-together with colleagues, friends or family? We'd love to host your Christmas party at The Lion of Bengal. Give us a call to talk through your preferred date and group size and we'll put together a night to remember.
Visit & Contact
Find us in Ardleigh
The Lion of Bengal is in Ardleigh, just outside Colchester. Pop in for dinner, or get in touch if you have a question.
The Street
Ardleigh, Essex CO7 7LD
Ardleigh, Essex CO7 7LD
We're in Ardleigh, just outside Colchester — follow the map below for directions.
Open in Google MapsMonday5pm – 10.30pm
TuesdayClosed
Wednesday5pm – 10.30pm
Thursday5pm – 10.30pm
Friday5pm – 10.30pm
Saturday5pm – 10.30pm
Sunday1pm – 9.30pm
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about visiting The Lion of Bengal.
Ready for your favourite Indian tonight?
Freshly prepared authentic Indian dishes at The Lion of Bengal in Ardleigh. Dine in with us, or order your takeaway favourites and enjoy the evening at home.