The Red Lion in Wiltshire

Perfect Pub in a perfect location nice beers and a decent Steak! Loved the Squids as starter

The Red Lion was the perfect retreat from a chilly Solstice Eve in Avebury. The Pub was cosy and the fire was lit. The Staff were friendly and professional.

We visited The Red Lion during the Winter Solstice, and despite the pub being absolutely packed with Yule celebrations in full swing, the experience was exceptional. The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, and we were served by Huw, who truly went above and beyond. His friendly demeanor and efficient service stood out, especially considering how busy the pub was. We ordered the steak and ale pie, which was an absolute delight. The portion was generous, the flavors rich and hearty, and it was cooked to perfection – just what you want from a classic pub dish. If you’re ever in Avebury, particularly during the solstice, The Red Lion is a must-visit. The food, service, and atmosphere make it a standout spot.

Excellent place for dinner after a busy day in mid-October visiting a few historic sites from Bath area through to Avebury henge and stone circle. The five of us (wide range of ages) had a variety of dinner meals and all were eaten up with pleasure. Unfortunately, some of the Sunday roast options were no longer available. The pub has fairly good ambience with interesting tales (ghost stories, historic well). Free parking with registration (I've suffered bureaucratic errors elsewhere from this method but was fine here on this occasion). Visited 20th October 2024

After our last experience when everything was perfect today sadly lack this batter over cooked chips Luke warm And no hot drinks .so disappointed today.

Lovely pub lovely food. And staff kind and very efficient love the table by window

We had a meal at Red Lion after a lovely walk around Avebury! The food was great and we were served by Huw who was absolutely wonderful and ever so kind/welcoming! Looking forward to visiting again, thank you so much!

Friendly staff, lovely food, excellent service

I had a fantastic meal and evening at the Red Lion on a Monday night. Good humble food - recommend the steak and ale pie. Friendly and attentive service from Charlotte, the pub assistant, and great chatting to the owner too. Felt very at home. Thanks!

Absolutely loved our visit! Ryan was our server and he was knowledgeable and polite. Prompt service! Nice food 😀

The manager Hugh was very knowledgable about the stones and the haunted building. Food was excellent. Will come again

lovely pub and restaurant, our waiter Naomi was great, food came out quickly

Naomi gave me great service, she is a fantastic worker, especially given she's due a baby.

We came 2 nights in a row for a weekend away. Food both nights was brilliant, really tasty. Sitting by the fire was especially lovely. The service was great and a special mention to Liz on our first night and Huw who was a lovely host, and very welcoming. We look forward to visiting again

Amazing service! We came up for a drink a few Sundays ago... and saw the food and thought we must return and we did and the Sunday roast was gorgeous! The manager was so friendly and we always have a warm welcome! Even chatted about the history of the pub which being in a historic England landmark was just awesome. The menu looks great and we will return to try some other tempting offerings the red lion t Avebury has to offer! Thank you to the lovely team at the red lion! Food was superb 5 stars all round ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Comfy, cosy traditional pub with excellent service and drinks. Just stopping by so can't comment on food. Dogs welcome, thank you 😊

Unique pub in world heritage site, stones great, church worth visit, pub with a 16th century well and roaring fire, with alinformative staff (Hugh) on area so useful. Throughly enjoyed my visit and highly recommend. Great meal of Fish & Chips too!

Lovely experience at Red Lion. Very attentive and experienced staff. Served by Hugh We will return. Great festive menu

I wonder what would have happened if I had followed him that night. A truly strange night. Ruby. At that time, I was fine with that. Either one was fine. But now the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the young branch of David, has met me.

Amazing traditional pub visit regularly always great food and friendly atmosphere. Staff are always welcoming. Huw especially is always extremely kind and helpful. Couldn’t recommend a visit more.

Wonderful pub in Avebury. Best option here for food !!! And Huw was amazing and full of life. Would totally come again.

Avebury is a place unlike any other—a village steeped in history, spirituality, and wonder, nestled within the world’s only inhabited stone circle. To visit Avebury is to step into a realm of ancient significance, where every stone has a story to tell, and every corner carries whispers of the past. In such a unique and magical setting, one would hope for establishments that reflect the spirit and character of the place. Unfortunately, The Red Lion, Avebury’s sole pub, falls dismally short of this expectation. The Red Lion itself is a historic building, a structure that should embody the charm and warmth of the area. Instead, it has been reduced to yet another victim of corporate homogenization. Owned by Chef & Brewer, one of the many chains that dominate the UK pub industry, it has lost all individuality and soul. This is a tragedy not just for Avebury, but for Britain’s pub culture as a whole. The menu is uninspired, serving the same lifeless, pre-prepared meals you might find in hundreds of chain pubs across the country. The food lacks flavour, freshness, and any sense of care. It’s a disheartening experience for diners—one that leaves both stomachs and spirits unfulfilled. The pub itself feels like a caricature of what a traditional English pub should be: all aesthetic, no substance. In a place as extraordinary as Avebury, this feels not just disappointing but almost insulting. The corporatization of British pubs has been an unfortunate trend over the past few decades. Once vibrant, community-driven hubs, many pubs have been bought out by large companies that prioritize profit over quality or character. This industrialization strips pubs of their individuality, replacing local traditions with generic branding and pre-packaged experiences. The result? A watered-down, soulless version of what a pub once was. The Red Lion’s fate is emblematic of this larger issue. Its location in the heart of Avebury—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—only amplifies the mismatch between its setting and its offering. This pub should be a celebration of Avebury’s unique history and community, a place where locals and visitors alike can gather to soak in the magic of the village. Instead, it feels out of place, a corporate chain masquerading as a local institution. In Avebury, where the past feels so alive, it’s especially jarring to see the present manifest in such a disappointing way. A place as extraordinary as this deserves better—a pub that honours its surroundings, serves food with care and flavour, and embraces the unique spirit of the village. The Red Lion, in its current form, does none of these things. It’s a stark reminder of what we lose when heritage and individuality are sacrificed to corporate convenience. Avebury deserves a pub that reflects its soul. Sadly, The Red Lion is not it.

Nice beer the ‘fireside winter ale’ almost makes this visit a positive experience, lovey location and great service from the staff, sadly all wasted effort. The whole place is horribly let down by a criminally inept kitchen unable to even cook a sausage! I would be so embarrassed if this ever came out of my kitchen especially at this price point! (£15 for 3 sausages and a scoop of mash is criminal). And to top it off the disabled bathroom was absolutely filthy with old uncleaned vomit, at 6pm. All round awful experience at a premium price.

Amazing sausages and mash. But the waiter who helped us was quite awkward and the service was overall rather slow. The ghost floating out of the well was a bonus.

We were greeted by a friendly HUW We were given a table in the restaurant . Decorated for Christmas 🎄 He kindly advised us to order quickly as a table of 15 people were shortly to arrive . We ordered meals and drinks which were all excellent . And we didn’t have to wait long at all .so sound advice from HUW 😀 All the staff were there to make our experience enjoyable . I am sure we will be visiting again . Thank you to all the Red Lion staff 😊

We met family here on Sunday for lunch and had such a lovely meal. We all had roasts and I had the trio which was such a generous amount of food. Didn't have room for dessert but there was a great selection to choose from so will have to visit again. We were offered a festive menu as well which looked incredible with some seasonal dishes. Maybe on the next visit we will have to give it ago. The place was decorated ready for Christmas which made it look warm and cosy. After lunch we took a walk round the area which was

Fantastic food and lovely setting! Dog friendly which is always great. Parking available. Lovely place in a great location.

Perfect place for lunch, super food and lovely atmosphere.

We booked for breakfast. The food was well presented, generous and well cooked. There are reviews about the parking, but we had no issues. Plenty of clear signage in the car park and a screen directly in front of you on entering the bar to put in your car reg. Huw, the landlord also served us. Huw was friendly and arranged to get the open fire started. An enjoyable experience all round. We will return when next in the area.

A lovely Sunday lunch. Beautifully cooked and served in unique surroundings. You’re best booking as it gets busy.

Just had one of the best Sunday Roasts for a good while. Cal was very friendly and efficient and did a top job serving us. Can't recommend the Red Lion enough.

Firstly we are pretty easy going and we don't generally do this - but this was really disappointing. It's the second time we have visited the Red Lion and the first time was poor, we just thought it was a bit of bad luck. However, our second visit was actually worse than the first. We sat in the bar area and ordered our food from the bar - it was two chicken and bacon ciabatta. Just a lunch. We waited for about an hour for food to arrive When the food arrived the chips very cold, broken bits not chips, ciabatta top slice so overbaked, the bottom slice was so soggy it stuck to the plate. We are honestly not sure if the filling was supposed to be hot or cold as the chicken was dry and luke warm and the bacon cold? Presentation honestly just thrown on the plate. There was no mayonnaise we had to ask for it. Very poor This is what we ordered, sounded delicious????? Chicken & Bacon Sandwich With grilled chicken breast, smoked bacon, mayonnaise, baby gem lettuce and tomato on a crusty ciabatta. Served with skin-on fries and seasonal salad £9.49

We have been here several times. And the service, the quality of the beer, and the food is NOT a flash in the pan. A great pub. And a good place to park if you can buy a few beers in the bar which is much better value than paying huge amounts for the National Trust car park . . which not as hospitable. Anyway, well done The Red Lion!

Decided to try somewhere a little different for a family Birthday and chose the Red Lion. We were greeted by a cosy country pub, warm, welcoming and full of history. As a large group of 14, I can honestly say the evening went without problem. All orders were correct, food was amazing and arrived together, piping hot too. The service was also top notch, nothing was too much hassle. Great staff, great venue, great food, even got a birthday card from the owner!! A first for me!! Sure we’ll all see you again soon. Thanks for a wonderful evening.

Arrived to Avebury early morning to enjoy the peace and atmosphere before the half term mayhem and get parking. The staff let me in the pub early for a coffee and were very accommodating !!!! Thank you so much great customer service.

Really nice pub, in the centre of a stone circle! It's a good spot to chill after exploring the stone circles and ancient mounds of surrounding Avebury. It's actually quite large and upmarket, not in a bad way, it's not a stereotypical village pub in looks inside. Though it still has a friendly, rest-stop feeling to it. The pub has outdoor seating and indoor dining areas. Not had the food but been several times for drinks while exploring the beautiful areas around it. Always had a good experience, the staff and other patrons are very friendly. Can get quite busy as it's a destination pub for walking groups and tourists, so if you wish to eat booking a table is advised.

Good food, not expensive however it does take a while as the place gets very busy. Poor range of ales as well.

We visited the Red Lion for breakfast whilst visiting with friends and had such a great time. We were seated in the restaurant area next to a roaring fire which certainly kept us cosy as the weather outside was not the best. Liz offered us some hot drinks to warm up whilst we browsed the very extensive menu. All of us decided to go for the full breakfast and the portion sizes were good. The atmosphere we really enjoy and service was so good we have decided to book for dinner as well. Will defiantly return again and there is so much in the area to do. They are even dog friendly so may have to pop back in after a long walk.

Lovely Pub, Diner and Hotel with a rich history close to and associated with the Avebury Stone Circle

Great pub within the stone circle, chicken burger and chips tasty.

We arrived and had no issues with parking, which was free, then ordered and service was really quick, no later than 15’ the food was on the table. The meat was really well cooked and everything super tasty. Great Guinness as well. If you want to experience a very British place don’t hesitate coming here!

Excellent service with a large variety of good hearty food in a very pleasant setting! The pub & restaurant has a really lovely warm feel to it & the team were more than welcome & friendly! Definitely one of my favourite places to go now! Service & food as it should be...Enjoyable!!

Absolutely outstanding experience, cannot say enough about Cal. He’s so kind and sweet and helpful! Our food was delicious but I’ll come back time and time again to see Cal. Such a memorable dining experience, and we enjoyed a lovely cuppa and warmed up from the chilly weather. Would recommend!

I particularly enjoyed the flavor and presentation of the Garden Patch Medley. The vegetables were set over a delightful pea and cashew mash, and I appreciated the creative plating. The drizzle of dressing garnished with seasoned peas and seeds added a nice contrasting texture as well as adding visual appeal.

We ordered a burger and I have never eaten such a dry burger. We had to ask for sauce and drink a liter of water

I have tried to call on numerous occasions on numerous times of day they never answer! I have been to this pub a handful of times and to be real with you, I only return due to the Korean spicy chicken dish they do! (Unfortunately I believe it has been taken off the menu!) This was the only saving grace for me for coming back to this pub, now that has gone I will never return! I think me and my four friends are in the same boat to be honest as we only go there for the Korean chicken due to poor service and quality of food compared to the price you pay! Every time I’ve eaten there, I’ve ended up waiting too long for food to come out, big wait period between courses! The staff seem rushed off their feet way too much and can’t handle a couple of tables at once (I’d hate to see it when it’s busy!) Many times I’ve asked about an item on the menu and the servers couldn’t answer me so they state they need to ask the chef, to which they never return and I end up asking twice! Quality of food for the price you pay is probably the poorest I’ve seen in a pub ever! (Apart from the Korean chicken obviously that is sadly gone) They just don’t seem to care enough but still quite happy to charge what they charge for the poor quality and poor service! I’ve since read a comment saying they don’t have control over pricing in house… what a poor excuse, people do not complain because the price is high! They complain because the quality of food and service by the staff members doesn’t add up with the price you charge! I doubt I will ever return now after learning the Korean chicken has gone from the menu! This would not be the case if the service, atmosphere and quality of food was actually there but sadly it is not! - I wouldn’t waste your time/money here quite frankly… It’s the only pub in the area however it is definitely worth the extra distance to have a better experience than this!

Very interesting place right by the Avebury Henge. The staff was friendly but remember you need to get up and order yourself. American laziness on our part. Order the Apple Tart. Amazing!!

What a shame, beautiful location and it's a great location for a drink after a hike. We went for a roast, got a glass of wine, but the glass had lipstick on it and the water glass had some bits sat at the bottom. Waitress was really good about it, sorted it for us, but she was super busy, so it took some time. I wanted the ribs meat, but they had run out by 3pm on a Sunday, so went for the mushroom wellington. It was just really salty, not a lot of flavour and disappointing. The veg was clearly frozen, as it was mushy and unseasoned and the potatoes reminded me of school dinner ones (not good at all). Wife meal was the same, nothing to sing home about. I would go back for a pint after a walk, but I wouldn't eat there again, which is a shame, as it has so much potential.

Absolutley brilliant service from Cal - he was polite and kind and seated us exactly where we wanted to be - at the well table! Such an atmospheric place! He was attentive and reccomended great choices for us. The food was delicious - we went for the 8 hour slow cooked beef rib - absolultey sumptuous and full of flavor! Had the pear frangipani on Cal's suggestion and it was delicious. Brilliant pub, great staff lovely atmosphere! Great way to end our spooky tour of the south!

A lovely old pub rendered soulless by Greene King. The food was good enough, but no local beer or cider and a complete dearth of atmosphere or culture. A true disappointment.

Not giving a rating for food as having stood in the queue for 15 minutes was told not taking anymore orders,having driven for 45 minutes not impressed and will not be back very poor organisation and service

Typical low quality deep fried food pub food . Why can’t places do better . No thought in preparation or taste. I pay a price I expect more

Great service, good food and a welcoming ambience.

This pub has a captive audience because it's the only one in Avebury, a hot spot for tourists, locals who fancy a lovely walk and also with dog walkers. As such, it's very busy and it charges premium prices, but for lacklustre food. Eg £23.99 for shepherds pie! Literally the Ivy Brasserie charges the same price for shepherds pie, but theirs is delicious!!! The Red Lion was understaffed when we visited and I note that other reviews say the same. They really do need more staff. Queues at the bar for ordering drinks and food. Only 2 staff behind a busy bar. The beers were good, esp the Green King Level Head. Very refreshing & superb flavour. The food however was disappointing. The Rump steak sandwich sounds great on the menu, with lots of tasty extras. When it arrived, the accompanying chips were just a few. It came with an espresso cup full of merlot and beef dripping gravy - sounds great, but it was luke warm, bland brown gloop. I couldn't use any of it sadly. Unlike the description on the menu, there were no caramelized onions in the sandwich. No crispy onion in there either. It was basically a beef sandwich with a tiny smear of mayo. When I raised it with the staff I was told they had run out of onions! They were very nice and were trying hard, but were running flat out and the kitchen needs to up it's game. I'm glad we didn't risk the £23.99 shepherds pie! It was an irritating end to what had been a lovely walk.

Went for breakfast this morning in the rain. We were very well received, they very happily changed the table size as we had more people coming. Brilliant with children's request for squashby, plus replacement after a "little accident" meant the table and floor had an extra clean.! The food was great, staff were wonderful, the service was great, welcome was great. Can't recommend them enough.

Went in for a drink, very nice little pub

What fun. Had a chese sandwich and beers then walked with the sheep around the stones. We were traveling from Cardiff to Liverpool and we took a break here.

Went for a Sunday roast and enjoyed it very much. 3 choices of meat plus all 3! Menu not restricted to just roasts and there was a specials board. Bit of a wait as one of the ovens broke down, but kudos to the chef and waiting team. No request seemed impossible- extra gravy, more sauces etc - they just wanted you to enjoy your meal. This is a VERY busy and popular venue, so definitely advise booking and parking is limited, so leave yourself time to find somewhere to park - there is a public car park nearby.

Drove an hour and a half to get here for dinner. A table was cleared for us and then 5 minutes later when we had made our choices were told they weren't taking anymore orders. Disgraceful.

Ignore the comments by the short-sighted illiterates! There are SIX signs in the car park telling you to register your number plate, and the touchscreen to do so is right in front of you as you enter the pub.

Great place,lovely service and superb food

Nice little pub but it is expensive

Morgan, Beth, and Naomi gave superb service!! 5 ⭐️

I was with some tourists not eating but the food looked good and no body complained service was a little bit slow

Great historic pub within the stone circle. Food was excellent and service was great. Would recommend. 👍

Great pub. Lovely place for an evening out

Food was excellent and the atmosphere wonderful. Had a lovely day wandering the stones and dinner at the Red Lion made it perfect.

Nice village pub good food and friendly atmosphere

Arrived latish in the day for lunch, ordered and paid for our meals, 45 mins later they still hadn't arrived. So asked for our money back, which they did. Apparently, people with reserved tables are given preferential service.

Lovely ambience. Friendly but sparse service. My dish was not a winner - soggy broccoli on the side, and the pastry was too thick so not cooked through. Disappointing.

Fantastic pub with heaps of character situated in the ideal location for exploring the prehistory of Avebury. Personally used as the pseudo-finishing point for the Ridgeway walk, good selection of drinks and food.

We were recommended to eat here by Mike at Dorwyn Manor, where we were stopping for the night. An excellent recommendation as the food, service and atmosphere is great. We would definitely eat here again when we next visit the area.

As an American tourist traveling with young kids, this place was a very serendipitous find! Food was tasty - the salmon and cheddar cake especially. They had an interesting selection of ciders and beers. And of course, the atmosphere was great! We ate on top of a glass-enclosed well from the 1600s, while staring out the window at neolithic monuments. How cool!

We visited this nice, traditional pub in a beautiful setting on Friday 23rd August. I enjoyed the rump steak sandwich. The very small side of thin fries was lovely and crispy. The serving staff were friendly and accommodating despite some members of our party arriving late for our booking slot. Would have been nice to be offered sauces and cutlery when our meals arrived, but overall, it was a very good experience, and staff did really well with the extremely busy service.

Gorgeous old pub, great menu at reasonable prices and really friendly staff. It's a firm favourite.

Parked , ate at the place, spent money and received a parking ticket ....

Lovely Sunday lunch with family - not rushed and lovely kind service.

It was a unique experience, as I don't intend to go back. Our dishes took 45 minutes to be ready… and the restaurant was not full. To make matters worse, they still managed to get my dish wrong… but as we were starving, we ate quickly so we could leave quickly!!!

It's wonderful to relax in the English style and enjoy coffee and food. Wasn't too busy for a lot of people and nice staff

Walk. Round. Ancient. Stones stop. Half way. Nice pint something. To. Eat carry. On

Food was OK, service was friendly and trying hard but came back 3 times with questions about drinks order. Great to have parking right next to pub.

A great place to relax and grab a pint and bite to eat. Service was friendly and we did not have any complaints.

Cool pub in the middle of stone circle

Great pub, don't mind the ghost she's friendly!

Disappointed with hot Beverages. and the the table have not been wiped down. Saying this not many places do today And the child's meal? can see why the child wouldnt eat it. Dry and over cooked and the desert was no better This pub has gone gone down hill for some reason. the staff was Friendly and polite and welcoming they just needs to be bit more organised. Always visited the pub on regular basis. not sure anymore.

The best English cuisine I have ever tasted!

What adelightful place! I was expectign a pub in such a toruisty arreas to have outrageous prices, but my pint of bitters was under 5 pounds. Authentic building and a beautiful patio overlooking the sotnes. Well worht a visit. (we didn't have any, but the food looked amazing and there were plenty of choices)

Although the building itself is beautiful, and the staff generally very courteous and polite, I cannot help but give a poor review. The food was very poor quality. I've had better in most Wetherspoons. A £20 meal consists of two severely overcooked and miniscule chicken cutlets, a dry potato with nothing on it and a pitiful side salad that had wilted into a pile of sludge from the heat of the plate. The coronation sandwich was also criminally underfilled. Massively overpriced to the point of blatant price-gouging. It was immediately evident that what little staff was working there were overworked and understaffed. Every member of staff looked completely frazzled. Food was dropped, orders were forgotten, and I didn't see a server in the dining area throughout my entire visit. I went to the bar to grab a few packets of butter for my dry potato and instead of just grabbing them, I was told they must be ordered through the kitchen. The butter was never brought to the table, but since I didn't want to make a scene over a packet of butter, I just ate it. Now, I really want to emphasize that this doesn't seem to be the fault of the staff present, but instead the organization of the business as a whole. Normally I wouldn't be this adamant about the quality of the food or the service. I'd just clap my hands together, say "oh well" in a sigh, and be on my merry way, never to return, but because this pub is situated in such an important spot, and seems to be the only pub within a considerable distance, I can't help but think that whoever is in charge needs to do some serious revaluation.

Great food and great beer garden! The perfect place to enjoy a meal or a beer. Stop in on your way through Avebury or if you're visiting the village. Seating outside and inside. Wifi available.

Nice pub, comfy and spacious, and paninis were tasty. Handy for the stones too.

Excellent meal, great service very delicious puddings! Thanks to Hugh who served us, very polite and professional

The IPA was refreshing after the circular walk to Windmill Hill. We had to make a wish at the wishing tree. Apparently, JR Tolkein wrote some stories sat under the 4 trees.

Visited 7 Aug 24 around 2pm for a drink. My wife was 4th in the queue at the bar on arrival. She waited 20 minutes and walked out as did 2 other people. One person working on the bar who kept walking away. Extremely poor service. I live locally and would not go back again.

Lovely pub with nice food and great staff. Location is good

A great sunday roast with great service

Very delicious food, a different experience in the middle of a place with a lot of energy.

We love the Red Lion Restaurant which once again exceeded our expectations with brilliant food & perfect service. Our only complaint is that parking spaces are too narrow for modern cars so literally mirror to mirror & difficult to open car doors for access!

Great pub. Good menu, with a fair choice of vegetarian meals. Very good service, and on our wedding anniversary, a drink on the house ! a lovely touch. Thank you.

Ask for Hue! Best service and meal we had on our trip to England

A pub who could make Lemon Lime and bitters ! Have been in UK for a week and no one had angostura. Great friendly welcome by the staff, plenty of choice on tap and relaxing courtyard to spend a while in the glow of an English summer. Nice hot chips and quick service. Would love to have spent longer. No prob with the parking scheme