The Place
The Red Lion is a quintessential English village pub – à la mode. As we went to press, it had recently retained its Michelin star, unveiled glamorous new bedrooms and been named Pub of the Year 2014 by the Good Food Guide. The delightful chef/patron, Guy Manning, runs the pub with his equally charming and hard-working wife and general manager, Brittany.
There’s everything you could wish for in a thatched pub: a log burner, beams, blackboards and assorted wooden tables and chairs.
The food was superb for an inn, but perhaps quite expensive compared with other similar establishments. But the care that Guy and his closeknit team put into what is essentially home cooking is of the highest order and it’s worth every penny. The five bedrooms are in a converted bungalow, Troutbeck, along the lane. They are a bit glitzy: silvery furniture and fake fur throws, but the standard is high, and they are an exhilarating contrast to the inn. Thoughtful extras include well-stocked minibar; a list of items you may have forgotten, which Brittany can then provide for you; and especially the views of the Hampshire Avon, running through the garden.