Red Lion Freehouse

“Confident country pub cooking.” - AA Inspector
PEWSEY, WILTSHIRE

Our Inspector's view
Hidden from view down narrow lanes in an idyllic corner of Wiltshire, The Red Lion has retained its pubby element for the locals but also draws foodies from far and wide. If it’s just a drink and a snack you’re after, there’s a range of local beers on tap and carefully selected ciders plus Scotch eggs, kid’s burgers and even doggie treats on the bar. Family-owned and -run since 2008, you can eat in the smartly attired and relaxed dining areas or the tranquil, tree-shaded beer garden behind the thatched pub. The owners rear their own pigs and rescue hens nearby so there’s always a plentiful supply of eggs and good quality pork to supplement the rest of the local ingredients. Start, perhaps, with fish pie packed with chunks of top-notch cod, tiger prawns and topped with sliced quail eggs, or maybe tagliatelle of Fowey mussels and wild prawns with heritage tomatoes and gremolata is more your style. Move on to chargrilled Wiltshire lamb rump with imam bayildi, crisp falafel, courgette and cucumber raita, or there’s tender and pink Creedy Carver duck breast with crisp duck leg pastilla, butternut squash, whole cooked apricots and a rich duck sauce. The high quality cooking and impeccable presentation continues right through to the dessert stage with an intense passionfruit and coriander sorbet, coconut marshmallow, macadamia praline and gooey meringue cubes. Poached apricot millefeuille with vanilla custard and crème fraîche ice cream is another way to finish but if you are looking for a more savoury finale, a board of Baron Bigod, Rachel, Bath Blue and Godminster cheeses with Red Lion chutney and biscuits is just the ticket. And if you find it too tricky plucking dishes from the à la carte, there’s a five-course set menu covering all bases.
Awards, accolades and Welcome Schemes
Facilities – at a glance
Children welcome
Credit cards accepted
Private dining
Service charge
Tasting menu
Features
- Seats: 45
- Private dining available
- On-site parking available
- Steps for wheelchair: 1
- Assist dogs welcome
- Closed: First 2 weeks January
- Wines under £30: 8
- Wines over £30: 45
- Wines by the glass: 35
- Cuisine style: Modern British
- Vegetarian menu
Also in the area
About the area
Discover Wiltshire
A land shrouded in mystery, myth and legend, Wiltshire evokes images of ancient stone circles, white chalk horses carved into hillsides, crop circles and the forbidden, empty landscape of Salisbury Plain. To many M4 and A303 drivers heading out of London through the clutter of the Thames Valley, Wiltshire is where the landscape opens out and rural England begins.
Wiltshire’s charm lies in the beauty of its countryside. The expansive chalk landscapes of the Marlborough and Pewsey downs and Cranborne Chase inspire a sense of space and freedom, offering miles of uninterrupted views deep into Dorset, Somerset and the Cotswolds. Wiltshire’s thriving market towns and picturesque villages provide worthwhile visits and welcome diversions. Stroll through quaint timbered and thatched villages in the southern Woodford and Avon valleys and explore the historic streets of the stone villages of Lacock, Castle Combe and Sherston. Walk around Salisbury and discover architectural styles from the 13th century to the present and take time to visit the city’s elegant cathedral and fascinating museums. And if all of that isn’t enough, the county is also richly endowed with manor houses, mansions and beautiful gardens.
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