The Red Lion

‘A wonderful village atmosphere’ is one of the historic Red Lion's prime assets – although it’s not just a gem for the locals: ‘I live 40 minutes away and happily make the journey,’ admitted one fan. Inside, it’s down-to-earth, homely and full of drinkers. ‘Comfortable dining in rustic pub surroundings’ is the pub’s calling card and chef Sean Jeffers delivers an ‘excellent fusion of flavours’ backed by precise technique and thoughtful presentation. Local ingredients and produce from the garden are the building blocks for menus that deliver starry renditions of the pub classics as well as more creative dishes. At lunchtime, you’ll find smoked haddock mornay, ploughman’s, burgers and the catch of the day; in the evening, things move up a gear for the likes of smoked bacon and cod tortellini accompanied by leeks, pickled mussels, keta and capers. To finish, sticky toffee pudding is an all-round winner. The whole show is run by a ‘fabulous’ team who really know how to look after their customers. To drink, there are tip-top ales and a handy list of everyday wines.