Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight


<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="950" height="525" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/10/redlion-exterior-slide.jpg" alt="Red Lion Odiham Hampshire" class="wp-image-10370" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/10/redlion-exterior-slide.jpg 950w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/10/redlion-exterior-slide-300x166.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/10/redlion-exterior-slide-768x424.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/10/redlion-exterior-slide-720x398.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.redlionodiham.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The&nbsp;Red Lion</a>&nbsp;has sat on Odiham&#8217;s High Street for 500 plus years &#8211; including serving a 292 year stint as a grocer. After a&nbsp;major refit in 2017 it&nbsp;reverted to its original name and became a fully-fledged gastropub and B&amp;B. </p>



<p>Well connected in North Hampshire, the Grade II-listed pub is just a stone&#8217;s throw from the M3, Berkshire and Surrey borders. A perennially popular restaurant and watering hole, it&#8217;s part of the independent, Farnham-based New Dawn pubs company. Close to transport connections but feeling like a world away in this historic village, The Red Lion Odiham is friendly, comfortable and suitable for pretty much everyone &#8211; including the dog.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/10/Red-Lion-Interior-1.jpg" alt="Red Lion Odiham restaurant bar" class="wp-image-10372" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/10/Red-Lion-Interior-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/10/Red-Lion-Interior-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/10/Red-Lion-Interior-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/10/Red-Lion-Interior-1-720x405.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>When we arrived on Saturday afternoon it was buzzing. Busy, but not rammed, with locals enjoying a drink indoors and out.</p>



<p>The ceiling&nbsp;features gorgeous character wooden beams contrasted with modern prints on the walls. The furniture and décor are relaxed with local aviation nods &#8211; the RAF airforce base is just around the corner &#8211; and weathered leather seating. Think one-part countryside rustic to one-part subtly stylised.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-airplane-table-min.jpg" alt="Red Lion Odiham Hampshire gastropub" class="wp-image-30922" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-airplane-table-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-airplane-table-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-airplane-table-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-airplane-table-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-airplane-table-min-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The clientele&nbsp;at The Red Lion Odiham is a real balance between locals and people, like ourselves, who had trekked a little bit to get there. The dress code was largely casual by day, with jeans and trainers as de rigueur, moving to smart casual in the evening as the restaurant diners filtered in and the tables filled.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<p>After a quick bag drop and refresh, we headed for the bar-restaurant. With a huge selection of twenty one varieties of gin, it was straight in with a pint and a restorative local Wessex Elderflower and Gooseberry. Bottoms up! </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-salad-starter-1000x750.jpg" alt="Red Lion Odiham salad
tomato, olives, mozzarella, 
" class="wp-image-30928" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-salad-starter-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-salad-starter-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-salad-starter-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-salad-starter-700x525.jpg 700w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-salad-starter.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Local and seasonal produce features on a pleasing menu of pub classics and contemporary dishes. Our starters were a fresh-tasting summery salad with toasted sourdough, tomatoes, olives and mozzarella, and a deliciously rich tomato soup. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-fish-main-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30927" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-fish-main-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-fish-main-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-fish-main-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-fish-main-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-fish-main-min-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>For the main event, Mr. Muddy was delighted with his whopper of an 8oz Torre Meadow-aged rump steak, cooked perfectly to order and served up with chunky chips, roasted flat mushroom and tomato. My sea bream fillet, with crushed new potato cake, mange tout, tomato salsa and garlic butter also fully hit the mark in the flavour stakes, well-seasoned and not overdone.</p>



<p>Pairing perfectly with the steak was a glass of hearty and appropriately-named Butcher of Buenos Aires Malbec. With the fish, I plumped for a refreshing, fruity (and pretty well priced) large glass of Chilean sauvignon (£7/250ml glass, £20.95/bottle). </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Banoffee-Pie-min-1000x750.jpg" alt="Banoffee Pie the Red Lion Odiham Hampshire pub pudding." class="wp-image-30923" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Banoffee-Pie-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Banoffee-Pie-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Banoffee-Pie-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Banoffee-Pie-min-700x525.jpg 700w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Banoffee-Pie-min.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The decision to share a pud was based purely on our now slightly groaning stomachs but we were pleased not to have passed on a creamy homemade banoffee pie with sweet caramel sauce. </p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pillow-talk">PILLOW TALK</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-bedroom-min.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30925" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-bedroom-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-bedroom-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-bedroom-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-bedroom-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-bedroom-min-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>There are seven aviation-titled rooms at the Red Lion. Getting to them requires heading up a few windy staircases, with fragrant wafts of ESPA diffusers to scent you along. Some, like our Typhoon room, lean towards the bijou size-wise but they&#8217;re all spotless, warm and&nbsp;modern with character features like gnarled wooden beams and exposed brick walls. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Bathroom-min.jpg" alt="Bathroom at the Red Lion Odiham Hampshire" class="wp-image-30924" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Bathroom-min.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Bathroom-min-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Bathroom-min-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Bathroom-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-Bathroom-min-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Bathrooms all have large showers and robes (no baths &#8211; très continental). But fear not if the idea of character inns conjure up leaky taps and chilly ablutions &#8211; the huge shower-heads pump out hot water, and then some. &nbsp;</p>



<p>Creature comforts won&#8217;t disappoint, either: each room has a Dualit coffee machine, selection of tea plus ESPA goodies in the bathroom and a reasonably priced mini-bar.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-veggie-breakfast-1000x750.jpg" alt="Full veggie breakfast the Red Lion Odiham Hampshire gastropub" class="wp-image-30929" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-veggie-breakfast-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-veggie-breakfast-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-veggie-breakfast-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-veggie-breakfast-700x525.jpg 700w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Red-Lion-Odiham-veggie-breakfast.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Rather like dinner, breakfast offered a good choice of cooked and continental options, setting us up well for a Sunday amble. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-about">OUT &amp; ABOUT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Odiham-Castle-HR.jpg" alt="Odiham Castle Hampshire " class="wp-image-30931" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Odiham-Castle-HR.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Odiham-Castle-HR-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Odiham-Castle-HR-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Odiham-Castle-HR-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2023/05/Odiham-Castle-HR-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The town of Odiham is super quaint and very rustic, with a handful of independent boutiques and shops. Perfect for burning off any over indulgence, head out like we did and walk the 1.2-ish miles to explore the ruins of King John&#8217;s <a aria-label="Odiham Castle (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/finder/odihamcastle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Odiham Castle</a>. If you really feel like splashing out, <a aria-label="Galleon Marine (opens in a new tab)" href="https://galleonmarine.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galleon Marine</a> offer kayak hire and narrow boat and paddle boat trips on the Basingstoke Canal.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="613" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2020/09/The-Vyne-National-Trust.jpg" alt="The Vyne National Trust" class="wp-image-19392" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2020/09/The-Vyne-National-Trust.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2020/09/The-Vyne-National-Trust-300x184.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2020/09/The-Vyne-National-Trust-720x441.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2020/09/The-Vyne-National-Trust-768x471.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Nearby National Trust big hitter <a aria-label="The Vyne (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Vyne</a> is under 20 minutes&#8217; drive. Or (depending on who&#8217;s coming) go a bit further for <a aria-label="The Bombay Sapphire Distillery (opens in a new tab)" href="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/bombay-sapphire-distillery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bombay Sapphire Distillery</a> (30 minutes) and <a aria-label="Legoland (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.legoland.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Legoland</a>, 35 minutes&#8217; away over the Berks border.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CHILD FRIENDLY?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="648" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/10/Red-Lion-Odiham-kids-toy-boxes.jpg" alt="Toy boxes Red Lion Odiham child friendly stay" class="wp-image-24322" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/10/Red-Lion-Odiham-kids-toy-boxes.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/10/Red-Lion-Odiham-kids-toy-boxes-300x194.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/10/Red-Lion-Odiham-kids-toy-boxes-720x467.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/10/Red-Lion-Odiham-kids-toy-boxes-768x498.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/10/Red-Lion-Odiham-kids-toy-boxes-810x525.jpg 810w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Yes &#8211; very! You can book an extra bed (£30pp) or cot free of charge in your room for one child. Once you get here, it&#8217;ll be kitted out age appropriately with loaned toy and book boxes and friendly Child&#8217;s Farm wash goodies. Kids go free offers in the school holidays are well worth looking out for. On the second floor, there&#8217;s an interconnecting room that&#8217;ll accommodate larger families. The pub itself has a decently sized and priced kids menu.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DOG FRIENDLY?</h2>



<p>Yep! Owners and their pooch can share one of the dog-friendly rooms for an extra £15 a night – kitted out with a bed, treats and water bowl. They&#8217;re also welcome in the pub itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ACCESSIBILITY</h2>



<p>The side entrance to the pub is suitable for wheelchair and pushchair access, with just one small step and a bigger doorway than the front entrance. There&#8217;s a disabled loo on the ground floor. As a listed heritage inn, bedrooms are above the pub and can only be accessed by at least one staircase. Dogs, including assistance dogs, are welcome.</p>



<p><strong>THE MUDDY VERDICT</strong></p>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong>&nbsp;Cosy date night getaways, pet owners that like to take their pooches out for a pint and families, young and old. It&#8217;s also a great spot to take your parents. There&#8217;s easy parking (a car park around the back and 2 hours of free street parking). </p>



<p><strong>Not for: </strong>Couples looking for a super quiet, intimate spot or avant-garde foodie experiences. The food here is brilliant but simple pub and bistro fare &#8211; so not for those hunting for Hampshire&#8217;s version of The Fat Duck.</p>



<p><strong>The Damage:</strong>&nbsp;Reasonable. With starters at around £7 and most main meals hovering around the £17 mark, it&#8217;s on the higher end of &#8216;budget&#8217; but with excellent quality. Rooms start at £85 for a double, including breakfast.</p>



<p><em>The Red Lion, 102 High Street Odiham Hampshire RG29 1LP. 01256 701145, <a href="https://www.redlionodiham.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">redlionodiham.co.uk</a></em></p>


Review: The Red Lion, Odiham

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