please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
We arrived on our walk at 1155. Pub opens bang on 1200 - to the second !
Hall and Woodhouse beer - Tanglefoot, First Gold and Brewery Bee. The latter was new to me and was very good - stuck with it all lunchtime.
Food was OK. It was cheap - Bacon Cheeseburger £7.25, so didn't expect huge portions. One odd thing was that the burger bun was not the usual bap but a normal soft roll. Weird ! Menu not hugely extensive, but this is not necessarily a bad thing.
The lad behind the bar knew what to say to customers but could have said in a livelier fashion. Young lady waitress was very good.
The Red Lion is not the most stupendous pub you'll ever visit, but I would happily spend some time there again if in the area.
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Went to eat here recently. The menu is seriously limited and very boring. The vegetarian option is omelette! Really, people are not going to travel any distance for stuff like this. Terrible puddings too. The new landlord needs to get his act together and make the menu much more interesting or local people will just not eat there. Fine for drinking.
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Just re-opened under new management. Geordie landlord. currently limited menu, but will soon be back to full strength. Really lovely country pub within a couple of mins drive of Silchester Roman Town.
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As of a few days ago, this pub is changing hands again, so reviews are now out of date, which is a shame as the Red Lion since Craig (?) took over was a good place to get a decent beer and decent food.
The Horse and Groom in Mortimer itself a mile or two away is in the same 3pub (now 2pub) group, and also does very decent food and beer, but offers a rather different atmosphere - rather "livelier" at times (eg Friday evening) than the Red Lion, which won't suit everyone.
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Visited on Thursday evening and were very impressed. Tim the barman was extremely friendly & efficient and the interior was oldy worldy with a lovely open fire. Good selection of food and we both had fish and chips which was very nice and very reasonably priced.
Would visit again if in the area and would recommend it.
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Love this pub!!! The service is excellent, the food is excellent, the decor is a bit dark and needs brightening but hey its a traditional country pub and it is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marco the manager is brilliant along with the rest of the team that work there, they are always bright, friendly, helpful and wanting to achieve the best which they do time and time again...have NEVER had a bad meal or beer here
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I live in London but go to this pub whenever I come to Mortimer. The pub decor and food do not match. The pub is bit dated and shabby but the food is delicious and very reasonably priced for the quality. Don't be put off when you walk in! The people that run it are efficient but not very smiley which may come over as rude but I'm sure rudeness is not intended. The manager makes sure the staff waiting the tables are doing a proper job. They are focused on their customers being well looked after.
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Visited this pub for the first time recently with my wife and we were both delighted with the friendly reception we received and the quality of the food served. As i wanted to find the telephone number a few days after, I entered the name on the net and came across this web site. I could not believe that the pub I visited was the same one for which scathing comments had been made (albeit some year or so ago) so we returned today with a guest. Despite a limited menu being available, it was monday and we were told they had not yet had time to restock after a busy weekend, all 3 of us said how good the food was and commented on the friendly atmosphere. There was even a sign outside to state that due to increased business they needed to employ an additional chef! I suggest that the previous correspondents might like to visit The Red Lion again to see if they still hold the same views as previously.
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Foody pub, a bit posh and seems to have had a make over. I thought this pub was quite lovely. They had 4 real ales on, the 2 I had were in excellent condition. Flowers, Brakspear's Bitter, Otter and Good Old Boy (West Berks).
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I think you have the wrong pub sir. For this pub has not vastly improved, it has been ruined. No atmosphere anymore and the attitude of hand over your money and leave as soon as possible is the impression given. As for the new owner he will give you his time when he wants to, when hes not busy reading the paper. Overall another good pub ruined by hall and woodhouse and the foreign invasion.
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Waited 5 minutes for someone to just acknowledge that I was there at 13:45 on a Saturday lunchtime before leaving without seeing a single member of staff. There are plenty of places that I can get a drink without waiting what I consider a long time for a member of staff to even get behind the bar.
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Not sure if the the last review refers to the guys in charge now, but as a summer visitor to the red lion for the last 10 years I can say it has vastly improved since the departure of the previous landlady. Not been there since august but the service was much improved on my last visit. The food was also brilliant in terms of value quantity and quality. Its really good to see this pub back on form
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Its a shame but I can't recommend this pub yet. I have been a number of times but the last visit summed it up.
Pros:
The pub is nice and cosy inside with a log fire and has good outside areas front and back.
The food is good and the Beef Wellington I had recently was divine.
Hoff Brau lager and Badger real ales are well looked after.
Carparking is fine for a pub this size.
Cons:
Although the bar is small it is still under stocked.
There are three taps for ale but only two are ever used and often one of those is out.
The fire is needed when it's baltic outside and it was just neglected on my last visit which is a shame as it gives the pub so much character.
If there are anymore than 15 people in the pub the food is delayed by 30 minutes at least. The staffing level just can't cope with demand.
The till slows every order by 5 minutes.
The card machine is always buggered.
The poor chap on the bar is usually swamped by orders and is unable to cope on his own. Because he is so busy he has no time for chat and silence behind the bar is odd.
The atmosphere is non existant and the whole experience is calamitous and cold.
The landlord/lady (I have not seen him/her) needs to spend some time in other pubs as he/she has not got a clue.
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food's great, enjoyed my burger, however, new management has resulted in some bad changes.
The new owner is very cold and has created an awful atmosphere, which is a shame, because the food and drink is wonderful, it's just the lack of people skills.
If you want to go simply to eat, then i would recommend it,
if you want a social atmosphere from the bar, then i wouldn't, as he;s on the bar alot.
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Dreadful place
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Not impressed. Landlady could do with some lessons in customer care. Very slow service even with booking a table in advance. What a shame - used to be a good pub a few years back.
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This is a great pub, great food and excellent service. There was a slight delay, but it was most definately worth it, the past was wonderful.
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Quite appalling. 55 minutes delay in food being served. Rude landlady and blond side-kick. Would not recommend to anyone. There are lots of other excellent pubs in the area selling great food. Try village pub in Aldermaston village.
anonymous - 5 Nov 2007 19:28 |
It was my another trip to a country pub. Plesant pub with nice food and garden.
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Went there for new years eve paid �50 for the privilige of the evening disco for me and my g/f, buffet and fireworks. I work shifts so dont always get this night off. Advertised professional DJ he didnt turn up but we got our money back even though they had our number they could have rang us to tell us so. We paid �5 for a buffet that fitted on a small table, landlady said food ready but couldnt be bothered to uncover, no meat sandwiches so all I got was a sausage roll and crisps for my money. Her attitude all evening was that most of the customers were a pain and she was very clicky with some. Hello shut the pub down and dont open if you have this attitude. The young staff though that evening were excellent. Not recommended if you want a friendly pub
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As a regular I can only echo the comments pasted anonymously on 1st December 06 describing the food as good and the landlady as open and honest. Both the pub and the landlady are exactly what I look for in my local.
Good beer and food plus staff that I feel comfortable with, together with middle-of-the-road customers make it an excellent village local.
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I agree with the last comment. Good beer, had execellent fish and chips and very friendly and helpful service.
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A traditional country pub with Character. Most of the food is home cooked which makes a nice change from these pub chains with terrible food. Friday and Saturday night always seems to be busy with a good atmosphere. I have eaten here a number of times and become friendly with the Landlady - she is honest, open and always has time for us.
This is a great pub for people who want to relax and enjoy the open fire. It's definiately not one of those awful 'Gastro Pubs'.
It seems to rely on local people for staff due to it's location so i am very surprised by the comments by 'lancer scott'.
anonymous - 1 Dec 2006 08:41 |
Excellent ale. Beer festival was fantastic and extensive with brilliant entertainment thrown in.
Service always good, food always lovely (esp. chicken new yorker from specials board).
excellent beer garden, perfect for long summer days. surrounded by a lovely view! Play area for kids is brilliant (from first hand experience ;) ) and theres a pet corner!!!!
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I knew I was in for trouble when the barman completely ignored my futile attempts to get attention and rushed to serve the locals, a cardinal sin in my book. However, the real low point was the meal; luke warm, indifferent service and completely overpriced for such small portions. The food here seems to have gone steadily downhill over the last few years, but the prices, of course, have not! The kitchen staff looked like they'd dropped in on their way home from school, and to top it all they were expecting a tip on the credit card machine. Fat Chance! I won't be heading back here in a hurry, even though the Badger Best is rather nice.
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Found the pub charming and nice beers, prices are a bit high, there is a log fire which gives it a homely feeling, have not tried the food.
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Expensive for what it is. OK-ish pub with Ok-ish garden.
Would not make the trip again
anonymous - 16 May 2006 12:48 |
The family had a memorable meal on Sunday. There was a broad menu offered which even provided for our picky vegy teenager (pity about there being no curry, but it was Mothers Day).
The food was served promptly, considering that the place was packed to the gunnels, and above all was served on hot plates!!
The staff were decked out in 'Dicky Bows' and white shirts and waited on us with warm smiles and entertaining patter. The 'ma�tre d'h�te' could make a good living as a comedian!
Apart from one very loud woman customer, possibly a little the worse for drink, but expertly handled, we enjoyed every minute. Good value for money.
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Went to Red Lion for Mother's Day. Limited Set Menu with no vegetarian option. Head waiter had no idea of anything, he couldn't tell what red wines they had or where they were from, when asked how the chicken casserole was prepared he replied "in the oven." The food was mediocre, service mediocre, price was expensive for what was provided. Rhubarb Crumble was mushy and swimming in cream. Would not recommend and will not go again.
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Best Pub in the local area by far, great beer, good food and relaxing atmosphere.
anonymous - 17 Mar 2006 21:03 |
The landland quite frankly rude, the bar staff made up for it. Friendly staff. Food was a little slow coming out and adequate, nothing too special.
Overall an average pub with a nice garden for the kids.
anonymous - 14 Mar 2006 11:30 |
Sian and Oliver must have just been unlucky or very hard to please. I have been going to this pub for the last 3 years and have nothing but praise for it. Organised the office xmas lunch there and everyone wants to go back again - says it all really. One of the last few "real" pubs - friendly, real fire, real beer, good food and dogs welcome. What more could anyone ask.
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Wonderful Sunday Roast. Polite service with a smile and a laugh. Surroundings in good taste, very clean and well managed.
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I've just had a great meal with my five friends. Good food, wonderful surroundings and an olde world atmosphere that is so refreshing to find today. I can't get over how welcoming the landlady is. Thanks for a great evening Jo, we'll come again soon!
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Totally disagree with last two comments. Sounds like a personal attack on the landlord / landlady. As a passing visitor I found this pub a warm & friendly country pub with a great atmosphere. The layout had everything you could want, a separate restaurant section, another non-smoking section especially good for families and a bar area with an authentic log fire. The fact that dogs are welcome in the bar area adds to the atmosphere. To sit, supping a good pint of Tangle Foot with a Labrador sparked out snoring away in front of the roaring fire was for me, pure bliss. No Sky sports, no gaming machines, no pool table was a rare treat you don't often find - good friendly conversation where the locals made you feel very welcome indeed.
Did not eat, but meals being served to others looked ok with good portions. I felt the 'specials' board could have been a bit more adventurous, (the only -ve I could see).
anonymous - 11 Feb 2006 22:05 |
I agree with he comment below. Niceness cost nothing!! Please, Thankyou etc.........
Ordered food, just warm enough to eat. I Had Steak and Chips, the steak, lovely cooked just how i wanted it, chips, what chips?? the poor excuses for chips were little fried things that looked like left overs and no bigger than a 10p you couldnt even put yout fork in them as they would snap not what you would expect!! Very over priced for a little pub and not a nice place to go.
Wouldnt reccomend it to anyone - well unless i didnt like them.
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Was a great pub but I have learnt that the way to get rejected from this pub is to spend loads of cash and be a good paying customer, and never create any bad feelings.
Having spent large amounts of cash and entertaining my customers there, I have found that if the landlady decides she does not like you, she will tell everyone except you. I have seen so many regulars leave this pub I could write a book. One day she will learn the art of true customer loyalty, and for her sake, she will do this will before she upsets to many others.
If you have similar views to mine I would be interested to hear as I know I am not the only one who feels this way.
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Food ok, beer good, pub setting excellent. Top pub to kick back in the garden with a paper, feels like your sitting in a field!
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This used to be my regular haunt many years ago, possibly even in another incarnation. This is going back to when the two gay boys, Peter and I can't remember the other guy's name ran the show.
It was excellent then way back in the 80's.
More recently, wearing my coach driver's hat I took a bunch of the locals to the races. What a lovely crowd of people.
Even more recently I had lunch there as part of four generations of my family; my little granddaughter, my two daughters and my father-in-law. The hospitality was first-class, the ale varied and excellent, and the food superb.
Last night I went again with my youngest daughter and her husband.
Again, as always, a great ambiance, a wonderful welcome, excellent food and warm, friendly and prompt service.
BUT........
pub management and chefs please note......
A key, nay vital, ingredient of Salade Ni�oise is anchovies, and "Sorry, sir, we've run out" is just not good enough.
You could have had a 9, but this omission and the excuse results in a lower score.
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