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Beer of the Week (w/e 2nd November 2025) with PaulOfHorsham
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The Red Cow, Market Harborough
Market Harborough
LE16 7AF
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Red Cow
Attractive-looking Greene King pub with an interesting facade, although less so inside. Small and basic bar with two bow windows, darts in a side alcove and a tiny rear room with a skittles table and another darts board. I found five cask ales on offer here in my previous visit in 2012, but just Old Speckled Hen (£2.00, half) and Landlord this time.
On 27th October 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8928 recommendations about 8928 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about The Red Cow
A couple of decently laid out rooms inside giving a decent pubby feel. More seating upstairs was advertised on the wall so attempted to have a look but was admonished halfway up the stairs by an increasingly stroppy landlady saying it was closed and forbade me from even having a peek.
The two beers were Old Speckled Hen and Landlord, so it was a second pint of the latter on this trip for me.
I've knocked a point off for the stroppy landlady/bar person.
On 20th October 2025
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2232 recommendations about 2198 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Red Cow
The adverb "thunkingly" may well join my vocabulary after reading the previous review. The limited cask beer range wouldn't be much of an enticement to most, but I had my eyes opened to how good Old Speckled Hen can be, if well looked after, when on a trip to Norfolk a month ago, so I went for that in preference over Landlord on the other hand pump. I was not disappointed (NBSS 3.5, £3.70/pint), though the clunky modern glass is a bit of a handful.
On 19th October 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4492 recommendations about 4123 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about The Red Cow
Thunkingly modernised, if they keep this pristine it'll be CAMRA listed in the next 30 years. It's OK really but not designed to be fun, with a huge void space ‘twixt bar and seating. Rear room which I failed to explore. Two ‘so what’ ales in GK OSH and TTL, the latter of which was also ‘so what’ (NBSS 2.5).
On 4th September 2025
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5754 recommendations about 5735 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Red Cow Hotel
This is a Greene King tied house with two separate rooms.
I went in the bar with the six hand pumps and didn't venture into the other one. Five beers were available all GK orientated, OSH, IPA, Abbot, Hardy & Hanson's Bitter and a London Red Ale which apparently is a collaboration between GK and London Beer Factory. I went for this one (£3.30) and found it to be an excellent pint even though red ales are not my favourite.
I found this pub to be much more welcoming than its nearest neighbours and thought it well worth a visit.
On 30th May 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Red Cow Hotel
A deceptively small, decidedly unfriendly, Greene King boozer.
Outside the Red Cow is an attractive period building but, once you've fought your way through the massed ranks of the unsmiling smokers welcoming committee, you find that inside is really quite small with all the space being taken up by darts and skittles. Any tables and chairs were occupied by dartists discarded clothing.
In trying to get to the bar you're reminded that Gartree maximum security prison is close by and are rewarded by the massed ranks of Greene King handpumps. GK IPA, Abbot and Old Speckled Hen were passed over in our case for Oakham Cita which wasn't in the best condition.
Market Harborough isn't blessed with great pubs and the Red Cow fits right in.
On 2nd April 2013
- rating: 4
[User has posted 691 recommendations about 690 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Red Cow Hotel
This is a Greene King tied house but there is a guest ale policy,Oakham Citra (£3.28 ,in tired condition)and that was the sole reason to go into the pub.
There was a large welcome committee of smokers outside the pub,and a good number of bar blockers who were very reluctant to move so that I could access the bar.Five handpumps in total but both GK IPA and Old Speckled Hen were doubled up.The front room is dominated by a darts board to the right and a flatscreen Sky Sports to the left and with little furniture to pitch down on ,we left the rum bunch of regulars to their private space and headed to the small back room,where there is just enough room for a Northamptonshire skittles table ,an alcove for another dart board,some stools around a drinking shelf and two small round tables.This area was marginally more welcoming than the front bar.
A local pub for local people,I wont be disturbing their karma again.
On 23rd March 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3041 recommendations about 3041 pubs]