The Red Lion, Basingstoke

A fairly smartish pub designed to appeal across the pub going spetrum, two adjoined rooms with a mix of seating from normal to sofas, the flooring materials mixed but there is some original parquet floor still in evidence. Four handpumps that were offering three beers on my visit, Doom Bar, Hop Back Hooking Good and Anarchy Blonde Star.A pub that would appeal to the general village population and fine for a pint but not the sort of place I'd choose as a local.

Official site of Red Lion - redlion-overton.co.uk

Official site of Red Lion - redlion-overton.co.uk

Tastefully decorated food led establishment that very narrowly avoids being just a restaurant. Extremely well kept Hogs Back and Flowerpots beers just slightly more expensive than average. Beer mats appear to be verboeten, perhaps they would make the place a little too “pubby”. Casual drinkers are welcome in one room while the other is the true restaurant side. Nice leather seating not of the shiny variety, and some tasteful but wine orientated prints. The staff and customers are generally frightfully well spoken, not a destination for the village lads and lasses I'm guessing.