please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Went here during a long walk around the South Downs. Beautiful historic pub in a beautiful rural setting. According to the landlady it dates back to the 12th C. and is meant to be the oldest pub in Hampshire. As a Fullers pub had the usual suspects in the form of London Pride, HSB, Seafairers etc, but did have a guest ale from the Bowmans Brewery. Went for the full bodied taste of an HSB and went and sat in the garden out back overlooking the Downs. Food was slightly overpriced but looked good. Will visit again when in the area.
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Food looked great but we were there for the beer on a warm Saturday lunchtime in June. Busy with walking groups, bar service was quick and polite, beer (HSB) was tasty and well kept. We'll be back to try that food out...
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This is the nicest pub in all of Hampshire (in my opinion). I have been using it for over 30 years. For years my wife and I have been walking to the pub almost every week. I really love the place.
BUT I DON'T GO ANYMORE
I prefer other places for food (someone has already mentioned 5 Bells at Buriton). I mainly go to the Red Lion for the beer (HSB of course), and it is always good, no complaints there.
So what's the problem you might ask?
GETTING SERVED is the problem. At lunchtimes there is rarely more than one person behind the bar, if quiet often he is out the back. Also, if in the new part of the pub he will not see you standing alone, like a lemon in the public bar (unless he is looking, which he is not). You can stand there for 5 minutes without anyone in sight. After finally getting served you decide you want to order something to eat or get another drink you go through the whole waiting process all over again. It drives me so crazy that I have stopped going. I don't want to spend my leisure time standing at an unmanned bar. I guess it might be part of a general cutback, but it was never like this with any of the previous managers that I have known. Some would have poured your next drink before you got your backside off the bench!
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Visited this beautiful pub with the family and were delighted with everything. The food is reasonably priced, great choices for all the family and the quality of the food was really good. Staff were friendly, inviting and knowledgeable of their food and wine and the setting is beautiful. Would recommend you visit The Red Lion but probably best to book as they were really busy!
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I must admit I am very wary of reviews from people who have registered just to give a pub a glowing write up & nothing more is heard of them. I always look to see which other pubs reviewers have commented on, if none I take their single review with a pinch of salt.
Consequently our walking group will pop into the Red Lion this weekend for a pint to check it out for ourselves. But we shall be having lunch at the Five Bells in Buriton.
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Just got back after a wonderful meal for four, went there three months, not a patch on that visit. I think the change of management has worked. Do try the fish platter to share (starter) it�s to die for!
Rest of the food was also great!! The whole place and its views are really wonderful. Can�t wait to go back.
Staff could not have been more helpful
Colin Hall
Fareham
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I found this place on one of my countryside motorcycling trips and I have to say it's fantastic. The setting is really nice, service is great and the food... the food is second to none in England. I've taken my clients to these fancy celebrity chef restaurants before, but none of them have prompted the great feedback I've had when we started taking them to the Red Lion. Personal favourite for sure.
setti - 12 Nov 2010 17:08 |
Best meal and night out in ages! Something must have changed here as the evening we had was wonderful, Lovely old pub, the atmosphere was great, and wondering around into the old parts was very interesting. I had a Hampshire steak and my wife choose the Mushroom Wellington, both delivered in good time and tasted great. The beer was also very good with 4 to choose from, sticking to London Pride, I think it was the best pint I have had in ages.
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Avoid this place. This pub is seriously over selling itself - on the food front. Fullers beer was OK but well, why on earth the restaurant (now most of the pub) was fully booked this Saturday evening I cannot tell. Such a shame, oh such a shame, that this delightfully pretty country pub is churning out "chain" pub meals - but badly. Such an ordinary menu at "average" prices (whatever that is for pub food these days) . Anyway certainly poor food.
Shared a reasonable plate of sticky ribs (working out at about �1 per rib), no bread, nothing to acompany it, no spoon to serve it with.. Wife had crafyish tail salad - which they did seem to be. But what it really amounted to was a big plate of "prawn" cocktail. No bread. I had home made "pork" cassoulet which beggared the question as to where the chef got his recipe and/or what the hell he understood a cassoulet to be. It bore about a 5% resemblance to a cassoulet. No chicken/duck, literally about a dozen beans (including some red kidney beans!!), some chorizo, some dry, overcooked fat free (!) pork meat, all washing around in some WATERY tomato flavored substance. Served with standard english veg! Oh for some simple chunks of bread. Disaster. Frankly disgusting and should be on the table of the local trades descriptions officer. Waitress said she told the chef of my comments but still managed to charge me full whack. Avoid this place.
This was a dreadful eating experience, give the place a wide berth.
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Went to this pub today, welcome was not great but food and beer was good, i was overcharged for a small coke paid �10 and got �3.10 back surely a coke cant cost �6.90!! i did not realise at first until i actually got home and counted the change in my pocket, i should have have checked at the time which i realise but something tells me it was not a mistake. Stay clear, i shall not be returning thats for sure
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I'll echo speedytuft's comments, having been one of the party of 6. on the welcome, people, food and drink. I tried Fullers London Pride and Gales HSB - both were in fine condition and appreciated.
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Went there yesterday evening (as part of a group of 6) for a meal halfway through a Halloween moonlight walk. The beer and food were both excellent, but what made it such an enjoyable meal was that though we were eating in the (quite smart) restaurant in our somewhat dishevilled walking attire (and boots) there was none of the feeling of being made unwelcome that, alas, is so often present in these circumstances. On the contrary, the staff could not have been more welcoming and hospitable. So, top marks Red Lion, and I look forward to many happy returns. (Incidentally, the toilets, always a useful indicator in a pub, could have withstood an inspection by an Admiral of the Fleet.)
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We went there for a Sunday lunch with a party of 14. Service was friendly and efficient. The lunch menue had a larger proportion of vegetarian dishes than is usual on pub menus.
Beer choice is limited but well kept.
I remember that under a previous landlord they had a large (for England) selection of malt whiskies. These have now gone to be peplaced by a range of imported bottled lagers.
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Place has had a facelift and the north wing dining extension is now rigged out with books and has a very clubby feel. Thankfully, they have not wrecked the two original bars. Had an OK HSB,but can't comment on the food.
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this pub is thew best i took my family here and the food was quality i dont no what shiner or hsbplease is saying they dont know what quality means.
food 10/10
Drink 10/10
staff 10/10
managers 10/10
if u want a nice day out go here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Following my last visit and pleasant experience on 21 Dec I returned with others for on Sat 29 at lunchtime
Oh dear, it seeFms HSBplease review in Aug 2007 was correct.
Beer was good, but we waited over 45 minutes for meal, nothing special, it was off the daily menu board so should have been readily available
The veg was seriously overcooked and had obviously been sitting around for ages, cauliflower more like slurry, rest was just tasteless pap
Like HSBplease I was a guest, so kept my thoughts to myself but share them here with you
Conclusion, beer OK, but just have a sarnie or bag of crisps
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We went there lunchtime today, first time for years
No complaints at all, food fine, bit pricey compared to some locally but not OTT
I had Fullers Winter Ale, never tried it before, and was very pleased with it, so I had another one
Companions had coffee, which was fine
We had 3 young children with us, and the staff were friendly and helpful, and the portions for the children were fine
The place seemed to have a friendly atmosphere and general air of competance about it
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Come on Fullers, what are you playing at? To me the Red Lion was the best pub in Hampshire. The beer always excellent and the food ok. Mick used to manage the place with a rod of steel, and everything was under control. Now it seems to have all gone to pot (although to be fair the beer is still good). Now tables remain uncleared, you can also wait ages to get served. The meal we had the other night was disgusting, since we had guests I did not like to complain, as I did once before shortly after Fullers took over. If you eat there I suggest you stick to the snacks. I hope that Fullers will see the light and ensure things improved again, it is a lovely place in a beautiful setting.
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The only thing i can say about this pub is GREAT.The staff are all really friendly,the food is always really lovely,really good value for money,lovely pint and management make you feel very welcome.
anonymous - 19 May 2007 14:25 |
The Red Lion is apparently the oldest pub in Hampshire and comes with all the picture postcard attributes that you would expect from a pub of this age � thatched roof, timbered walls and not a right angle to be seen. Bits date from the 12th century and it has been a licenced inn since 1503. The main bar is a delight - small, cosy and dominated by a magnificent inglenook fireplace complete with seats within the fireplace itself. A line of old 3d pieces line the mantle piece above and there are pots, pans, brasses, bed warmers and dangling dimpled tankards in abundance. The ceiling is naturally very low and contains gnarled beams aplenty. The furnishings are very rustic and in keeping with the buildings character with pew seats, a settle and an old clock. Only the floor covering lets things down - it is just crying to have flag stones or even bare wood. Beers on during our visit were HSB & Winter Warmer and as you would xpect from a Cask Marque accredited pub, tasted fine. Just as we were wondering why we virtually had the pub to ourselves, a trip to the toilets revealed another large bar and restaurant area which was fairly busy. In hindsight I wish we had not discovered this bit of the pub as it seemed at odds with the intimacy of the main bar. At the opposite end of the pub is another bar with a partly wooden floor and another fine fireplace. As there was no one in here I assume is only used when busy or for private functions. To summarise the Red Lion, stick to the main bar for a taste of the ye olde drinking experience. Unless you are specifically going for a meal or need to use the loos, pretend the restaurant end doesn�t exist. Alternatively there are apparently some wonderful views from the garden but as it was dark I can�t really comment on that side of things.
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Dropped in for Saturday lunch. Nice staff and pleasant surroundings. Good quality London Pride and acceptable Gales Winter Ale. Very good value baguette meals.
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Mick the landlord has left and Fullers now have it open all day. The food has gone downhill.
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All Gales landlords should be made to taste the HSB at the Red Lion, so that they know what they are meant to be delivering. Food is good too, although the Saga generation have taken over. Try the roast beef sandwiches, they're consistently good with tender lean beef.
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Beuatiful setting, lovely food and a nice pint. closes halfway through the day though as i have found to my dismay on a couple of occasions! still, when it's open it's well worth poking your nose round the door!
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an excellent pub, friendly service and good food
shj philpott - 15 Nov 2004 20:12 |
