The Red Lion, Redhill

Sizeable food-led pub beside the busy A25 (although this does little to enhance the ambience of the decking beer garden at the front...). Mostly opened out inside to leave a L-shaped arrangement of various seating and dining areas, all refurbished in a light semi-traditional style. As a Greene King house, it was no surprise to find IPA, Old Speckled Hen (£4.80) and Landlord as a notional guest beer on three of the four handpumps.

A roadside Greene King pub, larger than it looks and mostly given over to dining, although a group of old locals were clustered round the bar. It is decorated with a vast quantity of old prints and photos round the walls, pillars and even the ceiling in places. Cask ales were Abbot and Golden Hen, with the bonus of a drinkable TT Landlord.

The A25 tracks the ancient pilgrims' route from Winchester to Canterbury and is reflected in some of the villages and their pubs. The Red Lion claims to date in part from 1309, not that you could tell. Its current incarnation is Greene King's version of an M&B Vintage Inn, though with perhaps just a little less if a feeling of what a design department thinks a country pub should be like. All knocked through of course, but plenty of corners and various interesting old pictures and general impedimenta to look at. It is of course set up primarily for eating; just having a drink is not a problem but the routine GK range does not inspire. It's an adequate performance, worth a call if you're in this neck of the woods, but there are better choices around here.