The Lilacs Isham in Kettering

Great wee pub just a short stroll over the pocket park to the home of football!

Called in for Saturday lunch to see what The Lilacs was like. We booked in the morning and the friendly approach during the call continued on arrival. Welcoming, friendly and professional. The pub has a clean and comfortable feel with a good selection of drinks at what appeared to be reasonable prices. We both had a delicious burger from the main menu. It was perfectly cooked and well presented. Other diners all seemed to be very happy with their meals. Portions are a good size, and if you prefer there is a lighter lunch menu. The menu is not overly extensive but definitely has a good selection to meet most people. The menu seems well designed to keep the quality and freshness high. Its a friendly pub and easy to end up chatting to other customers. Next visit will be for Sunday lunch. Although the pub is located in the heart of the village there is an excellent car park. Regular buses 10 minutes walk away and plenty of good rural walks from the doorstep.

Good pub food and lovely staff. Good value

There’s always a warm welcome at The Lilacs. They serve great food, seven days a week and their steaks are legendary. The Saturday breakfast and Sunday carvery is very popular.

Absolutely fabulous meal exceptional infact and staff amazing. Totally recommend.

Great carvery, beer spot on. Service and atmosphere great. Worth a visit!

A really good light lunch enjoyed after a walk. Extremely well organised. The food was great and the service excellent. Great value, too. Would recommend and will definitely visit again.

Support your local pubs. It's much changed from how it used to be. Friendly staff, better layout. Go for a pint and spot of lunch, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Off the light bites menu, we had the Mini burger, New York sandwich, and had extra chips. Get the chips, they are amazing. Both meals about £8, with chips another £4. Excellent value.

Popped in for lunch, service was very friendly, opted for the jerk chicken kebab with garlic mayo, served with chips. Tasty and reasonably priced. The meal with a drink came to £18, I'd definitely eat here again.

I have not been to this pub since 1969 but what a revelation last Thursday lunch time going back next week for the same hospitality ☺️

Attended a 'soirée', very nice room and lovely staff

Wow just fantastic place and lovely food and great service

Fantastic place, stayed in our motorhome. Food brilliant, really friendly and couldn't do enough for us

Came here last night and booked a table for 6 . The ale was fantastic, the staff are really friendly and attentive. We all had starters , mains and desserts which was all really nice and generous portions. Keep up the good work 👌🏼

Great food, great venue, friendly staff, what isn’t to like.

Food is amazing!! This place never disappoints.

Fantastic, great staff wonderful Sunday lunch. Definitely be going back if they'll have us

Recommend by a friend. Booked a table for Sunday lunch. Excellent food,service great. At midday, a comfortable atmosphere .

Food was ok but very limited menu on Saturdays, Staff spend a lot of time chatting but not serving. Mon -Fri lunch menu looked better, as did Sunday Roast, or Friday night Fish and Chips but none are available on a Saturday. Just burgers, steaks, or Ham Egg n Chips.. Lol,

Very good Sunday carvery, doesn’t have the pub look and feel for a little village

I ate here with a walking group of 9 people. The food was lovely - hot and well presented and the staff were very friendly and efficient. Lovely large car park. We will most certainly return soon

Friendly welcome. Would advise booking b4 hand as we went for a light lunch and they fitted us in.

Nice evening meal in comfortable surroundings with friendly staff and good ale. 👍

Lovely meet up with friends here. Food was excellent as was the service. Only problem we had was that the table very close to the carvery, this wouldn't have been a problem apart from two women who decided to que for the carvery with their backsides right next to my wife and friend while they were eating, not malicious but totally thoughtless as there was enough room to one side.. We will happily come here again, {not sitting at that table though}.

Great food and atmosphere. Steak and chips cooked perfect

Very nice country pub. Didn't try the main menu, only the small quick lunch. Well worth a visit 👍

A nice long lunch sampling the new menu 😀 The lamb kofte is back along with much more. Chips are always top drawer. Great food, super service and value for money 👍

Thoroughly enjoyed a Sunday Roast, followed by a gorgeous lemon desert here today 5/5/2024 whilst attending a birthday celebration. Wonderful food and service. Well worth a visit.

Wanted wild flower seeds. Didn't sell them.

We have been here several times while kids are at football practice and it has always been a bit slow. Today they gave us a table at 8, and we have had to leave at 8:50 with our food in a paper bag. They have warned us on arrival that it was going to be tight. But if you cannot serve tables but in 50 minutes JUST DO NOT GIVE RESERVATIONS! Sorry, but we will not be back.

Lovely pub, delicious food, welcoming staff. Wonderful lunch for the 3 of us. I recommend booking

Lovely staff very friendly, helpful, professional and attentive. Warm friendly atmosphere very nice people many locals it seems but not cliche. Food is excellent and a good selection to choose from. The best part it's dog friendly with treats for our furry friends. Best to book especially with furry friends.

What a welcoming local community owned pub. Great staff, food and chats with locals. Greatful for the stopover too. As we arrived late they kindly kept a meal for us (Sunday carvery) Many thanks all

Great choice of beers and superb food

First time visit after hearing good reviews. Did not disappoint. Had lunch which was delicious! Did not feel rushed. Staff were so friendly- nothing too much trouble. Will definitely be going back.

Love going & friendly staff plus good food BUT no disabled toilets & the normal Ladies toilets are difficult to get into with a rollator in fact impossible, so i have to make sure i don't need "to go". Wish they would do something about it.

the pub looks incredible, amazing food for fair prices, cant reccomend this enough

Here for my wife's birthday. Lilacs wrote a special menu for 27 of us. Staff were so friendly and helpful. Everyone had a great time and loved the food.

Nice family run Bussines clean food it’s fantastic the best coustumer service also good for big birthday family meal everyday diffrent activities Thanks for Katie Pete and Natalie Daniel and Emmy

Awesome place, food is always good and pricing is very reasonable,. 👍 Great atmosphere and the staff are very friendly 👍

What a great find ! First time visitors, booked for Sunday lunch and very impressed, food is excellent, with nice friendly service and good value for money, this restaurant / pub has a real nice feel about, definitely be returning.

Brilliant Sunday carvery meal. Excellent, well cooked food with more than decent portions at an excellent price. Value for money 10/10. Besides the food, excellent service and very clean toilets. You sense this is a well loved place. Thank you.

Staff were very welcoming and helpful, food was amazing, defo recommended the flat iron steak it was perfect

Excellent food and service. Will be going there again.

We booked a quiet table for a very special occasion. The staff were incredible, helpful, understanding and discreet. They really made everything perfect for what we needed. . . I can't thank you all enough for the efforts you made for us. A+++++++++++

Our first visit here today. Wow. Brilliant service, really looked after. The breakfast is so lovely and fresh, unlimited tea and coffee, a clean high chair for the little one. Couldn't ask for any more. And have the chocolate cake...amazing. Really great experience, thank you 😀

Great food, fast service lovely pub

Superb meal. Home made, tasty, large portions never fails to please, great service. A definite favourite.

Great service and thoroughly enjoyed lunch .. would recommend highly!

We had a lovely meal. The carvery was good the veg was great. You know what the veg can be like. Go here you will enjoy yourself.

Attended with a walking group, all food had been preordered in advance for those that did not want a carvery, on arrival the tables weren't ready for us to sit down, there were a lot of staff that seemed to be milling about,, the carvery I had was very good and well served by the landlady, the rest of the dinners came out at similar time but food got cold very quickly and a couple of the meals were incorrect. This was resolved quite smoothly but I felt considerably more attention to detail is needed, lots of staff but needed more guidance as to what hospitality is about, be a while before I return hopefully it will Improve

Again another place I've never visited. But there saying how was my visit 2 days ago???? What's going on?

Really nice village pub. Friendly staff, good food and drink, lots of outdoor seating, scenic village location. Dogs welcome.

Food was excellent staff friendly excellent service would recommend to anybody

Really enjoyed our group Christmas meal. Very well looked after by the hard working and pleasant staff. You deserve support and we trust you have a great Christmas 🎄

We came across this gem when out on our motorbike and have been back a second time. The menu is different to what you normally find in a pub, with things like game hotpot and two different risottos on the menu. The food comes out piping hot on hot plates and is absolutely delicious. There is a lovely selection of desserts, hot and cold. The staff are so friendly and welcoming and we will definitely keep returning.

A very pleasant evening with excellent food

Arrived for a weekday unbooked lunch (with some paperwork) and was warmly welcomed and seated. All staff encountered were friendly, helpful and gently unobtrusive. Good range of mains at realistic prices. Very tasty, high quality food in a generously-sized portion. Perfectly cooked golden chips, seasonal vegetables that tasted of what they were, delightful home-made gravy. Plethora of desserts, including a cabinet for 'inspection' ahead of choosing. This is the type of establishment that every village deserves, combining quality food with excellent service. Note to self- try breakfast and Sunday lunch soon. Note to readers-try it, if you haven't already, soon!

A really delicious long two-course lunch. Large main with really good home-made individual pie, perfect golden chips (from potato options) and seasonal vegetables that tasted of what they were. Delightful dessert. Service, with a smile, was always warm and friendly-and never over-fussy. Suggest you book to be sure at busier times.

Six friends and family met up for a Sunday lunch having pre-booked: it was our first visit. Despite an initial problem with the table, which was addressed in a mutually acceptable way, it became clear that this is a venue which is a cut above the rest and yet the prices are not sky-high. Five of us had the Carvery which was one of the best I have ever had; one had a house burger, which was quite pink inside (as was the roast beef - some people like it that way - but maybe not a burger), but enjoyable I was told. The other roasts were well done as were the vegetables. Do not compare this other well-known carverys where the food sits around! The desserts were splendid too. The staff are busy, efficient and extremely polite as well as being uniformly dressed. I will certainly be going again if only for the caulifower cheese.

Love this venue and have booked it for a very special family gathering/party next year

Great food, great service and sensible prices

I took my husband as he'd not been before, last time we'd been the current waitresses were not born. It looks lovely inside. I love they have a light lunch version of the main menu, which meant I could have a small ham egg and chips (although I still couldn't eat it all, too much ham) and my husband could have the normal one. Slight issue with the drinks but the lovely waitress resolved it well.

Amazing pub, incredible staff, fab atmosphere, just a super place.

Community pub, lovely staff, great beer and well kept, spotlessly clean, friendly customers. Difficult to find anything to wrong with this exceptional pub, except I live too far away...

We generally go here on a Friday after our run and have the best tasting, well-earned shandy. This time, I think the syrup had gone as the drinks were not their usual standard, but didn't realise what the issue was likely to be until after we'd finished them. The staff are always really friendly. They have a good variety of vegan options, although we've never eaten there, so I am unable to comment on what the food is like. The pub has a lovely outdoor space of picnic benches and a covered area for smokers (we don't smoke but have sat there when the weather hasn't been great). The atmosphere is pleasant, and we enjoy our time there when we go. They have a carvery on a Sunday and have a vegan option. I can't comment on what it's like, but it's good to know that that's what they offer. You can book a table, just get in quick for Sunday bookings as they get booked up.

Great pub, great atmosphere, the Landlords are fab, very welcoming.

Visiting friends in Kettering, who recommended Lilacs. As a coeliac always a worry that the menu will be severely limited, not so at Lilacs where there are lots of gluten free options available for starter, main and dessert including the cheeseboard. I chose lemon meringue pie but could have had the cheesecake or chocolate and cherry mousse. Not a chocolate Brownie in site - yay!! Small portions available for those with a smaller appetite. Dog friendly too. All of the food was delicious, the staff were lovely and it was good VFM. You won’t regret a visit.

Fantastic menu catering for food allergies. Friendly, helpful staff. Highly recommended.

Lovely pub. Friendly relaxed and welcoming.

Visited for the first time this Sunday afternoon after having spied the Lilacs whilst out for a walk a couple of weeks previously. What a lovely place, a bit TARDIS like, it's bigger on the inside than it looks this is a really nice pub, with a big open airy restaurant and multiple outside spaces. The Sunday menu is good, not a wide selection, but everything on the menu appears to be well balanced and from our experience is done well. We had starters, carvery and dessert and all were lovely. The carvery was one of the best I've had, veg wasn't overcooked or dried out from being sat on the hot plate too long, the meat was juicy, tender and cooked nicely and the cauliflower cheese I could have eaten by the gallon. A delightful selection of desserts were on display in the cabinet, and the chocolate and cheesy mousse dessert I selected was beautiful, a rich deep flavour whilst still being light enough after a big meal. Topped it all off with a latte with Bailey's in and I was a happy man. The staff were all really friendly, and very attentive and helpful, service was quick and came with smiles and personality. We're already looking at when we can return to try the regular evening menu and another of the cakes from the cabinet.

Great prices. Great food. Great service

Always good food and very reasonably priced. Service is always good too.

Such a lovely atmosphere, and the food was awesome.

A really good venue for lunch. Excellent parking and accessibility. Excellent welcome and service from an interesting and varied menu to suit all appetites and tastes. A relaxing and inviting atmosphere inside and very well provided with outdoor seating and garden.

We only popped into for a drink ..great atmosphere..and homemade cards on the bar to buy as well. Love it when a bar thinks of something different.

Lovely cosy pub, food was good excellent service. I will definitely go back 😊

Went with friends, friendly community, good beer - very enjoyable afternoon.

Walked here with friends and our dog on a warm summers evening . We sat outside at the little garden at the front , perfect with the dog and for the sunshine ! They also have a garden and patio at the rear . Staff here are lovely and the food is great ( we didn’t eat on this occasion) and will be returning in the very near future to eat and drink !

Heard good things about the food in this hidden little gem, plenty of room in the new car park, Went for the house burger and wasn't disappointed, the burger was cooked to perfection and will adding to my list of worth a return.

Eaten here more than a few times. Sunday carvery, Friday fish and chips and mid week for a burger. Food is always top notch, staff always great. Katie and Peter do a fabulous job, staff always great. Can't fault a thing. Will be back soon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stopped for a quick pint during a bike ride nice little find

Great Pub, good selection of beer, friendly service, good value Pub grub. Will return 😉

Three of us went for lunch at 1pm. We were disappointed in the choice on both the lunchtime menu as well as the other menu. There was not a great deal to choose from, so will not be in a hurry to return. The food we had was good it was just the lack of choice.

A great village pub with excellent food and great staff

Love love love! Food is amazing and staff are lovely!

Fabulous lovely pub - very friend staff and very reasonably priced. We love a visit to The Lilacs on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon sometimes both and it is lovely to sit out in the front well kept garden area. Absolutely a gem of a pub. The carvery looks delicious and we will definitely have one.

Excellent carvery. Lots of choices of meat. Lovely veg and a creamy cauliflower cheese. Really enjoyed it. Desserts were not so good. The bakewell tart would have been really nice if it had been heated up. It was very hard. Customer service was excellent. Will definitely visit again.

Great place, great food, excellent staff.

We visited The Lilacs on Bank holiday monday for lunch before visiting a relative who was in Kettering General Hospital. I booked a table here purely from it's tripadvsor reviews and it certainly lived up to and even exceeded my expectations. Lovely, helpful, friendly staff; excellent and tasty food and the prices are very reasonable. The desserts are basically prepared in front of you. I had a yummy slice of carrot cake and my husband had an Eton Mess waffle. PIty we live so far away because this would certainly be our "go to" place if we were closer. If we are in the area again I would certainly revisit.

Lovely local friendly pub with a basic menu and a great selection of local ales

Lovely food and staff in a superb location.

Perfect little village gem, great food and wonderful service. A credit to the people who make this possible

We were a party of 7 food was great kids loved it the service was excellent well worth the visit.

Excellent pub!! As a traveler from the USA with several food allergies, the staff was highly accommodating (including a dedicated gluten-free kitchen area and fryer!), patient, and friendly. The food was very delicious and just the right amount for me (other portions vary based on the meal as observed from other tables, usually larger). I will definitely come back if ever to return to the U.K.!

Beautiful food lovely staff and a great pub. Would recommend to anyone.

Good value food (and well presented/prepared). Shame about the "service" - perhaps customer service training would be good!

We came here with our dog. Booked fir Sunday lunch. Sat outside with cover over. Had a lovely Sunday carvery and small one for doggy! Which was put in tray for her! Staff friendly. Our waitress was lovely, I think k it said Monica on receipt I might be wrong. She was so attentive abd helpful. Definitely coming to this lovely pub Gain with our little dog!

Food wasn't especially good nor the service.

Visited with my Wife for a Sunday Carvery. Lovely atmosphere,Great Staff. The Food was fantastic well Done all we shall be Returning again very soon.