The Red Lion, Princes Risborough

Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Red Lion

As Komakino states below, this pub is not somewhere you would find in passing. It is hidden along a lane in the Chilterns, but not too far from the town of Princes Risborough.

The pub and car park is set on a bit of a bank. The interior is quite charming and traditional with 3 separate rooms. The main bar area is tiled and has plenty of character. A smaller room with a sign above the doorway for a public telephone can be found to the left. A TV was on in that room, with nobody watching. Whether they were going to show the England game that started within an hour, I don't know. But we were actually the only customers inside the pub. All other customers had been sat outside to the front of the pub.

At the other end of the building was a larger dining room and kitchen. I assume people had been in there earlier for Sunday lunch, as the barman was tidying the room up.

I recall there being 3 handpulls on the bar. At least one was clipped, but it was turned, leaving just a machine dispensing Rebellion IPA and a T-bar of national keg options.

Music was playing in the background. I couldn't identify what it was, but it didn't seem befitting of a country pub. I'm fairly sure it was only on for the barman's benefit.

As we left, a lady amongst the group to the front of the pub bade us farewell. I assumed this was the landlady. This could be a lovely place. It certainly has lots of potential, but seems to be struggling for an identity. Perhaps a few hours earlier when Sunday lunches were in full swing, it would have felt different. But I cannot help but think there was something missing here. Some real ales would be a good starting point to get it back on track.

On 1^st July 2024 - rating: 5
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