The Red Lion Brinkley in East Cambridgeshire

Morris and Gwyn could not have been more accomodating. The food was lovely, as always, and the service, friendly, thoughtful and altogether brilliant. Thank you guys. We don't live locally but come a couple of times a year; we're always treated so well and enjoy the food and company. Thank you.

I had an overnight stay at the Pubs camp site and Was very pleased with my surroundings. I had an excellent evening meal and the service was first rate even supplying me with a phone charger so I could charge my phone whilst I ate! The Pub serves brunch on a Sunday starting I believe at 10:30 but I was served an excellent breakfast at 09:00 which I really enjoyed.I would have no hesitation in recommending the Red Lion and look forward to my next visit😊

I had booked a table for 8 at 12 noon. In the end due to various circumstances we were late and th party size went down to 6. Not a problem, the owner couldn't have been more accommodating or helpful. The menu had something for everyone from sandwiches , to smaller "basket" meals to a dish of sausage and mash. we had two young children in our party and very effort was made

If walking and camping I wouldn't bother pining any hopes on a stay at Red Lion, Brinkley. Supposedly a campsite but only when the owner doesn't want to use their garden.. Anyhow, a lovely pub in the next village was more than accommodating. They let me camp in their garden which has never been advertised as a campsite..

Very disappointed after all the good reviews read. Takeaway was very bland and not very good portion sizes. I wound advise against the pie! The g/f version was supposed to be in a brioche bun but was in a warburtons thin! Have had to now put bits in the oven as my guests are still hungry The woman didn’t have any social skills when I collected the food she didn’t want to make conversation. Will not use again even though we are very local!

Loved this place, very good selection of drinks. Staff very nice. Worth visitng if you are in the local area.

This is more than a pub, it's the heart of our local community. Not only is the food really, really yummy, the owners are kind, considerate, welcoming and fun. They cater as a matter of course for vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions, which is much appreciated! We're delighted that they're out local and our friends love eating there too. In the few months my husband and I have been living nearby they've made sure we were welcome and would meet our neighbours, and I've even seen them go out of their way to reunite stray dogs with their owners. Also, there's the most fantastic professional-looking homemade knitwear occasionally available there... Well worth a visit!

NOT dog friendly One of the rudest landlords I have ever had the misfortune to meet, run more like a prison camp. Food very average. AVOID

It is the best campsites I have stayed on good food and a great host that want you to enjoy your stay and we did Thanks Morris

We wanted a pub meal a few beers and camping and fell on our feet here. Morris and his wife are excellent hosts and made sure we had everything we needed. You had a sense that everything was going to be OK and if there was an issue Morris would sort it. We went to an Air show in Duxford and used the pub as the stop over as they offer camping. Had a steak meal and starter. All well cooked and truly had a lovely time. Great local beer. We enjoyed meeting Morris and would return.

Super delicious take away food . So ,so yummy . I would recommend this pub , its amazing food is a treat to behold and to eat of course

We have recently returned from a holiday in a village close to Cambridge during which time we took full advantage of the government’s ‘Eat out to help out’ scheme. I had researched the area thoroughly and, because we anticipated that the government scheme would make it difficult to book a table on the day, I booked for most evenings before we even left home. The restaurant menu was not listed on the Red Lion web site (perhaps it would be a good idea to rectify that) but because I was so impressed by the takeaway menu, which was listed, I immediately telephoned the Red Lion and booked a table for each Monday during our holiday. I also arranged a takeaway for one other evening. The food was not disappointing. My goat’s cheese starter was superb, the batter on the fish and chips was as light as a feather, the steak was cooked to perfection and the Fruited Lamb Tagine was full of flavour. All five of us had perfect food on each occasion we ate there and I have never seen a takeaway with such a varied and enjoyable menu. We mentioned to Morris who runs ‘front of house’ whilst Gwen, his American wife, runs the kitchen, that my partner, also Maurice, loves curry so on our second visit two curries were cooked by Gwen especially for our visit. The people who live in the many villages surrounding Brinkley are very lucky to have The Red Lion. I believe I am correct when I say that Morris and Gwen not only own the Red Lion but run it single handedly, provide excellent food and still find time to be exceptionally likeable and obliging.

Went for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, turned up without booking and was made to feel very welcome. My partner had the burger which looked lovely and I really enjoyed my fish pie. Gentleman serving was very friendly and overall the lunch we had was very reasonably priced. Will definitely return.

Lovely relaxing meal in the garden, quiet and peaceful place. Menu was really good, good selection, something for everyone and home-style cooking. Staff really friendly, was made to feel at home. Tables outside spaced out well so easy to socially distance. Would love to return. They are part of the Eat out To Help Out scheme, so get in while you can!!

We were delighted with the meal that was specially made for us to take away and offer to our visiting family - a very special event, and the food matched the occasion. Very tasty, generous size and reasonably priced - we would highly recommend the Red Lion Brinkley.

The red lion burger - the best burger I have ever had. Every little thing deliciously cooked. Yum. And super friendly service. This is our lockdown go-to treat!

Beef cheek for dinner - a dream! Thank you guys, best dish EVER! The others enjoyed their dinners, too, but the cheek is something totally amazing! E

I had to arrange a "funeral tea" to be held after a burial at Brinkley Woodland Cemetery. I live in France so this could have proved troublesome.I spoke with Morris at the Red Lion who instantly put me at my ease and suggested ,via a follow up email, the range of buffet foods and the price per head. He put me immediately at ease so i booked and was not disappointed. more guests arrived than expected but there was still more than enough excellent food to go around. The locally brewed beers were great too. Everyone commented on what a cosy ambience there was in this low-ceilinged character pub.

Having been to the Red Lion before and enjoyed the food my son organised a birthday dinner for 16 friends and family on 28th September. The food was amazing with plenty of vegetarian options. I don't know how Morris and Gwyn do it but all 16 starters and main courses arrived at the same time. Gwyn came out of her kitchen to offer desserts - having being beaten on my last visit I was determined to have a dessert this time. Gwyn's American brownie with vanilla ice cream was excellent. I was so glad not to be driving as I had quite a few glasses of the wonderful Malbec. Thank you Morris and Gwyn for making the occasion so memorable.

We made our booking online. We were travelling from Norfolk and meeting family members from Cambridge. We were a bit worried about the lack of cars in the car park and indeed the number of customers at 7pm. However we were greeted by Morris who showed us to our table and gave us the menu. There was a great choice Our party of 4 chose 4 different starters all of which were wonderful. I chose one of the vegetarian options - pear and cashel blue cheese salad with candied hazel nuts. It was lovely. For the main course 3 medium rare steaks were ordered and were booked perfectly. I chose the mushroom stuffed courgette with pilaf rice vegetable medley and lemon basil cream. It was really nice and so good to have vegetables beautifully cooked with a vegetarian meal. Sadly we were all too full up for a pudding! Whilst we were there a lady popped into the bar from the garden where she had eaten to say that it was the best burger that she had ever had! We took Molly our spaniel and she was given her own dog treats. Gwen is a great chef.

As other have said don’t read any reviews more than about 3 years ago as that would be before the current owners took charge. We live locally, have eaten at the Red Lion several times and it has always been superb.Our favourite meal is brunch on a Sunday morning from 11am and my first choice is the American style pancakes, crispy bacon and maple syrup with a side of breakfast potatoes. They also serve regular breakfasts and have a vegan option. Sunday lunch is also great as are the other meals, always great quality and served with a smile. They have a lovely garden and if want they now have a camp site at the rear. Go on, give it a go, you won’t regret it.

We stopped in the Red Lion looking for a roast dinner last Sunday lunchtime and so very glad we did.The landlord was very friendly and made us feel most welcome. We had a roast lamb and a roast beef both meals were excellent we both tried each others meat and agreed they both were delicious. The meal came with 2 Yorkshire puddings which were generous, roast potatoes and vegetables.I hadn't read previous reviews till I decided to leave a review myself and felt I wanted to say what a little gem this pub was.When leaving we said we will definitely be back for another roast dinner.We can only say what experience we had and cannot fault our visit.

The current hosts have been there about 2 years so don’t bother reading reviews before about 2017. They were delightful and friendly and produced some of the finest pub food we have ever had. It was lunch so we only had sandwiches but for me the burger with skinny fries was one of the finest I have ever eaten. My guests were similarly impressed with their choices. Our only criticism is the interior lacked warmth in its decor being pretty barren. I hope the current management can find the time to address this. If they do, with the quality of the food, their tenure will undoubtedly be a great success.

This chef can turn her hand to anything! We are regulars at their themed evenings and Caribbean and Mexican have been particularly good. Amazing value for money and generous portions too.

As regulars of this place I have to say we love it. We eat here at least twice a month whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner and after reading the reviews below I feel like I have to say something. I was there on the day both of the ridiculous reviews below are mentioning and I have to say it was a shambles which the staff tried very hard to fix. The people were very rude and demanding and it made me feel very uncomfortable to watch. We were actually some of the people who moved table to help accommodate them. The staff didn’t deserve to be treated the way they were and I for one am glad that they won’t be back, now I can enjoy the beautiful food and friendly staff in peace! It’s not fair you can ruin someone’s business with bad reviews, especially when it was the customers behaviour that was poor not the establishments!

I was so upset and annoyed with the way we were treated from the minute my wife walked to the bar one person serving the whole pub to get us a drink to be told you'll have to wait I've only got one pair of hands I have seven people before you it was going to be a bad birthday . Myself and my wife booked a table for 6 each plus 1 high chair plus 2 dogs on arrival there was some confusion  with the corresponding emails which I still have to back this all up with this you said you only had one booking after several conversations later you managed to sort this issue out so you start the food order and you start by missing out my dinner when our meals arrive you did offer me snacks whilst mine was cooked which I declined if that was bad enough nothing was right for you make sure the dog is kept in the corner move the high chair from there to here what you feeding your dog all with a rude and abrupt attitude embarrassing for us as this was all arranged by myself and my wife in which my family member said to you this is getting a bit much now nobody in the pub battered an eyelid if that is a melt down your lucky I didn't say something as you wouldn't have liked it no need for it myself and my family were shocked with it all all because you were understaffed yourself and a chef and could not cope as for the pub being packed one table and 2 people at the bar outside their was only my family nobody else maybe all my family should pass their comments to get the real truth not the fabrication story that you are telling I shall look forward to your response

This pub is run by probably one of the rudest people I have ever met. Everything is too much trouble, the food order was a mess and the children’s drinks were out of date. This pub is dog tolerant rather than dog friendly and even that is stretching the truth

This was a Christmas lunch, organised by my daughter who lives in Brinkley. The ambience, food and service were all excellent and I have no hesitation in saying that this is one of the best pubs I have visited.

Food was excellent, prompt service. Even offered an alternative choice from the menu for someone who had special dietary requirements.

On different occasions had Brunch, Breakfast and Supper - food always delicious and highest quality - ingredients locally sourced. Gwen and Morris bring their international experience in making a visit both, welcoming, interesting and enjoyable

Excellent food and personalised service. Brinkley should be proud of having such an extraordinary pub. Highly recommended.

Our visit to the Red Lion was a thoroughly enjoyable one. The food was excellent, the service pleasant, unobtrusive and efficient and the dining room comfortable with a slight colonial feel.

This was the strangest of pubs that either of us could ever recall visiting. It was very cold in its welcome and looked like the place had suffered a robbery as there were no "things" around the place - it was BARE and, therefore uninviting. However we did stay despite this (and the fact that we considered the range of beers to be poor) and we are glad we did since the then enjoyed the best fish pie that we have had for many a year

Visited this pub for lunch on Christmas Eve because it happened to be on the route home from relatives, and were really glad we did. It's everything a country pub should be - cosy and welcoming, with a good choice of beer and wine, and great food. The menu has plenty of choice without being offputtingly long, and the food is better and more interesting than standard 'pub grub' but not the sort of poncey would-be restaurant style a lot of pubs go in for. Everything was freshly cooked and delicious with generous portions and great value. Brinkley is lucky to have such a nice local - we would definitely visit again when next in the area

It was a very calm Tuesday evening so the four of us had the place to ourselves. I have to say the food service and ambience of the place was a pleasure to behold. Freshly cooked and prepared food served with great skill and love was just what was required.

Cada vez que volvamos estamos impresionados por la calidad de la comida, muy bien cocinado, presentado con cuidado. Una simple hamburguesa fue presentada con deliciosos acompañamientos, aguacate, ensalada fresca, y una excelente relación calidad-precio. Este pequeño pub merece tener éxito y espero que se extiendan alrededor que están siguiendo una fórmula ganadora, muy buena comida, buen precio y se puede decir que realmente se preocupan por sus clientes.

Nos invitaron aquí para la celebración de la boda de un amigo, la comida era increíble y bien presentado. El personal era una tentativa y educado. Tenían una buena variedad de cervezas. Y lo más importante, como he dejado de alcohol para la Cuaresma una buena gama de cervezas sin alcohol y sidra. El pub es muy pintoresco y peculiar es un poco alejado pero bien vale la pena el esfuerzo de llegar allí.

Decidimos tomar un pastel y una noche pinta como nuestra boda post bash como nos casamos en el extranjero y todavía quería una escapada juntos con nuestros amigos y familia.

El Red Lion ha sufrido una considerable reforma y redecoración desde mi visita anterior. Un grupo de seis llamó reservar almuerzo y recibieron dos personas adicionales presentamos y el director hizo un gran esfuerzo para adaptar los asientos para acomodar a la gente extra. Todos encontramos bebidas y comidas adecuadas en el menú e hizo que nuestros pedidos en el bar. La comida iban desde bocadillos hasta comidas caseras principal y todo el mundo estaba contento en todos la cantidad y calidad de la comida. El servicio fue eficiente y los asientos eran cómodas, la decoración relajante y espacioso.

El Red Lion es el estándar que todos los pubs de país deben tender a lograr. El propietario (Morris) no podría ser más acogedor y realmente te hace sentir como en casa en este encantador pub y eso es incluso antes de llegar a la comida. El menú es corto pero cada plato que he tenido (esto no era mi primera visita) ha sido presentado y envasado con excepcionalmente sabor. Esta noche tuve la audacia de ternera que estaba tan tierno el cuchillo era sólo para mostrar!

Muy acogedor, con buena comida y un servicio muy personalizado. Un poco tranquilo pero era enero sin duda volveremos.

He tenido varias veces aquí ahora, el Brunch del domingo es una de las preferidas y es muy popular. Los propietarios y el personal es muy amable y acogedor. Bien merece una visita.

me and a mate had a lovely sunday road here, beer was spot on and everything was lovely would defiantly return again.

Our first visit under the new team and the red lion has been transformed.The decor is clean, bright and rustic and would be lovely on a winter evening Food was tasty and generous portions. The chefs know their ingredients and it deliver great flavours.They have achieved that hard to find balance of quality and price

We had an excellent meal at the Red Lion today with very attentive service and great food. The menu has something for everyone, including a brunch snack for smaller appetites. Will definitely be returning!

This pub is as local as we can get from our village and since it changed hands we've been back three times. Each time we're looking for a fuss free evening meal together to save me cooking or driving into Cambridge which we most often do on a Friday night.The menu is great, not too busy but with enough interest to keep you interested in trying other things. Tonight I had a fantastic lamb burger and a panacotta with the perfect 'wobble'.The owners are really welcoming and obviously enthusiastic and experienced. Well worth a visit.

We visit the Red Lion regularly now as I am able to eat the best version of gluten free eggs benedict for brunch on Sunday (late) morning. Sunday roast also has gluten free Yorkshire puddings and I also had an amazing gluten free chocolate brownie which was freshly baked. Mid week I have enjoyed beautifully cooked fish with vegetables.

What a difference great hosts make. We were made most welcome by the husband and wife team, nothing was too much. Ale was great and clearly pride was taken in how it was looked after. Thoroughly recommend this pub for eating and drinking.

Good food, nice location, friendly staff, had chicken pie very nice and tender, wife had steak & ale pie (was cut in half !!!! ) not a singular portion, big pie cut in half... Strange !!! Apart from that not to much choice for starter, main & desert (only three choices) would go again regardless for smell of open fire place .. Very cosy ..

We met friends to visit open gardens in Brinkley and fancied a light lunch at the pub.Really interesting choices on the menu, beautifully cooked and presented and reasonably priced.We were surprised not to need to book on a Bank holiday weekend.

Sunday early evening family dinner - this surely must be the best kept secret in Cambridgeshire - no more... Excellent food (set menu - need to call 24h in advance) shared on a big table with other families. Great atmosphere and also excellent value! Restaurant closed for any other customers - so kids can run wild !Best thing since 1966!

The Red Lion have just started (Jan 2016) to do Sunday brunch...10.30-12, well worth a trip! Varied menu...eggs benedict was lovely and the breakfast potatoes really tasty. Highly recommended! Friendly service and lovely location.

We popped in for lunch a couple of days before Christmas. The pub was pretty empty which was a shame as it was a bit lonely sitting there on our own but that's not the fault of the pub. There was a lovely fire burning and we were warmly welcomed. I had the bacon, lettuce, advocado and tomato roll which was really nice. Really good bread too! My partner had the lamb burger which the waitress said was good -she was right!! Mother in law had fish and chips which looked amazing with a large piece of cod with fantastically crisp batter. Overall a good lunch stop and we'll certainly return.

Pub has changed hands again, & unfortunately was disappointing. The food was poor; over cooked, hard lamb burger in a cheap, dry, supermarket bap for me and tiny (& I mean tiny) piece of cod with a few greasy chips for my friend. Service both in bar and restaurant was dire, despite it being quiet. I won't be rushing back in a hurry.

Called in here end of November food was ok but nothing to rave about good points dogs welcome but still not sure we'll be back

Our 3rd or 4th visit over the past few months,always a friendly welcome which makes it for us.Very dog friendly(our dog had a lovely game with the resident puppy Isla) .We thought the menu today was a little limited but having said that on our previous visits it has been alot more varied (maybe just chose the wrong day).The locals are always extremely friendly and happy to have a chat,will certainly be back soon.

Visited the pub for dinner. It's a very friendly place with a genial host. The service was attentive and we liked the fact that the tables were well spaced. Good food at a reasonable price.

Having sampled a variety of pubs in Suffolk for Sunday lunch over the years and been ultimately disappointed it was a surprise to find this gem tucked away in Brinkley with a good parking area, although the car park was fairly full not too busy inside? Maybe Ramblers parking? The restaurant is tastefully decorated, spacious and light, slightly spoiled by loud Muzak at first but they did turn it down when asked, the only small niggle of the visit. Food choice not extensive but there are choices for veggies and fish eaters. Prices not cheap but the quality and good cooking make up for this. I had a Fish Pie which actually contained more fish than potato, a first for many years! Soup was clearly home made and superb quality and quantity, fished off with an excellent Apple Crumble with just the right amount of Cinnamon added.This was my second visit and I thought the meal was better than the first time, hope they keep up the high standards they have set themselves, would certainly recommend.

The Red Lion in Brinkley is really worth the journey. We found the service excellent. Great wine and food. Good parking area....outdoor area is large and excellent

Visited with children and grandchildren. Not too busy and service was reasonably prompt and friendly. The menu choice was better than many pubs, if a fraction expensive. The requirement of my wife for gluten and dairy-free food was understood and catered for well. Nice ambience and well off main roads. I understand the management is quite new and I wish them well. Certainly worth repeat visits.

As a local resident who has seen this pub change hands multiple times over the past decade, I am delighted to say that the Red Lion is finally a top notch pub. The new manager/owner is a terrific host, and a marked upgrade on the previous buffoon who ran the pub. The food was simple, well priced, but wholesome and extremely tasty, with the steak tartare a particular highlight. I hope everyone at the Red Lion is able to keep up the hard work that they have clearly put in and ensure this pub remains the delight of the village.

Superb lunch today with my husband and son. Excellent fish & chips and superb lamb dish accompanied by a superb Beaujolais. Lovely homely feel with delightful touches such as the books and free wifi. Thanks Guy and team for a lovely afternoon!

We were around 7/8 people for dinner, a majority ordered steaks and not one was cooked to how it was requested. I ordered a medium and it was rare, others ordered rare and it was basically raw. At prices like this you would expect the simple things done correct.

A good meal in a friendly pub with pleasant service. The food isn't fancy but it's well prepared and tasty - the chips we had were excellent, crispy and hot! The pub would benefit from a wider selection of ales, but the Ghost Ship went down very well.

Really pleased that The Lion is open again after being closed for so long. Lovely interior and really charming decor.The menu was very good and prices were spot on.But.... despite the staff being very friendly the service was a little lacking with a drinks order missed and we were left short of cutlery at one point. My main course (bangers and mash) wasn't brilliant as the bangers were clearly overcooked. My wife had the Salmon which she said was delicious.While overall it was ok, I think that we really hoped it would be better as it's so local and really deserves to be successful.

I grew up in Brinkley and visit regularly so always hoped 'the Lion' would become a pub worth visiting again. Unfortunately the previous management seemed to get everything wrong. Fortunately Guy, the new landlord seems to be getting it right.The food is fresh, with both traditional and innovative dishes as well as being reasonably priced. There's a good selection of ales and wines and the service is spot on. I really hope the pub gets the support from people from the local area. The food is certainly comparable with London 'gastro pubs' and a fraction of the price.

We live near to the Brinkley Lion and were sad to see it shut for the first part of this year. The past month has seen us visit the re opened pub twice. Both times the staff have provided friendly and competent service. The atmosphere is relaxed and the pub looks brilliant after a spring clean and re-vamp. The food each time has been very good. The menu is compact (which I actually prefer to an extensive but less focused selection) but there is a good range and the whole group enjoyed their choices as well cooked, attractive and good portion sizes. I also love the fact that the wine can be bought in carafe sizes which is great value for those who want more than a glass but don't fancy a bottle. We look forward to becoming regular customers!

We had Saturday lunch in the Red Lion on the recommendation of someone we met in the village. Our last trip there at least 2 years ago was very disappointing. I grew up in the village and it was sad to see how tired it had become. This time we were very impressed. The bar area had been beautifully updated and served us a delicious lunch. Very friendly staff and owner. This is really worth trying. We'll be back when we next visit Brinkley

I went along to the Dullingham distillery which in its self is well worth a visit and a review but does appear on trip advisor. However one of group had booked The Lion for supper. The landlord was jolly the staff friendly,the fire was roaring, the beer was good and the food delicious...need I say more other than the fact that I find my self reporting on something that should be the norm for a country pub but sadly is not. Great night thanks guys.

Great night at the Red Lion. Very warm welcome, good well priced pub food, nice beer, and a slightly eccentric but very capable landlord. Oh yes and an amazing jack russel with a very cool attitude. It was a great night out with a group of friends. Recommend the fish and chips, and the chocolate brownie is to die for

This restaurant has improved leaps and bounds. From what I learnt the pub has newly taken on a new head chef and I must say his food is wonderful. The menu itself has something for everyone, even vegetarians have a good selection. For my main course I had the pork belly served with king prawns, it was perfection. However, I would have loved more of the sauce but I'm sure if I had asked I would have got some. My wife had the Seabass which she adored, said the fish was cooked perfectly. Unlike most restaurants round here the size was perfect and didn't have enough room for dessert, even though we were very tempted! We will definitely being coming back and with more people.

Really enjoyed lunch at the Lion today, good range of real ales and v decent wine, warm welcome, the classic fish'n'chips, interesting veggie options, reasonably priced.

A lovely friendly country pub with beams and inglenooks. A new tapas menu offers 3 for £10 from a choice of 9. Real quality food and presentation.

What a marvellous place!!!Not only do they serve great beer, great food, and good banter...But they also forgive when your dog misbehaves, and cure it when it's poorly!A pub, restaurant, and a vet!Marvellous place - we are very lucky to live so close....

I ate here with the family on a Friday in July, and we all had good meals - the kids inevitably had burgers, but at least they are home made (with home made buns!), with nice fresh salads. The trio of salmon and pork were a step up from the pub classics and were all beautifully presented and a nice combination of flavours. The steak was absolutely terrific - beautifully cooked and tender. All washed down with a big jug of Pimms - a perfect summer evening. The pub makes a point of buying local when it can and I will definitely be going to their butcher myself. It was a lovely warm evening and the pub was busy inside and out, but we were made to feel welcome and "special" - what a great place to have as our local.

It was good before and is now a step up. The "pub" menu is still available but the "new" menu is just that bit special and the quality of the food and presentation is fantastic. We were very early (pre 7pm) on the first night of the new menu.

The Brinkley Lion is the perfect place to eat.. it combines reasonable prices with a great atmosphere, and the staff are always friendly and happy to help. I've never had a bad experience at the lion, and have eaten there on a few different days of the week. While the menu changes occasionally, and possibly regularly on different nights of the week (although I'm not entirely sure), the quality of the food remains suburb. The food:The Lion offers a wide variety of food, guaranteeing that there's something for everyone. Even the pickiest eaters will be satisfied with the choice on offer; and you can't go wrong with the chips! The menu is seasonal, meaning that the food fresh, and very often sourced locally, but steak is always available. The quality is exceptional and although one is frequently full after the main course, it would be a crime to miss out on the lion's deserts - especially the sticky toffee pudding.The atmosphere:Tucked away in the rural village of Brinkley, which is about a 10 minute drive from Newmarket and 30 minute drive from the center of Cambridge, the Lion offers a gastro-pub style ambiance. Its mismatched chairs and low beam give the Lion charm while the fire, which is always lit in the winter, makes the place feel cosy and welcoming. The light decor gives the restaurant a trendy edge, creating the perfect balance of traditional meets modern. Although I have only ventured into the bar on occasion, it is equally as appealing. The Staff:The Staff at the Lion are never without a smile, and will always go beyond their call of duty to improve customer satisfaction. I once requested peppermint tea, and was informed that despite the fact that they were out of peppermint tea bags, one of the staff members had picked some peppermint from the garden and created a delicious fresh mint tea for me. Giles and Janie, the owners, are constantly interacting with their customers, and you can be guaranteed an entertaining story should you invite Giles to engage in conversation! Ashley and Charlotte, the two waitresses that work frequently on Saturday nights, are both bubbly characters and make you feel as though nothing is too much to ask. To conclude, the Lion is an exceptional pub full of charm and delicious food, and I cannot think of a single criticism. Well done crew!

Nice pub, awful service, dreadful food and expensive. Offered another meal but so bad we did not want to Return.

Have just spent a lovely couple of hours at the Lion with my husband, son, daughter in law and grandson. Choice of menu was excellent, quantity, more than sufficient, and quality of food was very good. All well presented, friendly staff and very unrushed. Will definitely go again as it's virtually on our doorstep. Thank you.

lovely room, well spaced tables, friendly and helpful service, excellent food, good beer. what more can you ask?

Nothing wrong at all, but feel better value can be found elsewhere. Average food, Average prices May well return in time if out that way.

A fantastically run village pub with great food and always a welcoming atmosphere. The homemade burgers are a must and the guest ales too.

We visited the Lion for a Sunday lunch after a gap of 20 years after a good report from a friend. The overall appearance was lovely, it has been re-furbished to a good standard and the open fire was just the ticket for a cool winter's day. The beer selection was ok but not exciting and it's priority is now clearly it's food.The £20 for three courses Sunday lunch is not exactly overpriced but then it's not a bargain either and a good quality is expected. Perhaps we were expecting too much because the food was pretty average and I don't understand how you can run out of lamb at 1.00 p.m. on a Sunday, despite being half full.The beef was ok, the three potatoes very nice and the vegetables crisp and plentiful (obviously to make up for the lack of spuds). The deserts were ok, the sticky toffee pudding only just qualifying on the two counts- "lightly tacky caramel pudding" would have been more accurate.All in all it was average and next time needs to lift it's game.

We shared a table for 6 at this restaurant on New Year’s Eve 2013.It was our first visit to the restaurant which had been recommended by friends.On arrival the greeting was warm and friendly, as was the open fire in the dining room.The hosts and staff were well organised and efficient and we did not feel that we were being hurried at any time.The meal was outstanding with each dish beautifully presented and we enjoyed some amazing flavours. My wife has special dietary requirements and these were sorted over the telephone prior to the event and delivered to perfection.The wine was very good and reasonably priced.It was in all a most enjoyable evening.Thank you for looking after us so well and we certainly will be back in 2014.

With a warm welcome from the log fire to the attention of the staff what a nice experience. We found this pub/Eating house by pure chance as we were picking up our dog from the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket. The food was very good ,lots of it and not to pricey .Add a good mix of ales on tap with a roaring log fire on a cold day ....perfect ...!! We will be back.

Went for lunch with family. Homemade soup was delicious, roast beef perfectly pink, homemade horseradish, lovely desert. Service was very friendly and efficient.

As a group of nine we ate here on the evening 20 December. The views expressed here reflect the opinion of Cathy and I alone.Upon arrival we were warmly greeted and enjoyed a decent pint whilst chatting with the proprietor - a very pleasant, slightly eccentric, character who made us all feel very welcome - the ambience in the bar was very good.Subsequently we moved into the restaurant, which was also a nice room. The menu offered a limited but nevertheless appealing range of starter and main options, We each chose the tempura battered cod cheeks in pea veloute, which were very nicely cooked and presented albeit a little smaller than I would have liked. For main Cathy enjoyed a pork roulade starter (a common practice on her part), whilst I enjoyed a delicious seafood linguine. For pudding, we each opted for the triple combi assiette comprising panna cotta, sorbet and strange chocolate disc; whilst the sorbet was good, the panna cotta was quite rubbery and the chocolate item was very uninspiring. With the meal we enjoyed some very nice wines that reflected the proprietors knowledge and experience.Overall, an enjoyable experience but the chef does need to achieve a better standard of consistency with the puds.

We held our Pink Rose Dinner at the Brinkley Lion this year. This event raised money for our local hospital. Giles looked after us wonderfully and the food as ever was excellent. We pre-selected our meals for the event, but I have yet to have anything that wasn't great quality and well cooked. I have food intolerances and these are always handled well and I am not made to feel like a freak as I am in other restaurants. Our event raised over £300

The restaurant is under new ownership. The meal was excellent, and the host and staff were very much hands-on. Good experience.

Please don't all read the great reviews of the food, beer and service and then flock to this place otherwise my wife and I won't be able to get our favourite table No9 as regularly (once a week if we can) as we like. Alway a pleasure to visit Giles and his team, even if the chilli was a little hot for me last night.What a village pub should be like. 5*

We took friends here on the night of Saturday 14th September 2013. From the moment we arrived we were instantly made to feel at home, we were not rushed to our table and had a couple of drinks at the bar (which is very nice). The menu was just right, our friend who is a vegetarian, ordered the Truffle Risotto which was very nicely presented and tasted just as it should (she said). I ordered the King Prawn Noodle Broth which again was very very nice and the 'husbands' both had the Chicken Terrine which again was really very tasty. The service we received was also very good, the manager (Giles) was attentive but certainly not over powering and our waitress was very polite. Mains did not disappoint, the vegetarian option, Filo Pastry with Roasted Vegetables, was beautiful. I had the Fish Pie which was one of the best I have ever tasted and the 'husbands' both opted for the Rib Eye Steak, which again was one of the best steaks they had ever tasted. Puddings now ...... The Sticky Toffee Pudding was light and with the perfect amount of toffee sauce, the Panettone was just lovely too. So all in all our visit to The Brinkley Lion was well worth it and we will certainly be visiting again very soon! Richard, Kate, Claire and Lewis.

We decided to go to the Brinkley Lion as our friends are regular visitors and they rave about the place (If you're reading this guys I'm sorry!) It has to be said that the pub looks fabulous, and the owners obviously spend a great deal of time keeping it looking great. The bar and restaurant are both tastefully decorated and the gardens are all you would want from your country local. I looked at the menu online before we went and was very happy with what I saw. The actual menu we were given was different but this was not a problem, it was the same genre of food. Upon arrival we got drinks (cracking beer by the way) and then decided to look at the menu in the bar. I was fairly sure that there was going to be a specials board somewhere so after five minutes I decided to ask at the bar. "yes there is a specials board in the restaurant, and by the way we have no truffle risotto," was the answer. I wondered how long they were going to let us sit without telling us that. "none of you have got chips with your main course," said the waitress after we had ordered, "would you like to order some chips now or do you want to wait and see if you need them once the food comes?" Never has a more devastating sentence been uttered in an establishment that is charging £15 to £20 for a main course. "we'll take some chips." The starters were actually very good, I had some kind of mackerel with salsa Verde that delighted and I was ready to forgive everything that had gone before. Unfortunately the dish that followed ruined it for me. I can only describe it as 'Delicious, tender, tasty pork shoulder, covered in tasteless crap' I can't remember what the tasteless crap was but I think it included some unfortunate vegetables and some sorry looking beans. The chef is obviously a talented person, I reiterate that the pork itself was absolutely lovely, but all I wanted to do was free it from its sad accompaniments and put it in a roll with some apple sauce. My friends were happy enough with their dishes (duck) but said they were not £15 happy. The chips (which we DEFINITELY needed) looked like someone had tried to make saute potatoes but messed it up half way through and chucked the whole lot in the fryer. Overall we spent just over a ton and came away distinctly uninspired. it's a lovely pub and the staff were, to a man, smiling, friendly and generally nice, but I will not be rushing back.

We travel down from Lutterworth to Glemsford every two weeks and thought it was about time we stopped to investigate what "The Lion" had to offer, with the car park always being busy we hoped they had a table for two available. Giles (the owner) was very accommodating and friendly, welcoming us with cheeky banter. The menu was easy on the eye with adequate choices for both my husband and I, after beautifully presented starters, scrummy main courses and the delicious chef trio dessert, which we obviously shared it was time to carry on with our journey. We will be back soon to taste your fayres again but next time we will book and have more time to savour and enjoy the atmosphere and great hospitality.

I took some friends to the The Brinkley Lion last Sunday, 11th August 2013. The food was excellent and the staff were wonderful.

Excellent food in lovely surroundings. Staff polite & attentive - nothing too much trouble. If you are visiting Newmarket or Cambridge would definitely recommend

'Finger in the air' selection on browsing suitable establishments to host my father-in-law's 80th birthday lunch. I can safely say that Lady Luck was on our side as the Brinkley Lion proved a total success on all fronts. Yes, the weather was perfect allowing us to sit outside with our pre-lunch drinks but the atmosphere, food and service made the day special for my wife's dad and, believe me, he is a hard man to please!The staff were convivial from the off and the day simply got better. We probably over stayed our welcome but it was a special occasion with family travelling from all corners and yet we were never hurried nor harassed in an effort to permit staff to enjoy their Sunday afternoon.The landlord, Giles, is something else. Delightful chap and I can not understand those that have reported negatively on his attention to detail and cheerfulness.Great day, great food, great success!

We have been to the Brinkley Lion several times now, for both lunch and dinner. Whilst we would almost go purely for the entertainment by the landlord Giles, the food and wine has always been excellent.Since being introduced to the Lion by friends it has quickly become one of our favourite places and our default choice for a relaxed family dinner.

Came to The Brinkley Lion with family and friends for Sunday lunch and we all left very happy people! This was the first time any of us had visited the pub and we were all very impressed, gorgeous pub and restaurant with a lovely family friendly garden set in a beautiful village. The majority of the table had starters mains and puddings chosen from the very well presented menu with lots of yummy options even for the vegetarians and fussy eaters! The starters were perfectly cooked and beautiful presented. Between us all we had a bit of everything on the main menu, I had the roast beef which was cooked perfectly, I was impressed that the waitress asked how we wanted the meat cooked, everyone who had the roast lamb was equally happy as were the people who chose something different to the roasts. I loved the fact the vegetables were served separately so we could choose how much we wanted rather than being over powered by veg or not having enough. The puddings were to die for, I had the assiette which was delicious, a little bit of everything! My friend had the sticky toffee pudding, I would recommend going to the pub just for the sticky toffee pudding, the best one I've ever tried!! The pub had a great range of beers and ales which the men were very impressed by and an equally excellent range of wines to keep us ladies happy!The service was brilliant and could not be faulted, the waitresses were very accommodating and couldn't have been more helpful, nothing was too much of a problem for them, when we came to pay the bill (which was very well priced) the waitress made time to talk to us, making sure we had all enjoyed our lunch which was very nice, we never felt rushed. She even complimented us by asking if the 3 ladies were sisters when in fact one of them was the mother (needless to say she left extremely happy!) I really couldn't think of a negative comment to say about this pub, definitely worth a visit and if we didn't live so far away we would be weekly regulars!

my wife and I travelled from leeds on bank holiday sunday 26th may 2013 to visit our daughter who is at the british racing collage to take her out for lunch which I had booked this restaurant in advance our daughter was really looking forward to home cooked good sunday lunch but due to the limited time she had be back at the collage for which needed to be back for 2.30 .we booked our table for 12.15 we arrive at 12noon to give use planty of time to enjoy both our meal and time with our daughter we arrived to a cold recepition we were given the menue which we made our choices of one yorkshire pud and two mackeral pates with two beef and one pork for the mains two deserts only we was shown to our table and our starters arrived, the so called starters arrived with two very small burnt wafer thin toasts with a teaspoon of mush on the top the starter had no taste and was dreadful my daughters yorkshire pud was fine but was spoilt by the coloured water which she was told was gravy when the waiteress arrived we said to her that the starters were dreadful she said she would tell the chef we asked for a basket of bread and was told we dont do bread the mains arrived the beef was rare and very fatty at no time was we asked how we would like our meat cooked i would of myself been happy with pink but my daughter doesnt, my wifes pork was just as fatty and tastless the veg was old yellow caulifower and what was suppose to be gravy was coloured water the meals was sent back with all meat still on the plates again we were asked how the food was and said the most appalling we have ever had at no time did the manager come across t see us infact the manager kept out of the way the rest of the time when it came to pay the bill the manager saw me and walked away as i approached the bar to pay the bill which i paid in full i did say to the waiteress that i would like to see the manager to have a word but was told she wasnt available i said she was very rude and again said how bad the food was.and paid the bill in full the waitress came to my car in the car park to say sorry for the manager and said the chef woulkd like to refund ten pound rwhich was a insult its the responsablity of the manager not the chef if we didnt have our daughter with us we would have left after the starters due the poor quality of food we were staying at the bedford lodge again and had and have had wonderful meals there with a perfect sunday lunch and wish that we had dined there again for the only six pound more for a wonderful food and atmosphere and 100 times better we notice a number of people connected with racing in this restaurant personaly they sould think of changing jockeys to the bedford lodge to have fine quality food too yours s.d mathers

Four generations of our family were warmly welcomed at the Brinkley Lion for a 60th birthday Sunday lunch. Service was very much with a smile (and also prompt!), setting the tone for a relaxing informal atmosphere. The menu featured classy interpretations of the usual Sunday roast favourites, whilst the starters offered a variety of punchy, zesty options (my choice was the excellent Thai Tempura Monkfish Cheeks!) to suit all curiosities.Portion sizes were generous and the quality of the fare, excellent! Desert options satisfied all tastes, with the cheese board not likely to disappoint!Three courses with a coffee to finish + drinks was exceptional value at around £30 per person.I would highly recommend this gem of a pub and are planning for our next visit!