The Red Lion at Brafield in South Northamptonshire

Really painful wait to be served, they served us drinks within 5-10 minutes and then seemed to totally forget about us. Young waitresses hanging about looking at phones and chatting, nice friendly staff but seemed like they needed somebody to take charge of them. 25 minutes before we ordered. Then.... food came really quickly and was amazing. So 5 stars! Will return, but service needs streamlining.

Not been here for few years and came with family to check it out again. Well it was a very successful visit. Efficiently organised pub with a great menu. The food was excellent with huge portions, lovely staff too. Will come again as it’s also close. My only complaint - no French mustard!

Lovely pub, lovely staff, fantastic Sunday lunch - why go anywhere else. Excellent service. Pork loin was delicious and the cracking - I needed more it was the best every. Love our visits to this pub - Chris is a brilliant manager - be back real soon.

Very disappointed today after always having superb food and service. Service was slow at best and not busy. The usually delicious fish and chips was not good today, very greasy. Had to order desert at the bar after a long wait. Not sure we will be returning soon.

We love visiting this pub especially if we can sit outside however on this occassion we thought we would struggle to get a table inside following the storm however after a little wait we managed to get a table inside. Both of us had the Sunday roast beef and it was cooked to perfection, the cauliflower cheese was the best we had ever had nothing about the Sunday lunch could be faulted. The pub was extremely busy inside following the storm as all the guests that were outside had to be found tables inside but the waiting staff carried on regardless and the lovely manager was stressed but buying him a drink he soon mellowed. Absolutely lovely pub and staff. PS your belly pork is absolutely delicious as well.

Not easy to find a pub that serves food in the evening on a Sunday after the lunchtime rush is over. Although some of the food options had sold out by the time we dined at 7pm, the quality of the roast beef dinner was surprisingly good. The beef was still quite rare and the vegetables were tasty. The Yorkshire pudding was a little dry and the potatoes slightly hard but still edible. The New York cheesecake was excellent as was the non-alcoholic cocktail. We were encouraged to leave a little earlier than the two hour slot we had booked but the staff were very polite about it and we could see they had had a long day so didn't mind.

I have been to The Red Lion many times before and have always being extremely satisfied with the food, service and ambiance. However yesterday we were left feeling very disappointed and underwhelmed. We chose The Red Lion to celebrate mine and a friend's birthday. The main courses were very good and we have no complaints on that score. Our server Matthew was also exemplary. He was however taken off our table and was requested to work inside due to the storms and the amount of people who had moved into the bar. However the desserts which were brought out (Eton Mess) by another server were presented in small wine glasses. The server told us that due to 'breakage, theft and damage wine glasses were all they had to serve the puddings in and normally they would be served in a bigger bowl/glass'. When asked if this would be reflected on our bill the server said she would ask the Manager. When we asked to see the manager as this was not the only issue we had, he stayed in the bar and said he was too busy. This is not the service I expect from a professional and normally well run establishment. It was very disappointing and we shall not be recommending The Red Lion to friends and family. Matthew our original server was fantastic and this is no indictment on him. A disappointing experience for somewhere that is normally excellent.

I come here every year to celebrate my birthday with family, we love the outside area so the kids can play in between courses. I have to say that today is the first time I can safety say I was truly disappointed with it. Having paid a deposit of £160 to hold our reservation and giving them our pre order a couple of days before hand, they still made mistakes. First of all we had our starters which was all good, then my daughter wanted more calamari so I ordered another 2, they came and it was lovely. Then they brought out 2 lamb ragus and I preordered 1, the server was a bit off with me when I said it was wrong, then my daughter (who’s birthday 12th birthday was yesterday) and my nephew got their chicken goujons which were over cooked and burnt at the ends and hard as a rock. I asked were the last two remaining mains dishes were as 2 guests hadn’t got theirs and they had forgot 2 roast beef roasts which those guests (my brother and my 14yr old nephew) had to 15 minutes for after we all had our mains. I mentioned that I wasn’t happy to our server and she came back and said she spoke to the chef apologised for missing she / roasts and said because I had ordered and extra 2 calamari it messed cooking if the mains up which was why the chicken goujons were over cooked. My fault clearly. On top of this they whacked on £30 service charge to our £330 bill which they took £15 off at our request. Next year I will be going so elsewhere for my birthday lunch and for any other future celebrations.

My wife, son and I visited on a quiet Friday lunchtime, Service was polite and efficient. No complaints. The food did not disappoint. Once the courses had been ordered they arrived nice and hot and in a suitable amount of time. Highly recommend the scotch egg, calamari, half roast chicken and fish and chips. All in all and very nice dining experience.

Had a meal last night with family the food was very good but the service was poor ! The young staff just seem to be chatting behind the bar ,we felt completely ignored didn’t get asked if we wanted a coffee had to ask for the bill twice ,I did ask to speak to the lady in charge and she did apologise . I have to say this isn’t the first time it’s happened did mention it to the manager the time before but obviously nothing has been done about it . Shame as it spoils a nice night out . That’s the reason I gave it 3 stars !

Really nice meal out, reasonably priced and good friendly service. The scotch egg was the best I've ever had. Catered well for the child in our group too.

Great pub with an amazing garden which is complemented by the polite and attentive staff. We have eaten here many times over the past year and have never been disappointed with any of the food or service. The menu is varied and well priced. I’ve always found the beer to be well kept, no matter what I’ve had, and both me and my wife also enjoy the wines that they stock. Will return regularly and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend The Red Lion to anyone.

Was part of a group of 11 for a surprise birthday party. The maggot and the lack of service has been described by another correspondent so I will stick to food. My Slow Braised Lamb shoulder Ragu in a Rich Tomato sauce was lamb mince in an insipid light sauce with a few bits of carrot. £18 really? Didn't make a fuss as didn't want to spoil the mood any more after the maggot episode. The Artisan bread came with a bowl of 90% vinegar - presumably the olive oil had run out. Although the evening was a good one overall it could have gone the other had the group been less good humoured.

It was a special birthday event so we had a table of 11 people. One of the main courses arrived with a maggot on the plate!! The waitress swiftly took it away and came back, apologised and said the chef thinks it might have been on the lettuce! The water we asked for arrived after asking the 3rd time and only 5 glasses banged on the end of the table for 11 people. When I complained about the lack of service I was told that it was because there was also another event (live music). Disgusting lack of service and we will definitely not be returning

As someone who is very fussy was very impressed with the roast dinner here . Was cooked to perfection presentation was lovely and service was great

We came as a large family group to celebrate a birthday. We were a mixed group across the generations. We had two tables in a nice quiet area at the back of the pub. It was a lovely day, so most people were in the...

The food was really tasty, it was hot and well presented. The service was friendly and thete is a nice atmosphere, great for couples wanting a dinner out.

I attended this restaurant May 2023 in the hope of celebrating my anniversary with my husband and children, unfortunately this trip ruined my anniversary. A few weeks prior to attending, my husband and I had ordered a magnum champagne and was assured by the landlord...

The Pub itself was nice and the service staff was courteous and friendly. The meals were okay. The Brownie was to sweet (but quiet good for English dessert). The starter wasn't spiced very well. The burger tasted okay with fries that were too soft but...

We did go for food on a regular basis. We went last night, the fish and chips were good the pork was so tough if could not be cut - even using a steak knife, so I left it. Waitress said I will tell the...

Nice Sunday lunch , good service , good food . My sirloin of beef was nicely cooked and came with a good selection of vegetables. Service attentive and friendly.

Lovely setting and fabulous food. Staff were great. Chocolate brownie was amazing. I’ll definitely be back

Just had a great family gathering to celebrate my son’s 21st. From the very first enquiry the service was excellent. H the area at the rear was kept completely for our use and fitted over people people in easily. There was no issue with decorating...

We booked a few weeks ahead advising we were vegan. On the day, service was slow. The only vegan option was a burger in a bun served with coleslaw. No vegan buns were available so they gave us bread. It arrived without the coleslaw. When...

Went with friends for lunch,on the website iw was advertised that you could have 2 meals for 18.95,when we asked the waitress she told us that they haven't offered that for a while...still showing on website. Two of us had risotto that should have come...

So disappointed. Went to celebrate a birthday. Service hot and miss. Food was nice but meat cold and overcooked. Lots of debris on floor and uncleared tables. No one came with bill so had to go yo bar and pay. No one at bar and...

Lovely Sunday lunch at The Red Lion as the venue for a family get-together, we were very well looked after by Freya, our waitress today. Due to the size of our party (12 adults, 5 kids) we needed to pre-order, which was no hardship whatsoever....

outstanding Sirloin steak cooked medium Rare as I like Would come again. The cheesecake was k but had better than that Overall good quality meal with good Companies and had a good time

Food was prompt and delicious. Staff very friendly nothing was too much trouble! Lovely atmosphere had a lovely night.

Fantastic evening spent at the Red Lion - originally booked to have dinner with the intention of moving on. We came in as a group to find that they had a singer and a disco into the early hours. We cancelled our plans and stayed...

Found the pub by Google search and glad I did. Lovely pub, attentive and friendly staff and great food. Nachos were great and the Prawn linguine the best I have ever had, so thanks to the chef. Will go back again.

Absolutely lovely dinner today for Boxing DayLunch. Booked in for 5 of us. Plates were full. And dinner was piping hot. Decor was beautifully done for Xmas and the place was warm and welcoming. Staff were lovely and were very accommodating. All in all great...

Went for a large family meal all pre booked and we were very let down! The service and organisation was diabolical! Our starters were slow and one guest didn't even receive theirs! Asked for butter for the cold toast with soup which never arrived and...

Popped in one evening without a booking. We got seated and had a nice Malbec in our hands within seconds. We had the pie and the sausages for a quick bite - truly fabulous flavour. We enjoyed the ambiance so had a pudding to extend...

Myself and 3 other friends attended the Red Lion in Brafield for a quick Sunday lunch and it certainly didn’t disappoint with 4 clean, finished plates and full bellies! The service was impeccable from Manager Nathan and his team - we couldn’t have asked for...

Brilliant experience , staff were really friendly, food was amazing !!! Would definitely recommend coming in for sunday roast as it was one of the best i ever had! Wide selection of drinks , lovely garden area with heating and also you get blankets if...

A wonderful Sunday roast experience at The Red Lion. Staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, order was taken quickly and the food arrived a couple of minutes later. Food was unreal, one of the best Sunday roasts I’ve ever had. Would recommend to anyone and...

Few years since I’ve been to England and this place really made me homesick for English country pubs. Lovely environment, late afternoon was quiet but still a nice atmosphere. Serving staff were really nice. Starters arrived quickly and mains were served at the right time...

The pub looks great from the outside with ample parking. When you walk in it is even better and then things improve. From the moment you are greeted you are made to feel that you, as a customer are very important and you are treated...

Looked forward to a Sunday Roast.....I hour and 15 mins at least I was still chasing.Graciously told by someone that I could cancel my order

Visited the Red Lion brafield after a previous visit was great. Went for an impromptu lunch (sandwich) but was greeted with a Tapas and reduced main menu which did not have the sandwich selection on. We ordered from the tapas menu and actually we really...

Super friendly and accommodating. We were a party of 17, all ages and 3 dogs. We were happy and prepared to sit all over the place as dogs are not generally allowed in the restaurant, but as we had pre-booked due to the large number...

3 times we have tried this place and 3 times they have failed scotch eggs with the meat under cooked,Camembert over cooked and rubbery, onion rings still liquid batter on the inside and steak that had been rapidly defrosted and wouldn’t have weighed 8oz dipped...

My friend and I ate lunch here today and it was very tasty and promptly served. The staff were warm and welcoming and we had 2 checkbacks during the meal. The sandwich menu had 4 choices which was adequate. Food served around us looked delicious....

Great place which has a lot of room for tables inside and also outside on those super sunny days. You can order from your phone using the app which makes there less queues. However the whole menu doesn’t seem to be on the app… we...

Excellent cheerful service food was spot on good choice of drinks 2 couples enjoyed relaxed surroundings recommend the fish and chips ,pork belly ,burger chicken supreme

Been going to the Red Lion for a number of years. Always loved going food was amazing the choice of food was exceptional daily specials on the blackboard and good array of beers spirts, staff good helpful. Prices good. Now it is expensive charge put...

3rd Attempt at getting food after a 400 mile journey and 2 x 1 hour road delays so we were absolutely famished. Having found Morrisons cafe closed at 5:15 and the Britannia with staffing difficulties not doing food. Final option before a diy at home...

Having visited this pub for a family meal we were shocked at the overall standards of service and food. This pub used to be a great village pub with superb food and service. However we had so many reasons to complaint. The service was terrible,...

Visited this restaurant for a date night with my partner, I’ve heard great reviews about this place and was looking forward to going. Decor was nice and cosy with plenty of outside seating. We were sat at a nice table, and this is where it...

If you need a meal,, a snack, or just a pint of real ale, &you're in or near Brafield-on-the-Green (Northampton raceway just up the road for all you StockCar Fans) I can think of no better place, Friendly staff, ale I good condition, excellent menu,...

Lovely staff so friendly and helpful. Had a meal on Monday absolutely delicious look forward to our next visit. A bit expensive but we'll worth it. We have been several times and really love the place. Thank you lovely 😍

Disappointing meal, our waiter was young and not experienced or not trained, our lamb was dry and tasteless, roast potatoes tasted old and reheated, they only had soup spoons to eat our deserts , it was a treat for my Dads 80th Birthday but have...

four of us went to have lunch and were pleasantly surprised as we had never been here for lunch.there seemed to be ample parking which is a huge plus especially in a village.inside it was lovely and the bar was dog friendly which is another...

They're advertising a special Veganuary menu outside, on the website and around the restaurant, with an amazing selection, but their actual on-premises menu shows none of them and when asked, they're not doing any of the options or in fact, anything for Veganuary. 2 main...

Finding a table for two at short notice was tricky - so many of our local pubs have closed for January and February or sadly, permanently. Looking in a different direction we found a table at the Red Lion, a pub we knew only from...

I’m so glad I didn’t read the recent bad reviews here before booking. We haven’t been to The Red Lion for some time so I’m presuming it’s under new management. 4 We 4 friends met and had friendly, attentive service and felt welcomed. The pub...

The food here has always been inconsistent and mediocre but the current pricing level means they are really pushing their luck. Staff members in mixed styles and standards of dress is unprofessional. I wouldn’t rush back. It’s simply not worth the price.

After arriving at the pub for a works xmas meal our party leader informed the General Manager that he had e-mailed the pub the previos evening to change the booking to add an extra person.The GM then checked her e-mail and said she hadn't received...

I have been eating at the Red Lion for a long time as it is close to my home.Even in the worst of Covid last year when we ate outside, I have always enjoyed the food. On,03.12.21, a group of us went for a Christmas...

Came here recently with a few friends and we can’t believe how amazing not only the service but also the food and drink was. All the staff were so friendly and attentive they really topped of the whole experience. Definitely will be returning!

The Red Lion was my go to venue if I wanted to go for lunch or Sunday dinner. Unfortunately standards have dropped, the lunch menu is boring and unimaginative. I’d go so far as to say the menu has not changed for a significant period...

My colleagues and I enjoyed a good meal at this restaurant not far from the hotel we were staying at. The food was very tasty and the service was nice. Will probably visit again soon.

I organized a meal out for my book group - there were 8 of us in total so we were asked to pre-order. The food was delicious and everyone working there was so nice. It all added up to a wonderful experience. Thank you.

It was my wife's birthday so we decided to go for dinner. we both ordered sirloin steaks which were superb. Service was great although a little quick look forward to going back for my birthday!

Visited today . Ordered fillet steak £30 , thought I would have a treat . It was not cooked as I asked . It was bleeding onto the non descriptive chips. I gave it to my husband as I could not eat it . When...

Not been here for 20 years and how has it improved. The food very tasty with plenty of choice. The setting super and the service was attentive without being over bearing. Thank you.

First time visitors to Red Lion booked for Sunday lunch and it was excellent the place has great feel to it, friendly staff and very good food at reasonable prices, highly recommended we will definitely be returning.

We are blessed with good pubs with good restaurants in the local area. At the moment the red lion is the best for food. The last 3 or 4 times we have visited for lunch and dinner the food has been faultless. The portions are...

Had a cheeky Friday lunchtime visit and left thinking must repeat soon. Had the fish and chips - best piece of fish I have had for years. Service was really first class we were looked after by Kirsty- she was exceptional. Well done McManus clearly...

They gave us a complimentary bottle of Prosecco as it was our anniversary! Lovely staff, lovely food! Will definitely return :-)

Having popped into this pub/restaurant for coffee (and a pud) after a walk with friends during the week, I thought I would book for Sunday lunch with my partner. He seldom eats a ‘Sunday roast’, and certainly not at my home, so I knew it...

Staff really friendly welcoming and efficient. Good choice of beers ciders and lagers. Food top notch with great service Thanks

service was good and the ambience fine however the food was very expensive and quite tasteless. I accept I may have lost touch with the price of going out over this period of pandemic and lockdown but I do not feel that the food is...

Order was taken quickly but then we waited over 30 minutes for starters. Had to ask the waitress, as people who came in after us were being served first. We had obviously been forgotten but when the first course finally came it was good. Second...

What a difference in the last 12 months. We visited the exact same time last year for our anniversary and were disappointed with the food and portion sizes. Well this year couldn’t have been more different. The food was amazing. Better size portions (especially the...

The Bacardi served was foreign cheap rubbish. I complained twice about it , thinking first time no Bacardi had been put in with coke . Second time they showed me the bottle , which was a foreign substitute , and said they served that all...

Enjoyed a pleasant business meeting in fine company in this glorious county pub where the service was excellent throughout and the generously-sized Chicken Caesar Salad was first class, A lovely secluded garden area is readily available to customers and having spoken to a couple, they...

Sad to say that the duck salad would have been poor even if it had been pet food.. terrible consistency and flavour.. The other patrons were fat, tattooed chavs.. the only nice thing were the staff who were lovely.. and then the bill came and...

Good Food & Drink And Good Service Value for Money, a Good Beer Garden, Car Park spaces a lot, Well worth a Visit

Firstly, lovely grass garden, well kept and parasols, perfect. Next, ordered drinks, beer and Fevertree Mexican Lime soda. Beer arrived and a Raspberry and Rose soda, when questioned 'oh we don't stock that'..... Don't print a wine list with it on then, just a suggestion,...

Lovely garden venue, superb food and excellent service. We’ll be back! Fish and chips were the best I’ve had in years, and the Sunday roast is amazingly good

Lovely food but service extremely slow !! They also forgot one of our meals altogether so one of us ate alone ! After bringing us dessert menus the waitress did not come back to our table for forty minutes , it was too late to...

We ate here yesterday as a family group for my wife's birthday & the food, service & ambience were perfect. Everybody agreed the starters, mains & puds were spot on, the staff were lovely and we were all warm & cosy under the heated, covered...

Georgia made my family and I feel extremely welcomed and comfortable upon our visit. She displays excellent customer service- 5* service!

Lovely food as always, very well organised, staff were excellent as usual. Plenty of space around tables.

My fiancé and I passed by the day before and remarked how she hadn’t been to the Red Lion in a while so when we got home I booked a table for the following day. Was my first trip here and I can confirm it’s...

An absolutely memorable experience given for a very small reception we were able to do thanks to Lucy and the wonderful team including the chefs, that made a wonderful few hours. Their attendance in ensuring our safety due to COVID but also making us feel...

Great food excellent staff and always a warm welcome, great selection on the menu and always a nice choice of beer and lagers

Had a very enjoyable lunch at the Red Lion. The food was very good and came out quickly and our waitress, Amy, was very pleasant and helpful. Good social distancing.

Our first visit today for Sunday lunch as a couple in this well run traditional pub. Easy to book, huge car park. Friendly welcome from staff with speedy prompt consistent service - we can tell you have been well trained . The food was really tasty and served in a different way - huge Yorkshire pudding - I mean huge ! Burger was small juicy and very tasty with a knife stuck through bun. Food and plate were hot - nice one chef.We felt as if everyone was trying very hard and that the staff were genuine and cared which was great to experience in these difficult times. Thank you and well done - see you again

Enjoyable food and good service. One of our party had her meal dropped in the kitchen, but was given a glass of wine and repeat order which she was prepared to wait for. This was free of charge!

After previously having a forgettable experience at the Red Lion due to poor service, we decided to give it another go. The General Manager was on duty and suffice to say the service was excellent as previously we had to endure a laissez-faire service approach from staff encountered previously. There was a good atmosphere which added to a nice lunch on a sunny day. This has always been one of my favoured local venues and it’s good to see good service has returned.

Cannot fault this place. Ambience, service, happy staff, food- all brilliant!My fillet steak was cooked to perfection and accompanied by a creamy pepper sauce and crispy chunky chips. The rest of our party were similarly impressed although we all had different meals. Final bill quite reasonable due to the 25% off Mon-Tues “Eat-out-to-help-out” scheme. I must say that the serving staff were very friendly and efficient throughout. Will definitely be going back to this amazing gastro-pub!

We visited the Red Lion for a family birthday lunch. The staff are very welcoming and attentive and there was a warm buzz about the place. Our food was very well received and suited all tastes including gluten free. We will definitely be back for another visit very soon. In September they are giving 25% off from Monday to Wednesday for meals and soft drinks, so now is the time to give it a try.

Excellent Service on a busy Bank holiday lunchtime( during COVID as well) Food was excellent. Sirloin steak was done perfectly, no waste. Gammon steak also perfect

4 of us went here last night 26/08/20The staff 100%.. Meal starter could not fault it plenty to get you going.. Main again presented well and plenty too eat.. Pudding just enough too finish you off... over all great place to visit with friends or family did not feel rushed... 5*

It has to be 5* as I can’t think of anything we would change. Friendly and efficient staff, lovely interior to the pub and great food. £25 for a family of 4 inc drinks under the eat out scheme although even at full price this wouldn’t change the review.

Starter portions very small. We had a sharer whitebait and it was the same size dish as the starter which had about 6 or 7 ‘king’ prawns (the prawns weren’t very big). The starters were 2.5x the price of the sharer whitebait. Not value for money. Fish & chips were very average. Not many chips hidden underneath a flat and pathetic looking piece of cod. My wife enjoyed her sea bass. We visited a couple of weeks ago and had a couple of bowls of chips and they were fantastic in comparison to what I had with my fish tonight. It’s a real shame as the food has always been pretty good. The bill was reduced and had a nice chat with the manager. Apparently they have had lots of complaints about the prawn starter. Waiting staff are friendly and a lovely setting and outdoor area.

Couldn’t recommend the Red Lion enough! The spaglitelle & creme brûlée was amazing. The staff and atmosphere was great. Thank you so much for a lovely meal.