The Red Lion, Aylesbury

Official site of The Red Lion - www.theredlionbierton.com

Official site of The Red Lion - www.theredlionbierton.com

Exiting Aylesbury, the Red Lion is the first of the two pubs in this drive-through village and is divided into two rooms - a restaurant to the right and public bar to the left, both accessed via left or right doors from the front entrance and signed accordingly. Each room is rectangular with the bar set against the back wall, recently tiled floor, standard tables and chairs, and in the case of the public bar, with red upholstered bench seating running along the periphery. A TV sat at a low height against the far-left wall with shut-the-box and wooden marble maze games on a table in front. A small fireplace is located on the opposite far right-hand wall between the bar and entrance into the room. A couple of ceiling beams and posts look original but have been painted black along with newer additions and the bar has some exposed brick above what appears to be an original beam. Framed Guinness ads circumnavigate the four walls for decor. The three ale line-up comprised Sharp's Doom Bar, CW Bombardier Glorious English and Rebellion IPA, the latter £3.95 a pint. Some friendly locals propped up the bar during my weeknight visit and 80s soft rock / pop muzak played in the background at an unobtrusive level. Not a destination venue by any stretch of the imagination and probably not worthy of a revisit, but not at all unpleasant, so a 'sit on the fence' 5 is only fair in the circumstances.

The Red Lion has very recently come under new ownership (Feb 2010) after a long period of dodgy management. My husband and I have been in at least a half dozen times since the takeover. The new owners have breathed new life into the place. The food and service are fantastic. They have two regular ales on tap, Adnams and Tribute, with a guest ale periodically. All very well kept. Thanks guys!