• Number of vegan dishes: approx. 19.
• Has a separate vegan menu.
• Restaurant.
• Takeaways.
• Good for kids.
• Food rating 4.5/5 (2 votes)
• Service rating 4.5/5 (2 votes)
• Atmosphere rating 5.0/5 (2 votes)
• Overall rating 4.7/5 (6 votes)

This country pub is on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, just north of Reading. It's right in the midst of great walking and mountain biking country, and the bluebells in the woods are staggering in late Spring.

The pub has a large beer garden and excellent climbing frame for young children, with plenty of space to kick a ball around too.

The pub has recently changed hands, but the Red Lion's tradition of providing great veggie and vegan food continues. In fact the number of vegan options on the Red Lion's Vegan Options has increased.

For kids they are very flexible with their menu - just ask.

They are open all day serving coffee and cake in the morning for walkers and hot food from 12 - 3pm and 5 to 8.30 pm Monday to Friday and from 12 to 8.30 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Reviews

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Sue Fabre 2008-09-13 15:33:14

• Food 5/5
• Atmosphere 5/5
• Service 5/5

We returned to the Red Lion last weekend and were very happy to see that the vegan menu has been extended to include Fry's schnitzel, nuggets and burgers. We took some friends there (one vegetarian and one meat eater) and they loved it. Definitely the best pub in the area for vegans.

Sophie 2008-06-18 21:42:32

• Food 4/5
• Atmosphere 5/5
• Service 4/5

On a discussion group I just recommended the Red Lion to someone for a birthday celebration that included veggies and kids, so here's what I said:

I can wholeheartedly recommend the Red Lion in Peppard Common. We go there all the time because it covers pretty much all you are asking for and more which is what we like in a pub too.

It's by far the best pub for veggies in the area, and it does a huge meat eaters menu too.

Ask for the veggie/vegan/dairy-free menu or look for it on the bar – it has about 17 items on it! From chickpea curry to Fry's sausages to yummy home made soups.

The enclosed pub garden is huge – with goals for football and a great climbing frame and wendy house. It's cosy and warm inside, with real fires in cold weather. Julie and Graham the owners really like to make you feel welcome. They book up on weekends, so book as soon as you can. It's not haute cuisine but it is nice wholesome food, much of it home made, in generous portions and they do kids portions of the main menu (eg split between two kids) if you ask, as well as a small number of specific kids dishes.

As with seemingly all pubs in the Chilterns it is Breakspears on the beer front. The food is independent.

Oh yes, and they are dog-friendly.

Luke Brashier 2007-11-18 18:07:07

Having read about the Red Lion on the T3V website we decided to give it a try. We booked a few hours in advance, as if was a Friday evening.

Our expectations were met in full. A separate vegan menu is available and nothing is to much trouble.

I would advise booking for Fri,Sat, Sun as the pub seems to be very popular.

Ann 2007-06-14 11:19:08

Me again! Just to update, have called in at the Red Lion twice recently, both times without booking as we know they have something vegan on their standard menu. Both occasions had a lovely surprise, on the first occasion they had a vegan bean chilli on their special menu. It was really good. On the second two vegan specials! The bean chilli and a veggie curry. I had the curry that time and that too was delicious. The food at the Red Lion is excellent value, Graham and Julie and their staff friendly, a lovely garden in beautiful countryside. If you have children and ask they may bring out their adorable puppy to see you or maybe their baby tortise! The Red Lion is well worth a visit.

Ann 2007-12-02 17:42:52

We were sad to see Billy and Liza, go they had looked after us so well and had became friends, we will miss them. We called in to see the new owners. They already have some vegan dishes on the menu, a pasta dish and can do sausage sandwiches, sausage and chips etc (they are using Linda Mccartney sausages at the moment, I will tell them about other varities!) There were other veggie options on the menu, but cause they weren't any good for me I can't remember what they were!

Graham and Julie very nice couple who are interested in catering for veggies and vegans. They knew from Billy and Lisa that the Red Lion had quite a few veggie customers hence the already good number of veggie options on the menu. They are open from 10 in the morning with food available from 12.00 to 3pm and 5 to 8.30pm Monday to Thursday and all day at the weekends. We were given a warm welcome and looked after very well. We had soup and lovely fresh bread followed by a spicy tomato pasta which was very nice. They said they would try to give us a pudding another time.

Ann 2007-12-02 17:54:11

(Ann is from a vegan family who are Thames Valley Veggies regulars wrote this in Autumn 2006 about the Red Lion, which is what alerted us to it, and since then they have gone from strength to strength, so it's now here as a review!)

We live locally and came across this pub having not visited for years when our local was closed one lunchtime. We turned up with no notice and they were happy to accommodate me as vegan. They veganised a dish for me. Having had such a warm welcome decided to book with a little bit of notice to return for an evening meal with my husband.

We were offered a choice of starters and main courses.

My husband and I both had salads as a starter, my husbands a portabella mushroom and mine a walnut one.  They were both absolutely  delicious, the landlady makes all her own dressings.  They were the best  salads we have had in a long time with lovely healthy fresh ingredients.  If they had been my main course we would not have been disappointed.

For the main course we both chose the vegan sausage and mash. I am afraid I cannot remember the other choices as this was a few weeks ago and I have only now got round to writing article, (holidays, work etc). Again we were not disappointed lovely homemade gravy/sauce.

For pudding they offered us a vegan sorbet but too be honest was so full I did not do it justice!

The landlady and landlord both came and had a chat and they are very keen to cater for vegans and veggies alike (they have veggie options on their standard menu). They are interested in veganising recipes etc.

If you give them a little notice they will give you a splendid meal and a warm welcome in a lovely country setting. Who could ask for more!

Graham 2006-09-18 11:52:11

Called in with my wife to give them some Cheezy as they had asked us about vegan cheeses when we last visited. As we were there asked if they could do us a salad as we knew we had not booked. The landlady also chef! came out and offered to make us a pizza each. The pizzas were scrummy the best I've had and healthy too with a crispy thin base and choice of toppings. The walnut salad was enormous, I did not check for puddings as we were so full although I did notice they had sorbet on the menu, did not know if it was vegan though. They told me they are designing an autumn menu at the moment and there will be a vegan starter and main course on it. She is also planning a vegan Christmas Dinner! These people are so willing to please if you visit you will not be disappointed.

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