The Old Red Lion Inn Restaurant in South Cambridgeshire

Went for a meal last night which for the most part was lovely. However my friend had the beef burger in pretzel bun which was absolutely rock hard /impossible to cut or eat it . She did complain yet nothing was taken off the bill for that item.

Best Sunday roast for miles, great food great service. ....... go there. Still the best.

Absolutely 1st class Sunday lunch 12 of us and loved by all the best roast beef I've had for years very tender

Had another wonderful Sunday roast with my sister ....just perfect! Could not be improved on...thank you

Excellent lunch with a walking group

Nice little pub/hotel right on the A1307. Staff always polite, kind and accommodating.

Sunday roast is really good. Services is great and the food is just on point.

We booked a room for two nights. The room itself was ok, if a bit dark. There was one window which didn't have any blinds/net curtain which made it difficult to open the curtains because anyone walking by would have a clear view into our room. The toilet seat was also broken. Our biggest gripe was the fact that we were woken up in the middle of our first night by rats, yes rats, scurrying around in the wall cavity (this was confirmed by the staff the next day). It was extremely unsettling and resulted in a very poor nights sleep for both of us. We decided not to stay for the 2nd night.

Six of us had Sunday lunch here, but the earliest slot available was 3pm! The car park was full when we arrived, so one car had to park elsewhere. We had three roast beef, one pork and two kid's fish and chips (£10 each). The beef was excellent, very tender and tasty. The pork was very good too. They were big platefuls, so unfortunately we didn't have room for dessert. We'd happily eat here again if we're in the area.

Comfortable rooms at an affordable rate. But to be honest, we came for the Sunday Roast. Other reviewers have got it right, this is the best Sunday Roast. The roast beef is tender, succulent and perfectly cooked. The sides were delicious as well and the perfect accompaniment to the beef. The Old Red Lion is one of those places we’ll probably go out of our way to visit again, on a Sunday of course.

Did the job ....food and beer were fab ..... service was very good

Very good all round service Will come again

Great place to stay, staff very friendly and helpful, the room we had was excellent. However, my personal preference would be a cooked breakfast and not a continental breakfast, having said that the overall experience was very good.

Not impressed nothing special. Service very slow and dishes pretty basic and in reality bland. Desserts the best part to be Frank. Sandwiches most of the part said dry and uninteresting. Pies and mash the mash was good pie filling OK pastry tough and over cooked. Best review was scampi sandwich. It’s not cheap so should be better.

Lovely place really good food, comfortable room , stuff very helpful. Met a lovely American couple in the bar. Definitely would go back

Great restaurant and hotel the food was excellent well worth eating here the chef definitely knows his stuff presentation and taste was excellent will definitely be coming back to this little gem well done to all the staff

Went for lunch here and the food was super good. Service was lovley, the lady working was really nice. Wasn't really expensive. Good views too.

I stayed for one night and had an evening meal, the food was excellent and the service was very friendly and efficient. my room was clean, spacious, and comfortable. I will definitely stay again when I'm in the area.

I just got home after having had the pork belly roast dinner……. Wow! Quite possibly the best roast dinner I’ve ever had. Maybe could have put a few more roast potatoes on the plate, but I am greedy. 10/10 👌🏼

The staff were wonderful, a beautiful room. Unfortunately you need a car as it is in the middle of nowhere , but easy to find if you have a car.

Loved the Old Red Lion. Quirky, quaint in a beautiful setting. We were there as part of a family wedding. Only thing I would say is that the chalets need a bit of tlc, bit shabby in places but nevertheless very comfy. Food was good & the staff worked their socks off. It was obvious towards the end they were tired but it had been a very busy weekend for them. The young lady with dark hair & specs was a delight. Thank you all for an enjoyable stay!

Great Food! Great service! Will definitely visit again especially on a nice summer's day...⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Did not stay here so cannot comment on the rooms but they look fantastic from the outside. Went for a Sunday roast, delicious 😋

Really disappointed in our visit yesterday. 9 of us pre booked for a special occasion and advised in advance one was gluten free. We arrived 1.45 and they had already sold out of the only GF main on the menu and whilst they said they could cater for a GF roast, what this actually meant was they would just remove the half of the dinner (Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese and stuffing). There was only 3 X Chicken roasts left by the time we arrived however as we left we noticed them taking orders for this again. When queried they advised 'oh we found some more chicken'. For almost £20 a roast the portions were small and we left unsatisfied. The drinks orders were wrong and the children's food was too and needed to go back. I find it strange you do not have children's menu's? We looked at a dessert menu but with only a handful to choose from and 1 already sold out we did not bother. Was advised there were no Gluten Free desserts unless I wanted fruit or sorbet. Our concerns were raised whilst paying but nobody cared. We won't be returning.

Wow we booked Sunday lunch there were 4 of us and we had roast beef what a fantastic meal and service top quality all round thank you

Not a huge menu but what we had was very nice. Good fish choices. It would have been nice to have been asked if we wanted another drink, rather than having to get up to the bar, but that's just being picky, we were asked several times if the food was ok. So quite attentive but then left alone.

Had a perfect lunch today with my sister for my birthday. Wonderful food as always and very friendly staff. Would highly recommend it and thanks very much.

Stayed here for a night with my husband, room was nice, maybe needed a little brighter lighting but nice. But the food is all I really remember!! Great food, refined presentation, nice portions and most importantly, incredibly tasty! I had a the steak which was just awesome, and he had the pick and mix sausage and mash, the best sausages ever! Overall. A great quality meal with a lovely atmosphere, definitely going to be a customer again.

Very good roast beef and trimmings, good service and nice atmosphere

I've stayed in the accommodation at this site a few times for weeks at a time. The pub/inn itself is quite pleasant, and the staff are super friendly. The seating areas are clean and tidy, and it all feels quite homely, with a wood-burning stove glowing away (at least while I was there). I ate a few meals here, too and on all occasions, it was wonderful. The accommodation is pretty average; it certainly is not to my taste (or anyone I know, for that matter). The furniture/decor is what I would describe as tacky and low-quality (trying to be something it isn't). The rooms could do with a lick of paint and some more neutral decor; I would say the bathrooms look/feel dated, too. One of the rooms I stayed in had an electric shower, and the water pressure was very poor. Another room I stayed in (photos attached) had a borderline useless over-bath shower, which wasn't practical and meant I either had to settle for a flooded floor or a shower curtain sticking to me. The shower head wasn't high enough (I'm only 176cm tall!) and fell from the bracket a few times, making for a bad place to wash! Unfortunately, the rooms let the place down, as it could be much nicer if the decor weren't so distasteful and run down. Sadly, I have to say I won't be coming back and have booked a similar pub/inn nearby for my next trip to the area.

Unfortunately prawn cocktail was lacking in sauce, Yorkshire puddings were to "well done", no-one bothered to ask if everything Ok, and waitress (with Black glasses and grey jumper) obviously having a bad day and customers getting the brunt of it. the bill was almost thrown at us and rude to the point of telling us to get off our table because they wanted to use it for second sitting, we were not asked if we wanted coffees (because in a hurry to get rid of us), there are ways of asking and that was not it. Unfortunately not the best of atmospheres

Stopped for a food. Didn’t even realised that such a gem is hiding just next to my home. Service absolutely outstanding it was my second visit and I’m not changing my mind. Food delicious! Great place and people very friendly!

Absolutely fantastic place to spend the night my only complaint was there's a fridge in the room right next to the bed very noisy and annoying

Six of us had an excellent Sunday lunch today. Food and service was excellent. We all agreed that the option to have a small or large portion was a great idea. Some of us had the smaller portion, still a generous serving but much better than a huge plate of food that you end up leaving. Certainly 'a keeper' as far as we we're concerned. Thanks to all of you, we will return!

Booked for Valentine’s Day evening.. Arrived for 7.30 pm and shown to our table . As we had pre ordered it was just a case of the drinks . We had ordered pate , the lamb and strawberry tart with ice cream. All very good , presented well and tasted yummy. Have been here before for Sunday carvery and wasn’t disappointed. Staff on the night both excellent and having to work hard as quite a few tables . Would recommend and will return another day.

Well done - we were a party of thirteen last evening - Grandad and Grannie with the next two generations. I cannot compliment you enough on the quality of the food, the pleasantness of the staff and the overall professional approach. A job extremely well done even to putting a cone on a parking space for my poorly husband. Thank you all so much for a most successful evening, See you on 3rd January. Barbara & John Thompson

Couldn’t fault the food or the service. Friendly staff. Loved every part of our meal, will definitely be back.

Had dinner here tonight, had a hair in my dinner which has happened to me before only a few weeks ago at the same place. Thought I would give it a second chance. Did not have to pay for my meal or drinks. Did not get any kind of apology!! Very dissatisfied customer!

What a lovely cosy, comfortable supper venue, friendly welcoming staff. Rather, a comprehensive menu that catered for every dietary requirement that one could think of. Wine selection provided a selection of wines at sensible prices. After all, it's a top pub and not a gourmet restaurant. What they do is well done and presented perfectly. A couple of downs that could do with the management addressing sooner rather than later, the ladies I'm informed let the side down, and a minor comment regarding the creme brulee not totally set. The former needs attention, and the latter hopefully the byproduct of a busy kitchen. We'll done Old Red Lion

AMAZING Sunday lunch. We met my parents here for lunch on a lovely sunny Sunday in October and we will definitely be going back. A great venue, with a large car park. When we arrived we were welcomed by very friendly staff, there was a great selection of drinks at the bar, all very reasonably priced. We were shown to our table which was in a super 'pod' outside (but undercover!_) - we did see lots of lovely tables inside the restaurant which were full or reserved so recommend booking in advance. The menu covered lots of option - traditional roasts, fish, burger and a Vegan option; which I had and it was absolutely delicious. All very well priced and really generous portions - especially the roasts! The waiting staff were very attentive and checked on us and brought more drinks out. The food was all delicious and there were 4 clean plates! The garden area was busy as well - plenty of places to sit in the sun or in the shade, to eat or just have a drink. They do advocate keeping cash alive and you get a 4% discount off your bill if you pay in cash to help them with bank fees. They have got a fab looking Christmas 'party' festive season menu - 2 course for £30 and 3 courses for £35 or £36 (can't remember!) The menu for Monday - Saturday looked great as well, and my parents have been mid week so can recommend for whenever but certainly worth a visit!

Unfortunately I think they must have had a bad day on Sunday 17th September I went there in high anticipation on there Roast Lunch but it didn’t live up to it’s supposedly good reputation the Yorkshire puddings were way to big and Luke warm the vegetables again Luke warm along with the gravy and the minuscule amount that was on the plate ! Plus it was expensive we went the following week to another pub in the area had a roast lunch that was Hot and nicely dished out would like to one day give it another go!

We used to go there a lot when Ian and Tracey were still there. But after our last visit, we won’t be going again. The place has really gone down hill. And it was empty so we can’t be alone in our opinion. The dining room floor was filthy. Now that floor used to be spotless. The whole place seemed some how darker, making the atmosphere poor. The food was mediocre at best. We had a curry and the popedom was stale. The meat was chewy. And the whole meal was luke warm. We didn’t stay for desert, which we would normally do. Overall, I do not recommend.

Excellent food and service. One criticism is that disabled access requires a long walk to the ramp at the rear of the restaurant while the shorter route only has steps, why no ramp there please? Also no accessible toilet.

Really close to Newmarket races so ideal stop over. Our room was lovely, really clean and cool on a warm night. We ate in the pub and the food was excellent but the highlight was the lovely ladies who were working the bar and waiting on us. Nothing was too much trouble they came outside and served us drinks before dinner and service was always with a smile. We will definitely be back.

Upon arrival of you try and reach the rear entrance if that’s where you are meant to, Access to it is very difficult and the ramp is too steep. The main car park fronting door should be ramped - far easier. The food was absolutely delicious there was a good 10-15 minute delay clearly as it was cooked to order. The size of the burger is a bit too big. It was very enjoyable and absolutely beautiful thick chips. I did find room for the Banoffee pot. Again superb, I think they’ve got a very talented chef. It did take asking for service a couple of times as they might have forgotten me. I have had a very good meal there. They’ve got very dodgy Wifi on an iPhone or it might just be mine. £26 for main, 2 drinks and desert. In this current financial situation I feel this was a very good deal. One minor issue, there is no disabled toilet. There’s potentially a step down is small but you need to watch your step. If you have eyesight issues please phone them to book as the website really isn’t accessible with a photo background. It needs a little work for accessibility.

17 of us pre-ordered our choice of lunch before a 6 mile walk along the Roman Road to Balsham and back. On our return we were seated in the lovely refurbished dining area and served our meals promptly. Thank you to the landlord and staff for looking after us so well. Great to find such a lovely, well run pub serving good food and open on Mondays! Thank you.

We had a lovely meal for 6 in the pub restaurant and excellent overnight accommodation, beautiful rooms, stylish interior

Went to a 60th birthday party at the Old Red Lion recently and stayed over night. The room was spacious, very clean and nicely appointed. The staff in the pub were very friendly and efficient and the bar has a good choice of beers. The full English breakfast was extremely high quality and massive. I would recommend a bust and stay at The Old Red Lion.

Been coming here for many years, the pub has superb selection of food and drink. Our dogs are always welcome here and get a big cuddle from Ian the landlord when he sees them. Plenty of tables and friendly locals and visitors from further afield....

Just been with friends for Sunday Roast, food excellent and service excellent. Loads to eat and cooked to perfection. Well done !!!!!

We were a huge group and the staff coped amazingly well with a fabulous attitude and a smile on their faces. Honestly, they could not have been more helpful. The food was absolutely delicious and the portions were huge. Would highly recommend this place. Can’t...

We must commend the kitchen and chef. Very tasty food,well cooked . Above the norm gualityand well priced

We haven’t been here for a few years but thought we would give it a try and we were glad we did. The staff were very friendly and attentive, the atmosphere and surrounding were very nice and tastefully decorated. Our party of four all had...

I have never in my life had a experience like that with service to complaining about the size of our party, to complaining about how some people couldn’t come due to covid (they didn’t even prepare the table to the right size) forgot orders, just...

Taken by friends to this great Pub/Restaurant, food was excellent, service was very good too. Friendly staff who were very attentive.

What a lovely place to have a chilled weekend away , staff are so so helpful and the food is home made and fresh The rooms are clean and well presented , the only thing is cause of co-v there is no room service if...

We stayed on the 23rd july for one night. 3 couples Excellent friendly staff amazing food. The accommodation was lovely with a lot of detail. Put into the rooms.. Nothing was to much trouble. Will most definitely be returning

Fantastic food, fantastic staff and a great overall experience. We were on a Britstop and were made to feel really welcome, nothing was too much trouble. 100% recommend.

The room was designed and layed out very nicely very large comfortable bed tasty full bean coffee in the room ,extremely helpful staff food was amazing will stay again

Quite a way from where we live, but the Old Red Lion, came highly recommended by many friends & family, had created outdoor eating venues like no other, each bespoke designs, we had the library, all very nice & just great to get out, finally,...

Arranged to meet some friends that I haven’t seen in a few years who were staying Cambridge. Staff were very welcoming and friendly and the food was incredible. A great time had by all of us, thank you.

We had phoned ahead to 'book' a space for our motorhome overnight and for a table for 4 in the restaurant. Everyone very helpful and kind. The indoor and outdoor spaces are very well organised and there are good covid safty measures in place. We...

Driving back from Norfolk the plan was to stop off half way home for a roast first place fully booked glad it was. We found a gem amazing roast great garden service great highly recommend

We had excellent food and great service while sat in the newly created outdoor space. Quirky practical and very clean. They’ve really created somewhere special to sit outdoors and we will definitely be back.

Had a delightful afternoon over lunch and a few drinks. The Sunday roast was very good and the portions generous! The staff were very helpful and friendly- highly recommended

Visited for my wife’s mother’s birthday.. first time since easing of lockdown rules... they have made a big effort building socially distance pods . They are brilliant really quirky each one slightly different ..we had one that holds six , the main restaurant was open...

Popped in on way past for a drink and the young girl who served us could not have been anymore helpful. The weather was bad but she put one of the heaters on provided blankets and kept on eye on us. Just as 1 drink...

We visited the Old Red Lion this evening for a family meal. The service was exceptional, the attention to making sure we felt comfortable and warm was above and beyond (provided us with blankets, hot water bottles, fire), nothing was too much to ask. The...

Talk about back with a bang. This place seems to have gone above and beyond to adapt to government guidelines with reopening. We booked last minute and they were super attentive upon arrival. although very busy, everyone seemed very well spaced out and happy. The...

What a lovely place. A really warm welcome from Tracey, Ian and the Team. The place is stylishly decorated, beautifully clean and the food was fabulous. Thank you all for making us feel so welcome and for looking after us 💐💐💐

enjoyed my day in here, nice hosts fish and chips are perfect 10/10 gravy is mouthwatering beef is melnting in mouth and has perfect texture hopefully will go past soon again

I visited the ORL for Sunday lunch which was fabulous as always. Fresh veg cooked to perfection with a great choice of meats all served with a smile. The owners have taken the cleanliness of the premises very seriously in light of the recent virus...

visited few times this month and were quite surprised by quality of food. both welligton and miso cod on valentines day were deeeeeeeeelicious, perfect flavor balance, seasoning and crust, sad they were not on the menu when i visited next time as i would try...

Just had a lovely lunch. Drinks and food all served by Ali who made the meal a delight. Excellent humour and professionalism

I've visited the restaurant a few times before for Sunday carvery but this was my first visit for an evening meal with family members The welcome was warm, the seating was spacious, the service was efficient, friendly but unhurried. The menu food selection was varied...

What can i say beautiful .was what i was thinking went for a lovely meal.we just went in and took a chance . but to our amazement we found gold. they was very polite to us othered us a candle lit table. we had the...

Enjoyed our stay here very friendly and helpful staff Room was clean and tidy all in all good value for money, the breakfast was good but only came with continental which was explained on the booking but you could up grade to full English at...

This is my “ go to” restaurant for perfect Sunday lunch. It never disappoints. This Sunday they introduced porchetta to their list of perfectly cooked meats and it was divine. This is Italian stuffed rolled belly pork and it melted in the mouth. The owner...

We had given up going out for Sunday lunch, thought we had a good one locally, then it went down. We were told that the Old Red Lion was good, so thought we`d give it a try.Went today at 3pm (Sunday) having booked. The place was full, and as one table left others came in to occupy it. They are open from noon until 6pm, allowing approx 2hr slots.We had a main course and a dessert. As described by many, the main course is excellent. The meat was first class. I had Loin of pork and Lamb. Full of flavour and very tender. My husband had the beef which was pink, tasty and tender. The Cauliflower Cheese actually tasted of cheese (not like the usual cauli in white sauce served up by many!) and the rest of the veg were expertly cooked. Even the gravy was tasty!They had run out of Apple Crumble and Chocolate Mousse. Not a problem.. we had Bread & Butter pudding with custard, and Citron Tart and Raspberry Sorbet - both very good. For the quality of the 2 course meal we thought £18.95 was a fair price. Certainly no cheap cuts of meat.I can honestly say that this was the best Sunday Lunch I have had anywhere, and believe me I have had many! We will be back.

Booked here for a meal but later found out they host fox hunting conventions. Can’t believe in the 21st century such sick practices still happen. Cancelled straight away when I found out. Please avoid

For the second time in one month, excellent, arrived , front bar very busy, in no time at all staff had welcomed, served and seated all guests! Impressive when compared to other venues! Our turn... Again tentative service, fantastic food ! Mr Landlord has got this sussed, bang on ! His staff are on the ball ! Such a refreshing place to eat !!!Highly recomend!!!

Another visit for Sunday carvery... choice of 4 joints of meat beautifully cooked 6 different veg .. vegan options on menu ..this place never lets down . Service excellent owner serves carvery .. always comes to your table checks everything ok ... would be 5 stars but chocolate brownie a little dry .. will definitely go back

The fact that this charming country pub is so busy speaks for itself. Lovely surroundings, cheerful staff, outstanding carvery (for Sunday lunch) with a wide range of fresh veg and generous portions of a choice of meats. Excellent desserts too...

We stayed at the Old Red Lion for a Saturday night with evening meal and breakfast. Lovely clean room, modern décor, and nice clean pub with friendly staff. But what made this visit for us wasn't just the great staff but the incredible food. Never had deep fried scallops before but will be searching for it in future. The crab starter was also delicious. The calves liver was a revelation with fresh raspberries, also a first, and thank you for making me a bespoke salad with everything I liked that you had in your kitchen to go with my salmon.

Met up with my sister for a belated birthday lunch. Served by Louise...lovely young lady who couldn't do enough.,

Nice big room with a nice shower room, neatly presented and reasonable price. Good food and nice atmosphere in the bar, house keeping ladies were very helpful too.

A very enjoyable stay Ian and Tracey mine hosts plus all the staff and the locals made us very welcome.Good food in very nice surroundings.Will be going back good access into Cambridge.

Had a delicious birthday-celebration dinner with the family. Limited and sensible menu, freshly cooked, and very friendly service. Thoroughly recommend.

Absolutely marvellous Sunday carvery. Good selection of juicy meats, wonderful selection of vegetables, perfect roast potatoes and enormous Yorkshire puds. Highly recommend.

Just arrived home from a weekends stay which I purchased for my partners birthday the rooms were lovely and large and very clean and comfortable. Unfortunately the WiFi wasn’t working there seems to be a problem with the connection page? The pub and restaurant were well decorated with a good selection of drinks and a lovely patio area but I was most disappointed with the food. After reading the rave reviews I was excited to taste the local produce menu on offer, but once we had ordered and the food came out it was bland, stodgy and overpriced for what we received at best average. Then to top it off we wasn’t even asked if we wanted dessert and then sat and waited over an hour for the bill which in the end we just got up and went to the bar to ask for it. Such a shame as it wasn’t even busy so no excuse for the poor service.

Looks great from the outside. On entering the bar the decor is bland and uninspiring as is the ale on offer.

Spent most of the time swiping flies away from the food. Although the food was good it wasn’t exceptional, have paid less for better but the biggest downfall was the constant pestering from flies. The dining room was alive with flies. This was a problem the last time we visited so will not be going again. The staff are aware but don’t seem concerned.

My partner and I have visited this restaurant once before last year and were very happy with the food and service so we came back tonight as we don't go out often at all.

Only the second time we have visited The Old Red Lion and the lunchtime food was even better this time. Beautifully presented Blade of Beef, in good quantity and full of rich flavours. We were fortunate to come across Chris, the chef, and he gave us a comprehensive list of where the ingredients had been sourced locally. We live in Lavenham, a village which claims to have two "world renowned" fine dining restaurants. Chris' food is as well presented, just as tasty, but in hearty quantities and at prices that don't make you feel you are being ripped off. Don't change a thing.

Our 3rd time for the carvery and it was lovely all 3 times so thought I would write a review.

Met up with friends for a Sunday carvery lunch which was excellent. The pub staff were really welcoming and friendly, the food was great, big choice of meats and vegetables, lovely desserts. My husband and myself had already booked in to stay the night in a room which exceeded our expectations. It was extremely comfortable with comfy armchairs, king bed, walk in shower + bottled water and selection of drinks and biscuits supplied. The continental breakfast included in the price was the best we've had with fresh orange juice, fresh fruit salad and very good toast. The hosts were so friendly and the whole establishment so relaxed, we would definitely return and certainly recommend it.

Never been there before so not sure what to expect. Stunning decor throughout - very 'on trend' and well thought through. And very comfy & cosy. Lovely waitress/barmaid. Lovely and varied menu. Hubby ordered a ham & cheese toasty with soup. Exceptional! Stunning soup - cream of potato, or leek & potato - very smooth and the best we have ever tasted! His toastie was certainly NOT your everyday toastie - tonnes of very nice ham and tonnes of very nice cheese too - both inside and melted on top too! I had a burger and chips. Those chips are amazing! The burger and all its trimmings were to die for! That burger beat any burger we have eaten before. Exceptional quality all round! Thank you so much!

We had a lovely meal and a good evening that was spoilt by being told to f**k off home at the end of the night. Just RUDE !!! Will not be recommending or returning. You cannot speak to paying customers like that and expect decent review.

Fantastic! I can honestly not say a bad word about the Christmas Dinner we had! The food was plentiful, tasty, piping hot and well presented. The staff were amazing, they have got the timings down to perfection, enough time between our 4 courses to enjoy the atmosphere of this lovely country pub. We were never without a drink though we never felt hassled by anyone. Sign me up for next year!! Thank you to everyone who worked their Christmas Day so we could enjoy lunch out!!

Excellent food and locally sourced - very good service and choice of dining in bar (dogs welcome) or more formal restaurant.