The Red Lion

I spent most of my visit at an event in the ballroom. It's roomy, well equipped and a comfortable temperature, with a small bar that kept us going. Staff were great, and the smaller menu there was tasty and served amazingly quickly. Food in the main pub was even better, with a wider choice. Drinks are at "London prices," but the food is good value for its quality. It's a great local with a small hotel and ballroom/function room upstairs. Chatting with regulars, I heard about the many events, with something for everyone, and a real community spirit.

The gravy was thin, and the plate came across more like an average midweek dinner than a special Sunday roast. The sirloin had little flavour or depth, despite being aged for 35 days, and the roast potatoes were pale, dry and not crisp. At £28 for the 35-day aged sirloin, I expected much better, especially since potatoes are such a key part of a roast. I'd spent several days researching where to get a proper Sunday roast and chose this place because of the positive reviews. Those reviews had raised my expectations, so the meal was an even bigger disappointment. I wanted quality and care for £28, but this didn't deliver.

We had our wedding party in the ballroom last weekend and it was amazing. The room looked grand on its own and worked perfectly for the band and live music. The food and drinks were great, and the whole space was just right for the night. Charley and Clio understood exactly what we wanted, were happy to help with anything, and made it feel really special. We were so glad we chose this venue, especially as we've always liked coming to the pub. We'd highly recommend it. We also stayed in the gorgeous rooms upstairs, which gave us a great space to get ready.

The room was clean and comfortable, and the pub had great food and atmosphere. It's an excellent old-fashioned pub and hotel. My company paid for the trip, but I'd gladly come back at my own expense. There was street noise outside the room and some very loud guests on my floor, though neither was within the venue's control. I called management and they sorted the guest noise quickly, so credit to the team.