The Red Lion, Milton Keynes

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Blackthorn _ left this review about The Red Lion

A pleasant and traditional village pub, it consists of two rooms with one very much more geared up for eating since all the tables were laid up for food. Staff were pleasant and friendly, and there is a good sized beer garden at the rear, although this is predominantly just grass with limited seating.

The bar area to the left has a carpeted floor, except for some pale tiles in front of the bar counter, and pale blue wood panelling on the lower part of the walls with cream plasterwork above. There is a brick fire-place to one side, although at this time of year all it had in it were a couple of candles. Various pictures adorned the walls. The restaurant area to the right was a similar decor with chunky pine tables and a slightly larger fire-place.

The menu was extensive and offered all manner of dishes divided in to sections such as burgers, fish, mains, vegetarian, omelettes, etc., with most options being somewhere in the £8 - £12 mark. My Chicken Curry seemed ambitiously priced at £11, but it was a generous portion of tender chicken and came with naan bread and a mango chutney rather than the usual greasy poppadoms. Personally I would have preferred it somewhat tastier, but overall I have no complaints.

The menu mentioned that they had been in the good beer guide for 20 years, so the choice on tap was surprisingly uninspired with just Bombardier and Eagle IPA. Perhaps it’s very well kept. The solitary cider was Scrumpy Jack, which although not a particular favourite of mine is better than the usual rubbish that you find around these parts. All in all, a decent pub and worth a visit.

On 12^th July 2013 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]