Red Lion in South Oxfordshire

It is such a shame that this brilliant chef is supported by a team of people who have absolutely no idea what is going on. This was our fourth trip back. Each time we have been here since the refurbishment, the quality and flavour of the food has been amazing but each time, we have had terrible service. This was the last chance and I'm afraid we won't be going back. We put in our order for food and drink which just disappeared off the face of the earth. Our lunch wine was served before the pre–lunch drinks, had to keep looking at the staff for any sign of food to which they panicked on the realisation that we were STILL there with no meal. One of the young male waiters, who actually was on the ball, couldn't apologise enough and genuinely looked very embarrassed at the whole shambles. Credit to him, credit to chef but the rest of you, sort yourselves out! It's just not good enough.

Brilliant! Lovely refurbish old hotel, light and airy with outside dining. Sunday lunch was fantastic and best I have had out. Puddings were also delicious. Would also be a great place to sit outside for a drink on a sunny afternoon. Staff were very helpful. We will visit again.

We can’t praise enough the great lunch we had on Christmas Eve. The choice and food itself was really very good, and amazing value too. Very welcoming staff and beautiful furnishings throughout. Loved it, we will definitely be returning.

My husband dnd I stopped for a drink in the bar at The Red Lion on a Saturday evening in October, our first visit since the hotel was refurbished. The bar looks really nice and the barman was friendly and helpful. We were there quite early in the evening so the bar was nearly empty but we look forward to returning.

We had a work outing on a boat at Hobbs so this provided an ideal venue for staff to stay and have drinks before and after the boat trip. The venue was obviously new with staff bedding in (they wore smart rowing blazer style uniforms), the 2 bars were light, well decorated and the service was good. I am local so didn't stay and therefore cannot comment on the rooms but we will be back fro drinks and to try the restaurant.

Stayed for one night. Car park extremely small so couldn’t park at the hotel and the nearest car park is quite far with bags. In hindsight should have dropped the bags at the hotel and moved the car. Room nice enough and very large. Couple of issues in room - one cupboard had a pull out bed with the most disgusting old mattress on it. Should have been removed from the room especially in the current climate. Small nail also sticking up through carpet from floorboards which we stepped on a couple of times. Two cardboard cups in room for a drink - no idea why - states due to coronavirus but I’m unclear what difference providing a cup would make as they would be removed and washed after each guest. We had to keep asking for fresh cardboard cups to make a drink. Breakfast was only available in our room at £13.50. Breakfast came - overall nice but it was cold and wasn’t covered when bought into the room. There was nowhere in the room to eat the breakfast so had to sit on the bed with it which was awkward. Breakfast came again with cardboard cups - yet the plates and knives and forks are real so I can’t understand the logic of cardboard cups. Drinks tasted awful in them. We weren’t bought fresh milk for the tea just small packets of milk. Had to ring down for extra tea and milk. Juices came in plastic cups. No separate knife for toast and overall would be best either not providing breakfast or not charging £13.50!!!! There was a garden area outside of our room which was out of use but not locked which had a disgusting mouldy old marquee left there - the area should have either been locked or cleaned. Hotel could be lovely as lovely building in a perfect location. I did complain about my breakfast being cold but receptionist ignored this as just asked for payment. Staff were overall very polite and helpful.

Spent one night here while in the area for business, overall it was a pleasant stay. The room was clean and tidy, bed very comfortable. The building is quite historic and I’m sure this hotel would be somewhere that overseas visitors would enjoy staying as it is full of old English charm. My room overlooked the river Thames. I would stay here again

The Hotel is in a lovely location, it is a shame more "simple restoration" has not been carried out on this charming property. The main seat in the bar was ripped and no attempt to repair it. The warm inviting atmosphere of the bar was spoiled. Interesting photo’s of film stars past and present on the wall. It is sad to read the reviews of a neglected hotel. The owners need to reinvest some of their Capital. Who are the owners?

Service was good, the Sunday lunch was nice but average, this hotel/ restaurant could do so much better, the hotel is in a great location and has some lovely art deco features inside but the place was nearly empty so there is no atmosphere, unfortunately it doesn't take long for word to get around if a restaurant isn't up to scratch, such a shame the place should be buzzing just for its location alone.

Booked for afternoon tea, shown to a dull empty room and was expected to sit on a long sofa and eat from two small coffee tables, we refused and was taken to their 'garden patio' wonderful views of the dustbins and car park. Planters around the area filled with dead shrubs and weeds Afternoon tea was served it was poor, we should have left then but we developed a British we can do this attitude. Sandwiches awful but....scones good....cakes not good. A hotel in the heart of Henley should be at the top of its game, but unable to do a traditional English afternoon tea is embarrassing.

Booked the Red Lion last minute for one night stay for Henley Festival as it was one of the few hotels that had parking . When we arrived we managed to get the last space which was a squeeze in a grotty car park. On entering the hotel it was very shabby with dirty worn carpets , chipped paint work and a gloomy feel . Reception staff were polite and gave us our room key . Our room was up three flights of stairs and when we opened the door it was a very dark room with old curtains , dark furniture , dirty carpets and a very dated bathroom . We met the maid on the stairs who was lovely . The hotel had already provided a fan for the room as the sash windows did open but kept falling down so we were extremely hot during the night. The bed was actually very comfortable and also very clean . All in all I personally wouldn’t stay here again as it was so run down and tired however for a one night stay for a couple who were hardly in their room we could get past it. Shame as it’s a lovely location and they could capitalise on this if they did a basic refurbishment. Our friends stayed at the Catherine Wheel which is only a weather-spoons but was far superior in every way to the Red Lion . Will be staying there next year .

Very comfy rooms, some with view of Thames. Breakfast was fulsome and filling. Car park with plenty of spaces.

I'd bought a groupon coupon and invited our neighbours for a Sunday lunch and we loved it, it was like going back in time with the surrounding, very English place, a bit tired but very authentic all the same. The food was plain and excellent with an excellent menu and choice (but they had run out of the salmon starter so perhaps book for an early sitting rather than a later). The dishes were well presented with sufficient portions. The service was excellent and they had 3 waiters for a small restaurant so every request was dealt with quickly. A very enjoyable meal and pleasant meal with great company. Thank you.

How disappointing! I wish I had read reviews more carefully. I had purchased this as a thank you and was very disappointed. Positives were a nice setting, lovely prosecco and a delicious scone each. Negatives dull sandwiches 3 thin slices of Madeira cake and similar fruit cake. Tea served in a metal pot. No-one would ever pay £60 for this! It is only just worth the groupon price of £26 and that is only because 2 glasses if prosecco would be quite pricey in Henley. Sadly I would not recommend.

Got a Groupon voucher for 2 which included 2 courses with a glass of proscesso each for £26 Good service , food was ok mrs had the lamb which she said was excellent beef was ok but cut very thin ( not to my liking) , We had the goats cheese for starter which was excellent!

Very attentive staff. Could not fault them. The food not so good. Roast beef tough, very difficult to cut. Lamb tasteless. The starters however were good. Mushroom soup was tasty and the smoked salmon with mustard and capers was very good.

La alojé por una noche para asistir a Henley Regatta. La habitación estaba en un estado muy triste, extremadamente desagradable y sucio, la suciedad dentro de las pantallas de lámparas junto a la cama y el gancho de la cortina de la ducha que sostenía el espejo en el tocador eran especialmente buenos toques. La alfombra era del tipo que realmente no querrías poner los pies sin zapatos. La cama y el baño estaban limpios, pero todo lo demás no. La puerta del baño no se cerró, el ventilador no funcionaba y el inodoro no funcionaba correctamente. El soporte de equipaje y las muy extrañas sillas y mesa de café estaban horriblemente sucias, no usamos tampoco. El teléfono no había visto una tela durante años.

Absolutely awful. Dirty , tired and noisy. This hotel needs a total overhaul. The bathroom was revolting. The suite was many years old and the taps had the middles missing. Cracks in the tiles and most unappealing and unhygienic. Wouldn’t recommend to my worst enemy.

Fuimos a una función allí y tenían 1 personal de bar en cada bar en una concurrida noche de sábado. Tuve que esperar más de 30 minutos para tomar una copa. Habló con el gerente que fue grosero y poco servicial. Básicamente están llevando a cabo una tripulación reducida para mantener bajos los costos de personal, los clientes están sufriendo y a la administración no le importa.

Parking a bit narrow entranc very large nice dinning room potatos hard not really roast Brussel sprout unable to cut with knife no choice of vegetables all plated up

Llevamos a un amigo aquí para el té de la tarde (con burbujas) La habitación tenía un montón de ambiente, el personal era educado y atento sin ser insistente de ninguna manera. Los sándwiches y pasteles eran encantadores y los bollos eran para morirse, todavía estaban calientes, fueron cocinados en el sitio que sabe pero sabía encantador. Obtuvimos la oferta de Groupon que hizo que if = t valor excepcional para el dinero

We have always seen this hotel but never had the opportunity to stay here till this trip. Beautiful old building conveniently located near the train station, restaurants and shopping. It is an older style hotel which does not have a lift but has lots of stairs and levels. Our room was adequate although it had a step down from the door into the room, which meant that you had to step up two times to get into the ensuite! Large bathtub with an interesting knob to turn on the shower. Comfortable enough bed! The WiFi was adequate. We would stay here again.

Fuimos a la Red Lion para obtener una bebida y un bocadillo en el almuerzo de hoy. Cuando llegó el camarero nos preguntó si podíamos tomar una sidra antes de pedir comida. Él parecía totalmente perpleja cuando preguntamos qué sidras que tenían y llegó con dos botellas de soda en una bandeja. Nos dijo que este no era justo y él a la izquierda. No verlo de nuevo y después de esperar un largo tiempo, nos fuimos.

Nos visite Henley mucho y a menudo son atraídos a este hotel fachada roja. Una vez que decidimos tomar un café allí para probarla.

Fuimos a la Red Lion para comer el domingo en una oferta de 2 platos y una copa de Prosecco cada una. El restaurante principal era bastante monótona y el desayuno que sirven las mesas fueron expulsadas en una esquina. Las mesas estaban dispuestas frente a la habitación, pero incluso si hubiera re-ellos organizó el alféizar eran demasiado alto cuando se siente a ver por las ventanas hacia el río el restaurante estaba bastante lleno, con alrededor de 3 / 4 de las mesas ocupadas. Los aperitivos eran limitadas en variedad con platos como la sopa de melón, o paté. Eran muy sencillas. La red compuesta de carne asada con opciones de, el cerdo, el cordero y el pollo, servido con verduras, patatas asadas, Yorkshire pudding y la salsa. Los platos principales fueron bastante sabroso y abundante porciones pero eran típicas cenas mejores más de pub. Expectativas del restaurante, sin embargo, nos decepcionó y sentimos que incluso para nuestra oferta, podríamos haber obtenido mucho mejor calidad por menos dinero.

Nos encanta que vuelve a la Red Lion para una taza de té o desayuno o té por la tarde y siempre nos sentimos bienvenidos y bien tratados por el personal.

Excelente bollos frescos y 3 tipos de básico pero cuidadosamente podados sándwiches, pasteles, pero limitado en placas bien presentado niveles. Un montón de té bueno y sabroso café. Servicio discreto. Sillas confortables y acogedoras "pasado de moda" (4) habitación con mesa de cama adicional. Precio paquete bueno para ocasiones especiales.

I booked my father to stay in the hotel when he came to visit me, he was absolutely delighted with...

Las camas son cómodas. Las habitaciones que dan a la calle hart puede ser un poco ruidoso cuando tráfico recoge en la mañana, pero también cuenta con una bonita vista de thenThames. El desayuno gratuito es agradable antes de salir.

This afternoon we (5 adults and 2 children) had Sunday lunch at the Red Lion as we were celebrating a 60th birthday. We had a Groupon voucher for 4 adults with prosecco and would pay the difference. We were met by the manageress who showed us to our table and I have to say that throughout the meal she was fantastic, attentive, particularly with our 4 year old son who she agreed that she would show him the 2 lions and he could sit on 1 if he ate his dinner.The choice of food was good, the quality of food was excellent and none of us could find a fault in any of it. All the staff were dressed very smartly and attentive throughout.At the end of the main course she promptly took me and my son to see the large metal lion where she lifted him on its back which he loved, and then took us outside to see the 'naughty' lion on the roof where she picked out son up to show him the lion.1st class service and 1st class food. Would highly recommend it and will look forward to come back.Thanks

I prepaid on Groupon after reading various reviews about the Red Lion so I was open minded.My husband and I were thoroughly impressed with all aspects of the lunch.On arrival in the restaurant dining room we were met by a very smart waiter and this was same standard of all staff.We both had roast lunch with the vegetables done al dente, roast potatoes crisp and fluffy on inside.Deserts were to 'die for' my husband's being bread and butter pudding and mine was sticky toffee pudding followed by superb coffee.I would totally recommend paying this establishment a visit followed by a walk by the river or a spot of retail therapy.

We visited the Red Lion last Sunday with friends who live in Henley. They hadn't been there for a long long time and we had never been before. Good large and quite empty car park. A real bonus as Henley is never the easiest place to park.Service was really excellent. Do not understand some of the negative reviews of service here.Everything we had was very good and plentiful. Had booked through Groupon and the value under that deal is exceptional. Well done the Red Lion.

I came here for one night stay early December. The staff were attentive and the food was tasty. They gave us a room overlooking the river which had stunning views of Henley. Don't expect 5 star luxury the hotel is old and quaint and is turned out so i.e. rustic but all is clean and I had a thoroughly enjoyable stay! I would recommend the champagne, strawberries and cream!

My husband booked two nights in the four poster room 108 as a surprise for me, sadly we were glad to leave. The room is very small uncomfortable and extremely noisy, made worse by the side window which doesn't close keeping us awake with the traffic noise (being adjacent to the traffic lights by the bridge) and is constant night and day.Although November the bathroom had no heating working for the duration of our stay and the radiators in the bedroom only worked the first night.The remote on the TV was intermittent, the shower curtain had mildew and stains. We were offered breakfast on our last morning as compensation, however the the eggs benedict were unavailable (no muffins) and the porridge with maple syrup came without as none available.We were glad we hadn't paid as the choice on display was very limited.

A Groupon Voucher took us to The Red Lion Hotel. (£26 for 2 people). We were utterly impressed and equally ashamed to say we couldn't finish all the treats...Food:You get 3 different finger sandwiches: salmon, ham and cucumber. There are three different types of cake: lemon drizzle, chocolate and fruit cake. Two scones each! - freshly baked and with a small pot of jam and cream.The food was vast, delicious and extremely fresh. I would say you needed a little more jam and cream if you are able to finish all scones!Drink:Lovely glass of bubbles AND a huge selection of tea. Very impressed here. Also you have a bar in the next room, if you wanted to buy more drinks too. Atmosphere:I love the hotel. It's warm, well furnished and lots of different areas and nooks to explore. If you're less stable on your feet watch out for the occasional odd step - this is a very old building. Service:The service is good. Would've been great if they brought our food out quicker. We didn't notice because we were talking a lot - but a couple opposite us sat in silence waiting for food for about 15 minutes - very awkward! If they were slightly quicker with the food, I would've given a 5/5 - because they did check in with us and were friendly and polite both at reception and in the lounge. Overall, a fantastic place and at just £13 each - we were amazed at the value and would certainly go back and recommend to others.

We're very glad we didn't read the negative reviews that have been posted about this hotel restaurant, or we might not have gone there. As it happened, we enjoyed a delicious meal in a pleasant, quiet atmosphere and we were served by very polite and attentive staff. If you appreciate that sort of experience, I'd recommend the Red Lion.

We stayed here for one night during a kayak paddle challenge of 60 miles along the Thames. It was a quiet room in the back of the hotel close to the car park. Only had a shower (would have loved a tub to soak in) otherwise nice hotel with a wonderful history and location

Held our wedding here and the meal was delicious. Generous portions, full of flavour. All our guests commented on how tasty the meal was

I'll start by saying avoid this place at all costs. The service is non existent with no concept of putting the customer first or attempting to provide the 'world class service' that the previous hotel feedback suggests, in fact the hotels response is laughable. I should have read the previous reviewers comments before spending any money here. I tried to have some drinks and a small snack. Staff are nowhere to be seen you have to chase them. Then if you're unlucky to place the order you'll then have to chase it up. 35mins for 1 drink and a snack when there's no other customers is lamentable. I then had to chase twice to get the bill which someone had written a 20% service charge onto. Very suspicious. The quality of customer facing staff is simply shocking and what's worse is they barely speak a word of English let alone understand it or the concept of service. I could go on about how I tried to complain but guess what no one was around to speak to.

Avoid at all costs. Tried morning coffee here. The staff barely speak or understand english. Instead of providing a Cafetiere they brought the cup with coffee and milk already in the cup (frankly this was almost laughable). I have read the other reviews before coming here and thought it cannot be that bad but it is! Its clear the owner is running the place down with zero investment. He is paying minimum wage to the lowest quality staff he can employ without consideration for what draws the customers in to spend their money, a quality product with good service, this is something he has obviously forgotten about. It might work in another part of the world he is familiar with but not here.

Visited with family for Sunday lunch. Disappointing is the main word for this review. The staff's English was poor and despite a quiet restaurant they were very inattentive and we had to try and catch their attention every time we needed something. It is a great shame as the position of this hotel is one of the best in Henley. I feel they would do better if they stopped trying to offer such a formal service (which they do badly) and went down the gastro route similar to The Bull which is always busy. The roast itself was average but I wouldn't be happy to pay full price for it if we hadn't have had a groupon voucher.

Went for a family meal to mark the final night of our holiday in Henley. First impressions were lovely with a clean well presented restaurant. Two waiters on hand were VERY attentive. Almost too attentive. The menu was predictable though food was well cooked though my wife's steak wasn't as cooked as she had requested. The biggest complaint was the number of flies making a nuisance throughout the meal. Very distracting. Overall we enjoyed our night but overall felt it was overpriced for what was offered.

White tablecloths and flowers on the tables. I had fried whitebait and my husband had fish but there was a bed of vegetables on it which detracted from the flavour of the fish.A shame as the fish was very good.

Popped into Hotel Du Vin nearby for a libation beforehand. A happy healthy atmosphere. Then to the Red Lion! The contrast was palpable. The Bar is a gem let down by staff whose use of English is lamentable. The restaurant has a lovely setting overlooking the Thames. The food was uninspiring and very poorly presented. One could see fingerprints on the plates where the sous chefs had wiped sauce off the rims. Someone must revive this fine old lady!

We went here with a group of 12 for my mother-in-laws birthday. We were put in a room on our own but the doors were open so we in a sense still part of the main restaurant. The place does lacks a bit of atmosphere and maybe they should consider some low back round music. This was a good value groupon deal (£15), and the food was basic as you would expect with this sort of thing, three different starters and three types of meat for the roast. My husband did say he had a small amount of hard veg and one roast potato in edible. Dessert can be bought as an extra but when ours arrived the waiters go the Sticky Toffee Pudding and the Chocolate Brownie muddled up, not sure how but it was soon rectified. If you fancy a nice Sunday lunch out then a lovely walk along the river its just the place to go. They do have a car park out the back of the hotel but you can easily drive past it and then you would have to go around the one way system again

My husband and I along with our teenage daughter had Sunday Lunch on a Groupon Voucher, I cannot praise The Red Lion enough, the food was delicious, We all had the pate starter which was very good, my husband and daughter had roast beef and I had the lamb, all were tender and very tasty, Both my husband and daughter had a dessert which they both enjoyed, the staff were very attentive and friendly without being too close that we couldn't talk freely to each other, the decor was lovely, the tables immaculate and we all agreed that it was the best sunday lunch we had ever had in a restuaurant, Can't wait for our next visit.

We stayed for only one night.The car parking is limited so get in early.The room was lovely, roomy and clean. The staff were good and helpful.The breakfast ,however, could be better. Lovely fresh fruit salad but tea served by the waitress instead of a good pot to yourself .The hot breakfast was buffet style with good rashers of bacon and eggs BUT as soon as you put it on cold plates it went cold,of course

We stayed one night at the Red Lion. I have to say our room was quite large overlooking the Thames which was fantastic. However the room was so hot we couldn't sleep we did have a fan but it was so noisy we had to turn it off. I'm glad we only stayed one night. The hotel staff were very friendly and couldn't do enough for you. But the hotel is in great need of updating.

Stayed the night here whilst on a recent business trip to Henley. The location is great, right in the middle of town, but if you are expecting a lay in the next morning, you may be out of luck as the traffic noise is very intense and this starts early. But the bedroom was clean, the bathroom likewise and the old fashioned, almost French feel to the hotel is very welcoming. Great place to stay for a business trip, but wouldn't recommend it for a romantic weekend away, unless you are early risers!

After our cold lunch at the restaurant in Eton we were looking forward to a nice cuppa and cake by the river later on. Henley is an extremely busy town and the noise level from the traffic is something else. We spotted a few tables on a little terrace right on the river and worked out it belonged to the Red Lion Hotel. We went into the bar and asked them if we could order afternoon tea and sit on the terrace, the young waitress then proceeded to dodge the very busy traffic and check for seats, came back and said yes we could go ahead and order. The three waiters behind the bar could not find a menu, one went off to look for a menu, no luck, another just told us what he could remember was on the menu! We ordered scones and a pot of tea, he told us to take our seats and he would bring it down. We then crossed the very busy road walked down the steps and waited. The wait time wasn't bad at all considering he had to cross the busy road with a tray of very hot tea and scones (very bizarre). The scones were deliciously warm, real clotted cream, lovely jam and tea was served in a proper heavy teapot which didn't drip at all. If you can block out the noise, it was very relaxing sitting by the river watching the various boats go past. The price was reasonable as well. Would recommend a visit and the afternoon tea experience could be improved if you were able to look at a menu. The staff were lovely and helpful.

but equally I liked the food. We went on a Sunday and there were two other tables, the rest empty. We also went on a GroupOn voucher which was a good deal and to be fair the lunch was very nice. Staff do not speak English as far as I can tell. I liked the grounds, the car park area in the courtyard, and the situation, as I go to Henley a lot, but at the end of the day we were ushered into the tiny dining room where there was a stony silence. most other people were not talking anyway but I felt I could not talk for fear of being overheard. I have been for coffee before, and whilst the food was very nice, the pokey dining room with people too close means I won't go again. Our host said the food had improved a lot since a poor first outing he had had, I thought the roast beef was very good. So, very good 4 stars gets marked down for lack of privacy and intimacy. Did not visit loos, so cannot vouch. Lovely situation, good car parking. Nice town.

Having had a disaster at the Red Lion 18 months ago (I am not sure if the dauphinoise potatoes masquerading as bread and butter pudding post is still on here).....I returned someaht sceptically with my wife and a friend using a Group on Voucher last Sunday.Could not have been more surprised - friendly, knowledgeable staff, good service and the food was excellent - the lamb in particular, but all 3 courses were way above the standard we had last time. The wine was also sensibly priced and good quality......So, credit where credit is due.....I would definitely go back there for lunch again. I don't know why they seem to suffer from such inconsistent reviews, clearly they have to sort this issue out, but on this occasion

Very disappointed with both the food and lack of selection of teas. I have never been for afternoon tea (and I have done several with groupon) without the options of herbal/fruit teas. Instead we got very stewed breakfast tea. As previous reviewers have mentioned the staff didn't speak, even ask us if everything was ok or if we wanted more water for the tea. Still debating if tea here iseven worth the groupon price!

Agree with everything previous reviewer says - organisation (lack of) absolutely dreadful. No service to speak of, made to feel completely unwelcome. "We are understaffed today" is no excuse and not my problem. Manager nowhere to be seen, probably hiding. Comment from a local today "why on earth did you go there, it's horrible" - so I think this hotel has a lot of reputation fixing to do - starting with a major improvement in service.

Booked a group on champagne afternoon tea for 2 for £29. Went with my boyfriend on a Saturday for the first sitting at 3pm (although we were late as parking is a major issue and only hotel residents can park on site). Waited for a while in reception before being told to go sit in the lounge area and someone would come seat us. About 20mins later, someone came and brought our champagne. The hotel/bar area is nice and it wasn't very busy - the tables opposite us left just as we were arriving and it did take a very long time for the tables to be cleared and reset. The rest of our tea arrived a few minutes later and consisted of the following: two cheese and pickle sandwiches, two tomato and cucumber sandwiches and two egg sandwiches. For the price we paid, I wasn't overly impressed with the choice of fillings but they did taste nice. There were three cakes each - a strawberry tart (which was hard pastry filled with cream and topped with strawberries - very sickly, I didn't like it but my other half did!), a slice of plain sponge cake and a slice of fruit cake (again I don't like fruit cake so I didn't eat this). There were also a fruit scone each, with clotted cream and raspberry jam. We were offered tea or coffee. We weren't offered a selection of teas but I didn't mind as I always choose English Breakfast anyway, I just thought it was odd. It was also really odd that the staff never actually said anything to us. Other than asking whether we wanted tea or coffee, they just placed the food or drink in front of us and walked off. Overall, it was nice, but for £29 was way over priced - even for two people. I have had much nicer afternoon teas on the same group on deal at different locations. It was nice, but we wouldn't go back. Not even on a group on. The reception staff were also quite rude and you had to repeat yourself more than once before being acknowledged. Bit of a letdown.

A group of friends chose this for a pre-Xmas lunch. The food was nicely cooked and included a variety of choices. Soup, paté or melon to start; turkey, fish, I think and a veggie option for main course.The 2 courses cost £12 a head, including a glass of prosecco - which was pretty good value.It's a hotel, with restaurant; probably an old coaching inn originally. Rather better than a pub with rooms. It's in the centre of town, with views over the river Thames. The windows are small and you don't see a lot of it. If you want huge rooms, with gracious views over Capability Brown landscapes, go somewhere else. They may have outdoor seating, but in December, I didn't expect to see any. It's a hotel and they'll keep the hours hotels keep.It's a nice place and I'd definitely go back.

As we entered the hotel, for a late lunch, we were intercepted by a manager who questioned "where are you going"? I replied that we were looking for the restaurant, and she sarcastically "its right behind you." Actually, the bar was behind us, but apparently, the guests should know that's where food is served during off peak hours. We sat down, and waited almost 15 minutes to be helped, while a couple fo staff members were chatting behind the bar. Then we left.

I spent an afternoon there with my partner one Sunday & we had the champagne afternoon tea.I have to say, it wasn't anything special. You could get the same standard of afternoon tea for much much less elsewhere in the area & the service wasn't great.We spent the afternoon surrounded by dirty tables when there was only a few groups there, so wouldn't have been difficult to have cleared them.

The rooms were quite nice and clean although the breakfast service in the morning really let it down...it took 20 mins to get some tomato sauce by which time my sausages were cold and half eaten. I got the feeling the staff were not engaged in their job roles.

We went to the Red Lion for Sunday lunch on Mothers Day. The starters were very bland - fish pate, chicken, pate, mozarella salad and soup. Had the two pates. They were pleasant but tasted as if they had been bought in the supermarket. Main course was roasts. Mine was slow-cooked leg of lamb. It was tough yet flabby. My partner went for the roast pork with crackling and apple sauce. The crackling was just soggy fat and there was no apple sauce. Nobody asked us if the meal was OK until the waitress came to clear our plates at the end. Very disappinted and am unlikely to eat their again.

This place is a bit old-fashioned and eclectic. On the one hand, you get the impression it's trying to be quite upscale when you first walk in and are greeted by a smartly uniformed receptionist and waiters in dickey bows. But then the lounge is furnished with old sofas with throws and loose covers, and some strangely mismatched pieces. But the cream tea we had was good, and not overpriced (c. £4), with nice hot scones, good cream and real jam (not little packets). And service was attentive, if spotty.

The restaurant is in a prime spot, overlooking the River Thames. We live locally and decided to try out the food at the Red Lion on a voucher deal, two courses for £21, one of which being a Sunday roast. The soup entree tasted home made and ticked all the boxes on a cold, wintery day. The roasted tatties, seasonal vegetables and gravy that came with the main meal didn't disappoint either. The roast beef tasted nice however was very tough and on the chewy side.Wines by the glass were on the pricey side but we'd expected that given the location. The restaurant's decor was immaculately clean and tasteful but did lack the cosy, warm atmosphere that could be found in a lovely old hotel like this.The meal had been billed as a "gourmet roast lunch experience" and whilst the many, friendly waiting staff tried their level best to deliver this from a service perspective, the overall food experience was pretty average.

Four of us dined on Thursday 27th December, using a raffle voucher for 4 that I had won at a previous corporate lunch held at the venue. The food was reasonable for the first two courses overall - mine was actually quite good, but not everyone felt that their steaks were up to scratch.......however, deserts are clearly their "Piece de disaster"......The other 3 members of the group had lemon and vodka cheesecake which was really not good - no one had more than 2 or 3 mouthfuls....but they faired better then I did. I ordered Bailey's Bread and Butter Pudding with ice cream, and a dish pupporting to be the self same duly arrived. My instant reaction was that I couldn't see any raisins in the "BBP"....but anyway, took a spoonful with ice-cream, and after a few moments thought - this is pretty flavourless!! Poked the slab of "BBP" on my plate - thought it might actually be apple strudel instead - and went for another mouthful......and then realised that what I was tucking into had actually nothing to do with desert (unless of course you are in the Fat Duck..................)I HAD BEEN SERVED DAUPHINOISE POTATOES AND ICE CREAM - at least Hester tells you when you are going to get something bizarre, and it normally works....but this was just rank incompetence!! OK, so mistakes happen, but things took a turn for the worse in the way this was then dealt with....I asked the manager if I could see the chef - but no, they said there was only a junior trainee in the kitchen....as if that was meant to excuse everything. Quite frankly the manager really did not get that this was more or an issue than just replacing the desert with soemthing more suitable - he simply did not have the skills to deal with the situation (from either a customer care or language perspective). Clearly we had a very different experience from TyneAngel!!Since all our food and first bottle of wine was included in the raffle voucher, there was a small additional drinks bill to pay, which I declined to do after this bizarre experience - fully expecting the manager to say that's fine sir (probably about £30 in total), but he did not see it that way at all. I left a letter for the main management / owners with my contact details, but suffice it to say, the manager's whole approach to this made things a lot worse!! It is such a shame that this potentially excellent hotel is being blighted by this sort of incompetence and lack of understanding. They would have got a 3.5 rating without this occurence. I have not given them terrible (1 point) because the first 2 courses were acceptable / good......but I was tempted to!! These guys have to realise that Henley on Thames is a massively competitive market for restaurant customers - and they are right at the bottom as far as I am concemed.Wake up MG hotels - because Henley is a small place and news travels fast - especially in the modern social media age!!

We had booked for Sunday lunch, our first meal out in weeks following my husband's surgery. The welcome was warm and friendly, the room comfortable, the meal pleasant. Then my husband collapsed - out stone cold - and the reaction of the staff was extremely kind, caring and efficient, despite the restaurant being busy. They looked after us both really well. We were very impressed and are very appreciative.

This hotel is in a prime spot in one of the most famous villages in the world.The staff need to realise that being in this privileged position does not make THEM important.The customers are important not the staff.I spent a night there and was dissappointed. It is not bad, far from it, but it was not good - and it should be.

My main problem with eating out is cold food and plate. I have sent so many meals back that I do not look forward to eating out.But at last, our lunch at the Red Lion in Henley was excellent, it was so nice to sit down in a comfortable dining room and enjoy every part of the meal. We cannot remember the last time we sat down to a meal and was satisfied with every part. The service was faultless and the food just as I like it. Go along and try it.

says it all above! We had a great breakfast, freshly cooked and hot. Great business lunch in the restaurant, nice and hot and good variety and selection, buffet style.

My partner and I went to The Red Lion for afternoon tea. We had booked a table for 4pm. When we arrived we were told that the front dining room was full, so please could we wait 5 mins for them to clear us a different table. So we waited 10 minutes to then be sat out the back in this large function room, on our own with no music and absolutely no atmosphere!! After I complained we were moved to a better seating area, by this time it was 4.30!!! The food did not improve things - we were served tomato (only) sandwiches and cucumber (only) sandwiches and also egg mayo - which were ok. This place looks good but I wouldnt bother going inside as you will be disappointed!!

We had our expectations set to low based on recent reviews and it nearly looked to come true! They accepted our groupon vouchers without a murmur and whisked us off to a table where there were 3 or 4 families sitting in virtual silence (even with young children!) They swiftly brought out our glass of prosecco included in the deal and managed to tip the entire contents of one glass all over my father in law! There was a good set menu included in our deal - starter and main or main and dessert. The voucher claimed we could only have chicken or beef but on the day we could choose from chicken, beef, lamb or vegetarian. The house red wine was nice. We all went for starters - chicken liver pate with cranberry sauce and toast was lovely and the brioche/tapenade starter was also good. All our food was delivered safely with none on us!Service was reasonable and no complaints.

I was taken out as a treat for Sunday Lunch and if you like the food you eat to be of school dinner standard then this is the place for you but very expensive at £30 a head.Very disappointing cuisine.The staff tried to make you welcome and were very pleasant if a little unsure of what they were supposed to be doing. The restaurant was not very busy,one minor point,for the supposed standard of restaurant I would expect linen serviettes on the tables not cheap, thin paper ones. The whole experience was dire.Sorry!

I went with friend today for Sunday lunch, we'd bought a Groupon voucher. We'd bought a 2 course meal with a glass of Prosecco for £25.00. We were looking for somewhere nice and local and it claimed a discount from the normal price of £60.00First impressions were good. The place was clean and welcoming, the staff were all attentive.We were sat a a nice table with a clean tablecloth, but I was surprised with the napkins, they were the small paper type that you buy from the supermarket 100 for £1.00. Not a big deal. The glass of Prosecco was served and it was very nice.We both chose Pate to start, clearly it was a bought in pate, pretty bland, shame.Then for main course we both had roast beef. Clearly this was bought in already sliced. You can tell by the way the fat didn't marry up on any of the slices.The Yorkshire puddings were Aunt Bessies. The roast potatoes weren't good, but that is difficult for a restaurant. I liked the veggies but my friend complained they weren't cooked enough.My friends beef was very fatty!Quite clearly the owners have decided to charge a premium price if you look at the £60 and serve the equivalent of a school dinner. Henley is a nice place there is a big catchment of discerning customers who are prepared to pay premium prices for quality food, unfortunately we found that the quality was very poor to the point that I didn't even feel we had value for the £26 we paid, let alone the indicated price of £60.It really does not cost much more to provide quality food, although perhaps they would then need to invest in employing a chef instead of a microwave operator! But at least if customer felt they were getting good food and good value they would return. Regrettably I have to say that we will not be returning, unless we see a chef employed and the microwaves out in the bin.Owners you really have it wrong.

Went to the Red Lion for Sunday lunch. Food was great, the beef just melted, but why only one small pieces of melba toast with a largish portion of pate?? The one thing that let it down badly was the service, it was so disorganised! There seemed to be plenty of staff but some of them just didn't know what they were doing and no one is charge. Would think twice about going back.

This was a present for my wife for her birthday from our son. The service was chaotic and some customers were left for ages without being served and complained. The food was probably the worse cream tea I have had and was not worth the £30 a head. The sanwiches were made with thick slice bread with fillings of 1) tomato 2) cucumber and 3) egg. They used margarine and didn't give us the choice of butter. The cakes were a strawberry"Mr Kiplin" type cream cake, a thin slice of fruit cake and a thin slice of a sponge cake which neither of us ate. The scone was nice but the cream was on the turn. If anybody is thinking of using the Red Lion at Henley for an afternoon tea or thinking of using this as a present don't wast your money.

delicious and lots of variety to choose from. Would definitely recommend a visit when in Henley-On-Thames

Gorgeous food and fantastic service! This really is a lovely place and a very special treat for anyone who wants a lovely time away.

The location is great, right beside the river Thames and in a great neighborhood BUT I had a room facing the street and it was very noisy. The service was also mediocre pretty much across the board with one exception: The French Manager. The breakfast staff seemed sullen. The first day my room wasn't made up at all and I was told you needed to put a sign on your door if you wanted it made up! The who also were helpful but trying to get answers on tickets had a couple of stops and starts, reached high expections in some moments, fell down in others. I booked in here at the last minute as my normal favorite hotel was full . While this is a nice place, I will not be returning and will be going back to my usual Hotel.

A substantial full English and such a treat in the bedroom.

This place looked so lovely from the outside so we popped in for a coffee....The helpful receptionist said we should sit in the bar and she would send someone to collect our order. He duly arrived and I ordered coffee which is from a pathetic machine on the bar. If like me you want decaff it is instant only! I was offered a cup or a "pot" which it turns out is a mug not a caffetiere. Once it arrived it was ok.However the waiter came back after a few minutes saying he needed paying as he was finishing his shift! I am so glad we only went for a coffee I don't think I would trust them with anything more complicated. Disappointing really as it could be so much better.

The room was clean, the bed comfortable, the staff very accommodating. The shower curtain smelled a bit molding and there were some signs of mold.

Booked afternoon tea for Mother's Day. The experience was what only could be described as chaotic. The staff didn't have a clue. Noone knew about our booking. Waited ages to be: seated, to be given (wrong) menus, the correct menus, the food, the tea that was supposed to be brought with the food - all yours for £30 quid. Absolute rubbish.Unfortunately, I couldn't kick up a fuss because it would have spoiled Mother's Day, although Mum said it was like "Fawlty Towers" . The lesson learned? Don't go to the The Red Lion.

Lovely building, decor and location. The food and service are excellent and has a very cute, quaint bar (But please remove the TV though) This is not a sports bar, what are they thinking??

Farcical dining experience which left us confused and questioning the entire 'restaurant' concept.

We were booked into the Red Lion at 3pm. At 3:30pm a waiter finally collected us from the bar and showed the 5 of us to a table with 4 chairs and 3 crackers. By 4:20pm our wine finally arrived, as had 2 of the starters that we'd been made to pre-order several days before. They didn't seem to know what the other 3 starters were supposed to be, or even if we'd ordered more than 2 starters. My soup was nice enough, but I don't think it was the haddock & leek soup that had been promised on the menu. D's salmon & langoustine mousse had been magically transformed into a few slices of salmon from a packet, laid out in an almost vaginal shape complete with a blob of creme fraiche and some rocket for pubes. R had chosen the mozzarella with roasted veg, which was actually what they served her, but the mozzarella had clearly been cut straight from a packet and dumped unlovingly on her plate, with half an olive as "garnish". M & J had potted duck, which looked like a slice of dog food, had been messily cut from a tin, and was served at fridge temperature. Not much got eaten.After some confusion - again - about what we'd ordered for our main courses, R and I both had the traditional turkey roast, which was fine, although the accompanying single strip of shrivelled-up carrot was less than impressive. D had ordered aubergine stuffed with feta and artichoke, but was given a goat's cheese parcel instead. And M & J had ordered roasted rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding and a "rich wild mushroom and red wine jus", but got what looked like slices of Bird's Eye boil-in-the-bag beef, gravy, and no Yorkie. All of these were supposed to be served with sprouts, carrots, parsnips and spuds, but D didn't have any of these on her plate and we had to ask for them. About 10 minutes later the waiter emerged with a giant bowl of overcooked sprouts and soggy courgettes. Accompanying all of this was a small stereo in the corner playing such festive tunes as "Macarena" by Los Del Rio. And it all cost £70 per head, which they'd wanted to be paid in full up-front 3 days beforehand. The Christmas crackers were from Poundland, incidentally. You can't buy class like that.So obviously it was time to complain. We got the manager or head waiter or maitre d' or somesuch person over, and I brought the menu up on my phone, and pointed out how what we'd been served was largely completely different from what we'd ordered, and how what we'd been served was pretty awful in terms of both presentation and flavour, and he said, "Okay, I'll take these plates away from you and (mumble mumble mumble)". Anyway, the head man bloke didn't actually get as far as coming back to make it up to us, because our complaints were suddenly the cue for everyone else in the dining room to decide to speak up too, and suddenly every waiter in the room was having to deal with a load of disgruntled customers, including a table of 20. We left before pudding after hearing the woman at the next table tell the waiter her ice cream tasted of eggs. So, DON'T GO TO THE RED LION IN HENLEY.

The food was of a very high standard and great value for money!

Lovely historical hotel. Close to everything. Great room and bathroom. No lift (elevator). Staff cheerful and helpful.

My husband likes English food and I like different dishes, there were plenty of choices for both of us. Lovely restaurant and bar.

Sunday lunchtime, the whole town buzzing, but only two other diners here. Horrible sticky plastic covered menus and decor from the 1970s. In spite of the restaurant being empty, the service was ponderously slow. We opted for traditional Sunday roast, and the quality was similar to a BHS canteen. Absolutely average. Fruit salad and ice creme was one of the standard pudding choices. When we asked for a portion of "just ice creme", the waiter said he would "ask the Chef?" Off he went, and several minutes later returned to say "The Chef says it's OK!" That's a sign of the stupid service attitude in residence here. (What a relief!) When we complained about slow service, the manager explained it was because they had a "function running at the same time". My attitude to this excuse is "Will you be reducing the prices?" But beyond that, I don't care what's going on. The restaurant is empty, bring my food quickly.They had to be asked for bread, and then again for butter. This place should be full of people enjoying Sunday lunchtime fayre. It's a great location in a great town and it's right beside the river Thames.I have the feeling that this restaurant is sub-let to an outside company. As soon as I see a waiter memorising the order, I know the wheels have come off. I wasn't disappointed as he forgot at least two items we chose.There would be absolutely no reason to return here.

To say all I keep reading are negative comments, I trully don't understand what all the fuss is about?I went to the red lion today with my boyfriend and his parents for sunday lunch.firstly, we were greated by a friendly receptionist who pointed us in the right direction for the restaurant.we were then met by a very helpful and smart gentlemen who proceeded to sit us down and make us feel very welcome. within minutes, we already enjoyed his presence and felt comfortable.after taking our food and drink order, we were left in the hands of a waitress.her service was fantastic, her english was very comprehensable to say it was not her first language and everything was just fine!the food was great, the price was better and i would happily go back!to say we are living in a credit crisis, why are people making such fuss about nothing??