Bookings and service

We do take bookings, but we try to make sure that there is room for customers who are not able to book in advance - so if you have not made a reservation - Don't panic. (good rule for life there!)

If there are no tables free, we run a waiting list from behind the bar. Parties of over 12 people will be asked to pre order in advance and will often be offered only soup. Perhaps gruel. I'm afraid we are not able to take bookings via email because certain members of the team are computerly disabled.

You don’t really welcome drinkers do you?

Actually that's complete 'Bunkham' (love that word!). Yes it's true that many pubs need to serve food to survive but we're a pub and not a restaurant so you can sit and have a pint and read the paper or you can stuff your face- it doesn't bother us!

Prams and pushchairs

Due to the constricted nature of many of our rooms, we ask you not to bring prams or pushchairs into the pub. If it's a Transformer pram then that’s fine, but if you can stash the non baby holding bit of Optimus Prime out of the way- that'd be swell! We have experienced considerable congestion in the past which causes problems on a number of levels. Our apologies if this causes any inconvenience. 

Dogs

Dogs of good temperament and on-the-leash variety are welcome inside the pub and in the garden. There are a number of dog water bowls about the place and a tap just outside the front door.

Disabled facilities

We have full disabled access and a disabled loo. We have a disabled parking space outside, but this may be used by able-bodied drivers if the rest of the car park is full.

The Garden

If you are eating outside it is a great help if you could make a note of your table number before ordering. Oddly 'By the river' is not actually a table number. By the way, could you please keep tops on and shoes on at all times. This applies to blokes as well.

Taxis

Home James: 01926 889899      

Victoria: 01926 881161      

Children

Whilst The Red Lion is primarily an adult's environment, children of the well behaved variety are welcome. We do have baby changing facilities but we do ask that you do take the correct one with you when you leave.

Why don't you cater for children?

We do, we just don't make a huge song and dance about it! We are predominantly an adults pub but that's not to say that well behaved children aren't welcome. 

Is there a children's menu?

No, but we do serve half portions of the majority or our dishes- anything that has an asterisk next to it on the menu signifies a half portion (or the location of the baby Jesus)… At least this way you know that the kids are eating freshly cooked stuff rather than some ‘twizzler tat!’ (Cheers Jamie!) Often we have home made fish fingers or sausages available too- just ask your friendly neighbourhood bar type.

Do you have High chairs?

Yes, about 4 of them, but we don't reserve them. You are welcome to bring your own. Car seats are also fine.

You're not very child friendly are you?

We are, first and foremost a relaxed pub for adults that welcomes non screamy children that keep vaguely still. We aren't a children's pub that tolerates adults.

Why did you get rid of the climbing frame?

Because we felt it was a great shame to come over a 14th century bridge and almost see a rather nice 17th century building but instead see a children's climbing frame.  It blocked a beautiful view of the river and we felt it wasn't really the image we wanted so we have installed an original Massey Ferguson tractor for all to enjoy- it's a bit more us!

There you go - I knew you didn't like children!

I couldn't eat a whole one.

I've noticed it's raining a lot- are you worried about the river?

Yes, thanks.

Have you put in any flood defences?

Since we last flooded in 2007 and we bought the lease on the pub we have raised the car park by 18" and put in a couple of soakaways but really this wont stop the heavy flood waters - the fact is if we get lots of rain – we will get wet again!

Why don’t you sell alcopops?

Because it's not that sort of show.

Does that mean you don’t do a carvery anymore?

Bingo!

Why do I have to order everything at the bar?

Because it adds to the relaxed pubby atmosphere of The Red Lion. No one is hovering over you trying to top up your wine or push your chair in - you can pour it yourself. Crazy as it sounds - you can order when you like and pay when you like - If you want to order at the table go to a restaurant. We really try and avoid formality and stuffiness if we can.

Why do you stop serving food in the garden at 9pm?

Very simply because when the sun goes down it gets dark. This makes finding people difficult regardless of carrot involvement.

I see the pub’s changed hands again- how long has it been like this?

We first opened our doors in this guise on November 5th 2007.

What’s with all the comic books on the walls?

Fortunately or unfortunately the owner is a geek. He collects comic books and yes, he likes Star Wars too. There was a time when he  was younger when he wanted to draw comic books for a living, sadly abusing people behind a bar seemed to be more lucrative. Thus when he finally got to buy his own pub - he thought it would be a little bit different if he covered it in his comic book collection. So all of the 320 odd framed comic books he has read cover to cover several times over and are actually quite dear to him. Each frame contains a whole comic book apart from about forty which are made up from a book of covers - he added these because it was a little bit too much like a pre-pubescent teenagers bedroom!

Are any of them valuable?

To him they're all priceless but to an auctioneer, not particularly. They've all had a good looking at and this devalues comics quite a lot- Proper collectors or pannapictagraphists often buy 2 copies- one to read and one to leave sealed. Having said that there are a couple amongst them that are quite rare and worth a few bob. (Tucked away safely is his copy of The Dark Knight Returns issue 1 signed by Lynn Varley and Frank Miller).