Red Lion Inn in Derbyshire Dales

We have just come home from staying Liliemae Barn in Hognaston. On Wednesday 7th February we went for a meal at the Red Lion to celebrate my birthday. We hadn’t booked but had read reviews and had high expectations for a good meal. The meal I chose was the feathered beef and my husband chose the steak and ale pie. My food was delicious,homemade, very tasty and filling. I could not fault it. The service from the landlord was friendly and efficient. There was an open fire and traditional pub ambience. I think it was a very good price for the quality of food and would highly recommend visiting this pub.

We only live 10 minutes away and cannot believe it’s been 10 years since we have been here. What a meal !!! We have now booked for a table for Sunday lunch Great cooking keep it up everyone

Wow wow wow! We visited the village and stayed in an air b and b with friends to have an annual meet up and popped to the pub for tea. Our meal at the red lion really made our trip. The menu was unbelievable and so unique!! I can never normally fit 3 courses in but I couldn’t not! The lady serving us was so lovely and kind and the chef is just fantastic. I wish we didn’t live two hours away so we could come there all the time! Deffo a must if your visiting x

Went for a family meal while staying in Hognaston, food was really good, very tasty and service was great from Jason. Great value, good portions and very tasty, would recommend.

Visited as a party of 11. Lovely country pub with outstanding food, plenty of choice on the menu and at very reasonable prices. Staff were attentive and friendly. Would highly recommend.

Table for 8 on a Saturday night and what a treat. 8 completely clear plates. The food, was, perfect pub food. We ran late, after a failed attempt to walk, and they were so understanding.

Oldy worldy pub.meals so far very good. Landlady and landlord and staff very pleasant. Four meals so far very nice. Booked again.

Excellent real ale, top notch supper, warm evening, friendly host and locals. Much enjoyed and can thoroughly recommend. Wake up CAMRA and add this to yer guide.

The tastiest and best value Sunday roast we’ve had in a long time. Would highly recommend. Lovely traditionally pub with a cosy interior

Staying in the area for Bank Holiday and found this little gem! A real local pub. Sunday lunch was lovely and desserts topped it off. Would be here most weeks if we lived nearby.

We went to the Red Lion on a Saturday night for sisters 50th. Food and drink was fantastic. I had a home pie with mash and vegetables which was excellent. Lovely traditional pub on the outskirts of the Peak District with home cooked food. Very friendly staff as well. Shall return next time I’m in the area

We went to the Red Lion for a Sunday lunch. My wife had the beef roast and I had the steak and ale pie. kids had the child's fish and chips and a burger. The service was excellent, food came in good time and was superb. Even our picky kids cleared their plates. Unfortunatly we are only in the area for a week other wise I would be a regular here.

Heard a lot of the Red Lion, finally visited for lunch celebrating my daughters birthday. Unspoilt country pub with an excellent menu and vaĺue for money

What a find. We were only in the area for 3 nights and went twice! The food is absolutely outstanding - truly two of the best pub meals in a very long time - a very talented chef! Tony and Jenny were great hosts as was their son (who is also a great chef!) & the atmosphere and clientele could not be faulted. Outstanding value for money too! I would travel a long way to eat here again. Top Marks!

First visit,beautiful place, lovely staff. Thankyou Chef for taking a very late order, late lunchtime. Mouth watering Steak and Ale pie, smash, veg, piping hot, beautifully presented. My frient had fish. The whole experience was fantastic, will be returning.

The food is insane here… delicious,, lovely little restaurant that we just stumbled across!! Dog friendly, hard working staff and great menu!! Would definitely go back and recommend!!

Lovely quaint pub it's the third time I've been with friends and the food is fantastic the staff are very friendly I'm really cannot fall the place.. will definitely be back again soon.....

We were staying in the village for 3 nights so had booked to eat here for two evenings. Can't fault the food, the beer or the service. All were fantastic and made our long weekend all the more enjoyable. Braised Beef feather blade, Suet pastry Steak and Ale Pie, Cod fillet and Sticky toffee pudding were all delicious!

We visited today whilst out in a walk. Hard to fully describe the vibe - but overall bar staff were exceptionally unfriendly and grumpy. Just about tolerated us being there ….made us put plastic covers on our muddy shoes. Everything made us feel like we...

A traditional and friendly pub with an open fire and doing food mid afternoon....had a lovely meal which surpassed our expectations and reasonably priced. Will definitely be back to sample more off the menu.

We were a large booking of a table of 11 on a Friday night, and everything was excellent. We were given the conservatory to ourselves with a large square table which was a great setup for a social meal. The food sounded really good, and...

We were a party of 10 adults and 2 children and enjoyed a lovely evening at the Red Lion. The food was really good, very tasty, and between us we covered a fair few things from the menu including steak, fish and chips, pies and...

Lovely village pub in the heart of Hognaston. After a walk with our dogs from Carsington this was a gem of a find. Service and food were excellent! We’ll definitely be back!

We arrived with a family party of 11 and thoroughly enjoyed our meal, the waitress was very attentive and helpful. Food was exceptional and they couldn’t have been any more accommodating highly recommended this little gem of a spot.

Excellent traditional pub with great food. Great service and friendly staff. Would recommend for drinks and food

Very impressed. Great variety and such flavoursome food. Came with friends on the off chance and will defiantly come again if this way. A ‘real’ English pub. Great experience.

Group of 8. Lovely food and friendly service. My hubby haf the scot h egg starter and said it was amazing

We were fortunate to be staying in the village of Hognaston this weekend so we pre booked tables for dinner both nights, just as well as the pub was very busy. Fantastic pub with the most delicious food. Hot plates too which doesn’t happen very...

Absolutely lovely meal this evening with my husband and daughter. Busy and comfortable dining with friendly landlord and landlady. Very clean and great choice of menu. Very good restaurant food. Highly recommend the braised beef. Cooked to perfection. Look forward to another return.

Lovely welcome with a relaxing old world atmosphere. Small but varied menu of first class food presented hot and cooked to perfection but at a reasonable price. Hard to sum up in words. Just a perfect evening.

Had a lovely Easter Sunday lunch! The food was wonderful as usual! The caramelised apple rice pudding in something to behold and tastes superb! Tina - Leigh on Sea

Five of us had an outstanding Sunday roast lunch and very reasonably priced. Great service from this family run happy establishment with great atmosphere and busy. Highly recommended.

Staying very locally, the Red Lion was the ideal location for a celebration meal for 7 friends on a weekend away. The greeting was warm & friendly from the outset & the waitress was very patient & helpful, given the indecisive nature of some of...

Last minute decision to eat out - Table of 7 and the kitchen was closing when we arrived but there was no problem, they were accommodating and there was never any rush to take our order or for us to finish. The sign of a...

Booked a meal on New Year’s Eve for 2.15 and was told not to arrive until then as wouldn’t be served until then, we arrive 15 minutes earlier to be told glad you’ve come now because the place shuts at 3pm? Drinks were fine and...

This is the fourth of our proposed regular Sunday lunch reviews for the Ashbourne area. The atmosphere and welcome was a bit lacking but that was largely because of the adverse weather conditions and I imagine would be lovely at other times. The food however...

When you opt to eat in the village pub when away for country weekend it can be a hit and miss affair. The Red Lion at Hognaston was defo a hit. Kept its old charm but in a good way with decor. Not overdone 👍🏼...

We called in for a sandwich and drink. The staff at the bar were not very friendly and we immediately felt like we were an inconvenience for being there. The atmosphere was frosty. It took nearly an hour and half to get two sandwiches and...

Ate here on Saturday night, 21st August, quaint pub,lovely staff and even better food,took our 2 dogs on a recommendation and definitely not disappointed, reasonably priced as well. Highly recommended.

Beatiful food very tasty, and my hip stand loved the pie with suet crust baked and crispy. My lasagne was really tasty but after te crab starter I took some home for lunch the next day. Very good glass of chardonnay and nice decaffeinated coffee...

My sailing friend took me here and I'm glad he did. The quintessential English pub run by a charming understated couple. Food was really a cut above what is normal. If you've visited Carsington water there could be no better place in which to round...

What a treasure this pub is. It's a pub with great atmosphere and the mix of people's ages was right across the board. It felt good to be back in a pub and hear people chatting, families were booked in, locals arriving and we were...

Awful service with weird, grumpy owners and bar staff. Walked in this lunchtime to have the barman surprised that we wanted food and was rude (as also agreed from rest of the table) when asking if we get drinks from the bar or order from...

Outstanding food, great value, dog-friendly & had taken great steps to keep patrons safe. Would highly recommend.

An old English village pub with an imaginative menu expertly cooked. The service was good with a most personable waitress and landlord. Relaxed with a nice atmosphere and ambience. Dessert interesting with not a bit of “squirty” cream in sight! Not pricey either. Would return.

Visited here last year before total lockdown so high on our list to eat here again during our June visit. Weren't disappointed. Delightful owners/staff and superb Sunday lunch. Three of us had small portions having learnt from our last visit plus one full size. Superbly...

Visited this pub for Sunday lunch after a recommendation. Great atmosphere and beautifully cooked Sunday roast , full of flavour and freshness. Returned a 2nd time for evening meal - not disappointed. Portions good and would recommend the butternut arranchini.

Expected to have a walk at Carsington Water so booked a table at the Red Lion for a late lunch. The weather was appalling so we came early and were seated immediately. Typical cosy old fashioned country pub just the way I like them. Had...

This is a lovely pub with a good outdoor seating area for covid rules. Excellent great value food and friendly staff. Highly recommended

picked up a meal, made very welcome due to covid we sat outside with a pint, the beer was great, well kept and crystal clear, got back to digs meal still hot and was very nice, what's not to like, would call again

The Red Lion is a cracking free house. The selection of ales changes regularly and is kept well. The staff are helpful and friendly.We sampled a takeaway Sunday lunch which was top drawer. Good beef and a varied selection of vegetables with Yorkshire pudding. One of the best we have had through the respective lock downs.It's well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Only our second visit to eat out at all since February and as we were camping nearby we chose the Red Lion for Sunday Lunch. We hadn't booked and called in to see if we could be accommodated. There were a few tables taken but they fitted the two of us in with no problem.We were quite impressed with the staff's Covid 19 precautions although some customers still walked right up to the bar without face coverings and leant on the counter despite the tape on the floor.I ordered the Sunday Roast beef and my wife chose Steamed turbot, with charred leeks and mussel fritters. Unfortunately my Roast beef was only luke warm and had to go back. The landlady did address this without problem though. However, the charred leeks were undercooked and although my wife had mussels with her turbot there weren't any mussel "fritters". Overall therefore we were disappointed with our meals so could only rate as Average.At the time of out visit the Landlady was the only staff serving in the restaurant and was very rushed and we think quite stressed, she could have really done with some help.On a positive note the Lord Lucan (Winckle Co) beer was excellent and we found the service efficient.We would certainly visit the Red Lion again if in the area, and Hognaston is a stunning little village.

We started with the Sunday roast which was lovely, rare beef and tender lamb and throughout the week ate all on offer, lovely food and exemplary compliance to COVID requirements, well done and can't wait to return

Met family for Sunday lunch. Excellent meal- we had the roast beef, desserts good too! Super service and good covid measures. Definitely recommend.

We were staying to Hognaston for 5 days and ending up eating here for 4 of them, we were so impressed with the quality of the food. You can tell its made with good quality ingredients and cooked to perfection. The service is really speedy and its a lovely atmosphere, which allows dogs :)

Well organised in these unprecedented times - with a warm welcome and lovely food. Apparently just one chef in the kitchen but it certainly didn’t affect the meal - all three courses were delicious. Recommended.

Recommended to try this place and thoroughly enjoyed my meal. Very warm welcome from the landlords and excellent beer and food.

Lovely welcome, attentive staff. Nice atmosphere. Food perfectly cooked, meat beautifully tender. Thoroughly recommended.

Went for a meal after a long walk, excellent service and by far the best meal we have had!!!! The food was out of this world. Would defiantly recommend!

My only downside to this place is to find it you have to find it on google it is slightly off the main route but once you find it you will return. As we have several times on the plus side fab place fab food and lovely atmosphere and people would have been unfair to review after one visit so my review is based on 4 visits Amazing please A true traditional old pub serving great food can’t big it up enough

Unfortunately our experience was similar to the last two reviews. This pub is local to the holiday let we were staying in so we tried it, hoping the “rudeness” and dislike of children were one offs. We ordered our food and while we were waiting, my daughter took her 3 year old to look at the “Christmas decorations” which consisted of a branch in a window with two soft birds on it. The next thing we heard shouting and my (pregnant) daughter and granddaughter came back to the table visibly upset saying they’d been shouted at for touching the birds. And I mean SHOUTED at, the whole pub heard. My advice is not to go if you have children, although actually you may want to think twice anyway as there was a distinct lack of a warm welcome and a somewhat hostile atmosphere. We didn’t stay to eat after this.

Rude staff who have forgotten basic manners. Anyone who is not a local is seen as a nuisance and can be spoken to like a naughty child! Children are told to be quiet, despite them sitting and talking at a very sensible level. Not good.

I was really disappointed, the pub looks lovely with a fire and rustic beams but I have rarely felt less welcome! The landlord was so rude to us in front of my son. A group of us sat down and used a chair from the neighbouring table. A group arrived and the landlord walked over and said move. I was happy to swap the chair with the other empty chairs (which there were lots of) but even my son noticed how abrupt and rude he was and said ‘he did not say please mummy’! We felt so unwelcome we finished our drinks and left without ordering food. Absolutely appalling.

With accommodation and food. Booked to stay for one night as we were meeting family in the area. Spacious room with shower en-suite. Tiny TV, but we didn’t want watch TV anyway. Room was directly over the pub bar so there was some noise from the bar, however as we were eating and drinking here it didn’t bother us, even though the noise went on for some time after we went up to the room.Cosy bar with selection of real ales, and great freshly cooked food. Traditional pub food with a contemporary twist. The cheeseboard dessert was beautifully presented and very generously sized. There are only 3 rooms here and we were the only ones staying. Breakfast was personal service at a time to suit us. Freshly cooked full English breakfast, with plenty of coffee and toast, though I presume other tastes would be catered for.Would definitely recommend for both food and accommodation.

Nice pub but like a lot of places now are only interested in selling food & even tho they are a pub and you go to the bar and purchase a load of drinks no matter where you sit you get sorry that tables reserved I have limited vision and feel unsteady standing plus going down steps but was refused 2 empty tables which remained empty the 30mins we were there Surely a pub should keep a rable free for drinkers not diners

Went for lunch with friends here and had read other reviews which were very favourable. We were not dissapointed, the food here is lovely, varied and very reasonably priced, would certainly recommend. Another bonus is that the pub is dog friendly

This pub is an absolute gem.After being in the village a few weeks ago for something completely different we decided to try this pub on our way home from the Peaks as it had seemed cosy and welcoming. We were not disappointed.Slightly off the beaten track so quieter than a lot of the other local pubs, it has outdoor seating at both the back and the front of the pub which is drenched in sun on a good day. The staff and the locals are friendly, and the food was wonderful.The starters, a roast tomato soup and a black pudding and bubble and squeak concoction were excellent. The mains, salmon for him and butternut squash arancini for me, also impressed. I’ve just come back from Italy and I think the arancini were even better here, being light and the best comfort food at the same time. I’m told the tiramisu was also great and boozy enough (a criticism often made is lack of alcohol!).Portions are sizeable so a good gap between starter and main was very much appreciated. We will visit again.

Stopping next door on holiday so popped in for Sunday dinner. I had an amazing piece of roast pork which was super tender and had a lovely crispy covering of crackling. This came with roast and mash, Yorkshire pudding and vegs and gravy. My wife had a lovely looking piece of salmon in a peppery sauce. To follow I had a delicious Apple and cinnamon crumble with caramel ice cream. My wife had an amazing piece of sticky toffee pudding with caramelized banana and banana ice cream. Great food and a good pint of Marston pedigree. Top notch

Lovely village location in the Peak District. Friendly and wonderful freshly prepared food. Dogs are welcome which is good for us. The food was lovely and would definitely recommend.

I was giving a talk in Hognaston and hoped to be able to eat after that finished which would be quite late as far as food service went. We went into the Red Lion to check that would be possible and received a friendly welcome and ordered our meal so the kitchen knew what was coming.

A cosy, homey pub with friendly service and delicious food. Rustic decor lends an authentic vibe, and they have a diverse wine list.

Good range of ales, delicious food, friendly and efficient service. Really enjoyed our visit, and if I'm ever in the area again, I will seek this gem of a pub out again!

My wife & I booked a couple of nights stay here over the Easter Weekend. We only booked at the last minute but were accommodated without any bother. The room was plenty big enough, with a shower en suite. Plenty of furniture for storage, tea & coffee & bed was really comfy. TV in the room was a bit on the small side, but hey, we weren't there to watch the telly.

Old pub, flags floors, open fire,good beer. The food was amazing. Some pub food also something a little different. Roast cod in chervil cream sauce. OMG. Actually asked for the recipe. Cannot recommend enough.

A group of 7 stayed in Hognaston and booked table in advance. Arrived, reserved table, efficient service, lovely young waitress. Lunch was delicious, vegetables not over cooked and lots of lovely gravy. Definitely a locals pub which was nice to see regulars keeping their local pub going. Would go back again without hesitation.

booked table on friday and wasn't disappointed, we ordered the scotch egg with chip shop curry sauce, it was amazing, the lady who waited on us was really engaging, the open fires were inviting, will be returning again.

came for a meal, wow brilliant, must try is the scotch egg with curry sauce. service was great, open fire was lit

Having walked around Carsington reservoir, we went for Sunday lunch at the Red Lion. We sat next to the open fire which was lovely as it was cold out, and had very good food and service. I recommend this pub.

We had a Sunday roast dinner here, excellent food and table service. Our party had the lamb ,beef and the fish there is also a special board and some very nice desserts. This is how a village pub should be

We visited on Sunday for their roast beef which was as perfectly cooked and delicious. Sat by the log fire as it was a cold day.

Went for Sunday lunch, didn't really know what to expect as have never heard anyone talk about it. All food was delicious and great value for money followed by a delightful sticky toffee pudding, would recommend!

We love a Sunday roast, and this one was delicious! Top quality food, in a beautiful setting, reasonably priced, great service, decent ales, and car parking.

I have been here on several occasions and each time it didn't disappoint. From Sunday lunch through to mid week lunches you are given a varied menu in a charming rural setting. This is was eating in a rural pub should be

We have eaten here a couple of times since moving recently to the area. We have tried the Hake, Pork Belly, Burger and Sunday Roast. All superb! Lovely surroundings, friendly staff.

Went for an evening meal in this pub in small village. Cosy surroundings, in fact somewhat warm on a summer evening, quite busy and noisy. Bringing a wrong order made things a little difficult and the food overall was just average for the prices.

Stopped in on a Sunday evening for a beer and something to eat. We loved the steak and ale pie which featured real gravy you could smell from the moment you set foot in the place.....no granules here. The service was good and there was a good selection of well kept ales on tap. Dogs are welcome and the service was good. The only downside was we just missed the last portion of chips (we were sat thirty mins before the end of service) so we'll have to come again as they looked great.

Off the beaten track in the small village on Hognaston the Red Lion is a hidden gem. The cask ales are all £3 per pint which is always a good start and the pub has some real character (stone fire place and dates back to pre 1700). The food was excellent and we had the fish and chips and the chips were some of the best we’ve ever had (now I know what triple cooked really means!). I had the short rib of beef which was cooked to perfection and all this for £33 inc drinks (large wine and pint) .......great value highly recommend.

We called here on a recommendation and I’m so glad we did.

Found this place when England played Belgium , pub bar was packed , guided to a dining room by very freindly staff and to be quite honest didn't expect to much in the way of fine dining, how wrong can you be ,whoever the chef is they certainly know what they are doing , mains and deserts where excellent , by far the best food we have tasted in a pub for a long time. Keep up the good work ,we shall return.

Yesterday we booked a table at The Red Lion and I must say the whole experience was excellent! The food was delicious and came out on nice hot plates, the dessert was very tasty and staff very friendly! We will be back for another Sunday lunch very soon.

A lovely village pub with a good assortment of cask ales, the menu looked good and the food coming out looked good, we didn't eat but would go back.

Based on good reports, we called in and found ourselves in a charming old world pub. Pleasant welcome.

Six of us visited on a Wednesday evening in March. We had pre-booked but the table was occupied by drinkers. Fortunately it got better. The choice was ok but limited specials. The bar and service was run by one man but the pub was not busy. He was very friendly.

Turned up for lunch on the off-chance they'd let dogs and muddy walkers in. Couldn't do enough to help and directed us to an area away from the main dining tables where dogs and muddy boots wouldn't put off other diners. Lovely cosy corner next to a wood burning stove. As I'm GF usually a bit limited in food and drink options and don't normally make a fuss about it. I did mention it when choosing a drink and the guy behind the bar offered GF lager, result. He then stated what I could and couldn't have from the menu and as the food is cooked to order they could adapt some dishes to GF. Excellent! I had a beautiful chicken supreme on a bead of bubble and squeak with some perfectly cooked vegetables on the side. My partner and son were equally as impressed with their respective home made steak and ale pie and sirloin steak dishes. It is slightly more expensive than normal pub food but the quality of the ingredients and cooking more than make up for it. Will definitely eat here again next time we are passing.

Great find on a cold Derbyshire evening. We were made to feel welcome, by the young waitress, shown to our table and told about the specials board. Our group had a variety of dishes ranging from fish and chips to steak pie and short rib of beef. Everyone (6 of us) enjoyed our meals. There is also a good variety of local beer to choose from. Would definitely recommend and would love to return.

What a great place, lovely atmosphere, warm and welcoming. Dogs and muddy boots welcome. We had the most delicious Sunday Lunch, Derbyshire roast lamb and scrumptious desserts. Service was great. Would definitely recommend.

We went for a Sunday lunch yesterday and tried the roast beef, the Beef Ribs, the Hake and 2 children menus. The desserts were also fantastic. Everything was absolutely delicious and a great value. The young waitresses were also very polite, charming and very efficient. All for a fantastic value. We will come back.

Three of us and a dog were stopping in village for four nights and to be on safe side booked a table for each night . We were made very welcome and the service was prompt and polite . The food was excellent quality and hot and served on hot plates , which my wife says is always a good sign .

We had a sunday roast and it was fantastic, great value for money. I recomend the rib of Beef braised.

We recently visited hoping for a warm, friendly and relaxed experience. Unfortunately this was not the case.