The Red Lion, Peppard Common in South Oxfordshire

What isn't to love about this jewel of a pub, without the exception of some of the local roads that is? We found this gem of an establishment a while back when a booking at a nearby pub had to be cancelled and they recommended the Red Lion. On our latest visit, we met up with relatives from Battersea for lunch on a cold, very wet Saturday lunchtime, weather courtesy of Storm Bert. From the minute we walked through the door, we were greeted by the welcoming landlord and members of his team. Being dog friendly, as soon as we were seated at our table, our accompanying Golden Doodle summer was treated to a bowl of water and even some doggie snacks from the bar. The was a good choice of real ales from the bar and the menu, was usefully concise and yet loaded with lovely dishes to tempt us. By coincidence, we all, one by one ordered the fish and chips and our post meal comments varied from "brilliant" to the "best I've had for years". Service throughout the meal was attentive, polite and so friendly. And to top it all, the bill was very reasonable considering the quality of the food, beer in fact the whole experience. I note that their website states: " Everything we do at The Red Lion is evaluated through the lens of asking ourselves whether or not it'll make people return". Well they certainly knocked that one out of the park for us, we'll be returning as soon as we can and we live over 100 miles away(!). If a two hundred mile round trip for lunch isn't a recommendation, I don't know what is!

Excellent experience at the red lion. The roast dinner was one of the best we have had at a pub. The desserts were extremely tasty and everything looked amazing and had a finishing touch. The atmosphere was very traditional and service from the waiters I could not fault. The staff were extremely friendly and always on hand at the right time. Would highly recommend this hidden gem of a pub

A real gem. Good food, beautifully presented in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We went for lunch and were impressed by the menu and great service.

We came here as guests of a large private party, and were blown away by the service. The staff are AMAZING; I really can’t emphasise the customer care, from absolutely everyone too. Also, as a coeliac, we were thrilled that they were totally clued up on the requirements, and were able to cater for this with no drama, as well as pointing out GF beers and ciders. I can’t recommend highly enough, and we will be back!!

One of the best meals out we've had in a long time. I had the oyster mushroom and my husband had the belly pork. Both were superb And the service was brilliant. Thank you for a lovely occasion.

We enjoyed another lovely meal at the Red Lion. The interiors, welcome and general atmosphere are warm and inviting. Good Oxfordshire beers, Laithwaites wines and hearty dishes are the main elements of the dining experience. I think since our last visits there are less flourishes, but there remain some lovely surprises, like the feta bonbon with the lamb rump. Leave some room for dessert as the delice is amazing. At the weekend booking is essential.

Sunday lunch was exceptional. The staff were very professional, knowledgable, and smiley. They’re fairly young yet very mature. Great wine choice, plenty of food choices. The manager Max was very professional. A gem of a place to got for food and you won’t be disappointed. 5*

I went to The Red Lion with my Dad for Sunday Lunch. We were greeted by a big smile from the manager. We both had the Sunday roast. Pork and the chicken. It was the best roast I have had for a very long time. The staff were very friendly and efficient. I will definitely be visiting again.

Enjoyed a meal at the Red Lion with friends this week. Mains and puds were all really enjoyed with a nice bottle of pinot noir. Great experience.

Outstanding dinner, following a fun wine-tasting in the 'tent'. Had the flat-iron steaks, which were superbly cooked, and served with seared baby-gem lettuce. Really excellent. Great atmos, buzzy atmos, and attentive service. Been several times, always great, and you feel 'looked-after'. Peppard is lucky to have the Red Lion. Tom wasn't there, but when he is, he's a great host. Exceptional local, and worth a trip from afar.

Really well cooked dishes with a twist. Makes a lovely change. Try the beetroot and fennel smoked salmon and the rump of beef. Staff great too, which made for a fantastic lunch. Well done guys. We will be back. Makes a nice change from the other local pubs.

Had the most delicious meal thanks to the amazing staff who were very efficient and friendly. We will definitely be coming again and highly recommend this pub! Big thanks to Grace Will and Max!!

My family and I visited this pub on a warm Sunday afternoon and we were delighted with the entire experience. We were blown away by their Sunday Lunch, which was made even better by the accompaniment of a local beer. We were all well looked after by a set of smily and knowledgeable staff, and they made sure the whole afternoon went smoothly. Overall, a 10/10 experience and will definitely visit again soon!

Yet AGAIN another fantastic meal and overall experience from the team at the red lion !! We so love our time at this perfect venue ! The team make us feel welcome and valued ! The food is off the charts and the atmosphere and setting is just perfect 👌🏻 100% my favourite pub / restaurant/ go to place !! Keep it up guys ! Special thanks to manager Tom always welcoming and a great host.

Visited with family for Sunday lunch. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a meal as much as this! Great food, well kept beer and a sensible wine list. All of this topped off by a team of friendly helpful young staff. Excellent!

We came here for lunch with extended family in the Easter holidays. The food and waiting staff were amazing. Will and Max looked after our every need, including my son’s off menu dessert!! I can highly recommend the pork main dish, the crackling was the best I’ve eaten. Compliments to the chef. Lovely pub, lovely atmosphere, lovely food. We will be back.

A very enjoyable evening good service from Hannah and Tom. The food was delicious and we will certainly be returning in the near future when visiting family.

We visited The Red Lion on a recommendation and were not disappointed. Such a gorgeous country pub and restaurant. We were warmly greeted with a big smile from Tom behind the bar and then shown to our reserved table. The waiting team were great , polite, attentive and professional. My starter ,from the special menu,was delicious. I can’t remember exactly what it was called but it was a creamy ball of cheese in a crispy crumb with a sweet chutney. I had a medium sirloin steak for main course with a creamy, smooth peppercorn sauce. It was cooked to perfection. For dessert I chose Blood Orange Parfait,white chocolate soil,blood orange gel. A dessert to die for in my opinion. The parfait was perfectly balanced with the white chocolate soil which had almost a white chocolate shortcake flavour to it. My mother in law really wanted an Affogato dessert ,which was not on the menu but Hannah ,Tom and the team were happy to accommodate. Looking forward to returning with friends soon. Thankyou for a lovely evening.

Fantastic night Great food New menu this week and we all had wonderful starters and main courses Usual efficient service

We recently visited The Red Lion at Peppard Common on a Tuesday evening to try their new menu, and it was an absolute delight. We opted for the pork chop and the red mullet with lobster and romesco sauce, both of which were incredibly delicious. For Dessert, the option of a single scoop of salted caramel ice cream was a perfect ending to our meal. The ambiance of the pub was charmingly cosy with its traditional, old-worldy decor and lit candles on every table. The staff were not only lovely but also very knowledgeable about the food they were serving, and their attentiveness added to the overall positive experience. The Pinot Grigio we chose paired wonderfully with our dishes, especially complementing the flavours of the cured salmon and stem ginger starter. The pork chop was generously sized, juicy, and cooked to perfection, perfectly complemented by the sage cream sauce. Having previously visited for their renowned chips, we were thrilled to return for a proper meal and were completely blown away. The recommendations from others about the pub only added to our confidence in choosing it, and we can't wait to return again. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience!

Great food, great service and great atmosphere. Lovely evening dinner with the family. Big thanks to Hannah and Max for looking after us so well.

Fabulous food, fabulous drinks and fabulous service. We always enjoy our meals here and it was particularly delicious this time. Thank you.

I took 16 people there for dinner on a Tuesday night. The whole evening was excellent and enjoyed by all the team. The food was superb, all courses were great. The service from Tom and his team was just so helpful and polite. It has become our ‘go to’ pub and always a great evening.

Service was super efficient at a very busy lunchtime. The food was excellent ( roast beef) in a really quintessential English country pub.

Had a valentine's night dinner, as well as visiting for a few Sunday roasts previously. Always top shelf service, personable staff and an ever evolving menu, great stuff all round

Very disappointing lunch. Three of us all had the artichoke, squash, salad, which was mainly carrots, undercooked artichoke and little else, all for £14.50! It could have worked with bit more imagination and culinary skill, ie more flavour, texture added. Service was good on the positive side, but I would not recommend this pub.

Amazing fresh food, cosy, welcoming professional staff. Warm atmosphere Popular village pub with excellent small menu.

We had a really lovely Valentine's evening meal out at the Red Lion. We ate from the Valentine's specials menu and the food and cooking were genuinely superb. We had a baked camembert with a lovely apple and fig relish and super toasted French bread. Our main course was a Chateaubriand which was the best steak I can ever remember. And the dessert, a kind of strawberry cheesecake with fresh fruit and a side of white chocolate ganache, was so delicious we ordered a second portion to take home with us! Our server Emma was friendly, helpful and efficient. We will definitely be back!!

Fabulous food, very attentive staff a very welcome addition to the area! Book in advance as they get busy. Would highly recommend for families or friends get together.

Excellent pub, delicious lunch in a cosy environment. The food really was delicious…. I had two a starter of mackerel with fennel and a side of cabbage. Both were really tasty and perfectly cooked. Staff were great.

We came to the Red Lion for a wake after a burial of our dear friend and colleague in the local Woodland Burial Ground. The team managed to turn a very sad occasion into a positive and pleasant experience. The food was fresh, tasty and...

We moved to the area just over a year ago and have been regulars to the Red Lion ever since. We just can’t fault the place! The pub is gorgeous, really welcoming and cosy, the food outstanding and a Saturday morning walk with the dogs...

I visited this wonderful little pub yesterday with my family. The staff were all very friendly and very accommodating. The Sunday roast was absolutely outstanding. We all had lamb for two sharing boards. The presentation was 10 out of 10 and the taste was delicious....

The atmosphere was so relaxed, even though they were quite busy. All of the staff were smiling and nothing seemed a problem. We only went for dinner, but landed up staying 2 1/2 hours as we were all very happy. The food was scrumptious and...

As promised, we returned to the Red Lion for a working lunch. They had an excellent Christmas Ruby beer available, which I can definitely recommend, as well as the usual wide range of beers. We ordered the Lamb Rump with Shoulder Croquette plus the Belly...

Lovely pub, good food,good service. The only criticism was 12.5 % service charge added to the bill. I work in catering and I know hiw important tips are but I prefer to choose when and how much to give. Otherwise couldn't fault it.

Very good pub-restaurant with attentive and charming service. We were well looked after and will be happy to visit again.

Had a delicious evening meal here with local friends. Starter, main, and dessert. Would definitely recommend. Thanks to Tom and the team.

The pub is open for cakes and coffee (which I had after a dog walk on another occasion and it was delicious!), open for lunch and also dinner. The food is quite simply, outstanding. The wine list is fantastic and the cocktails were delicious. We...

A great welcome, food and atmosphere. We wanted a good lite lunch with my Mother. She had the Mussels which were excellent whilst I had the steak sandwich. The service was great and the place comes highly recommend. Can’t fault it.

What a gorgeous lunch! I went with my husband and we enjoyed a very lovely meal, in this cosy, modern pub. The ambience was warm, relaxed and friendly, where we felt comfortable and welcome. The food was outstanding. We shared a starter of delicious Cornish...

First time to this excellent revitalised pub/restaurant. We shared two starter dishes between the four of us, lovely, and the mains were all delicious; my burger beautifully tender, quality meat, and left pretty much alone, not spiced up, thank heavens. Other dishes chosen were fish...

The food and service were both excellent. Probably the best fish and chips I’ve ever had. The daily special was also first rate.

Just the BEST Sunday roast at a pub I've had in years! Absolutely gorgeous, from the start, with the amazing Immas soda bread then the slow roast lamb, gorgeous, succulent and NOT fatty! Staff were lovely, helpful, efficient and inovbtrusive. I will be back!

The menu has been prepared by a culinary chef. Taste and presentation is outstanding, the food is worthy of Michelin star rating. Completely unexpected to find this gem pub in this location. Cocktails mixed to the high standards of London bar. Service is personal and...

Lovely lunch. Didn't realise this lovely place was here. Staff helpful and food was amazing. I had mussels and fries. Will definitely return.

Excellent mid week meal with the family, tried the new menu and all the mains were delicious. We had the hake, the burger and the pork. All were excellent …… Ambience great as always, lovely warm fire and great beer. Highly recommended!

Excellent flat iron steak sandwich snd Fish and chips for lunch. Lovely pint of bitter (Abingdon bridge). Staff are attentive and knowledgeable. Will definitely be back soon

Went to the Red Lion for a working lunch, our first visit here. Greated with an extensive line up of draft beverages from the Loose Cannon Brewery. The barman was only too happy to provid us with samples in order to narrow down our choices...

Simply delicious food - very generous portion of Fowey mussels, steak sandwich and pork belly - super nice staff and based on taste and portions we thought great value for money, definitely will return

Good quality roast dinner (pork seemed the better option between the beef on our visit), the kids menu gave lots of good options, and the desserts were excellent. The venue itself was lovely, with friendly, attentive and professional service. All in all, great pub and...

Have had a few wonderful meals here with family and friends since they opened. They have done a fabulous job converting this old pub into a modern but homely restaurant. The bang bang cauliflower starter is a big favourite as is the lamb croquette which...

We used the marquee to hold my daughter and new husband’s wedding reception,the setting was superb, food, service and everything about the day was brilliant, nothing was too much trouble for Tom and his staff , went that extra mile to make the occasion special

Atmosphere for evening meal was good, staff were very welcoming and friendly, food was excellent and great value for money, service from Farah was great, polite and friendly Will definitely return

Super menu- we had mackerel starter which was delicious and some very good side orders (truffle fries, broccoli - bit undercooked and cold but good sesame dressing and grilled courgettes). Pudding was good quality ice cream but there were other lovely puds on the menu....

A return visit to this relatively new arrival in the local dining scene confirmed my initial view that this is a really good bistro pub. The interior is lovely — polished wood floors, candles, a cosy feel. The food is slightly predictable - burgers, fish...

This is our 'local' and it is brilliant! Something for everyone - great food, great beer, fine wine, great staff and it has quickly become the centre of the community We recently took some Aussie friends and it made us realise quite what a gem...

Exceptional meal, fantastic chef and service. Would highly recommend. We have been there twice recently and by far it is the best food in the area.

Great food . However really expensive for the amount !!! very clean lovely service . Nice wine menu

We'd held back for far too long, on the assumption primarily of cost. Well, it wasn't as expensive as feared, but at the same time the quality of the food was a step up on one's average 'pub' restaurant experience. We concluded that this is...

If you’re looking for a classy gastro pub that delivers exceptional quality food then it has to be the Red Loin. We had popped in for a quick post dog walk drink after it had just been refurbished and we had promised to come back...

On entering the Red Lion pub we were greeted very warmly. We haven’t visited the pub for at least a couple of years but on this performance we will be back very soon. We went on Sunday and can confirm it’s right up there with...

Excellent pub/restaurant: Friendly service; quality food; variety of beers etc; large and sunny garden; plenty of parking outside.

The staff at The Red Lion did an amazing job on Sunday 25th June at our lunch for 50 in the marquee. Nothing was too much trouble. The food was amazing. Thank you to all the staff and in particular Tom and David who made...

It’s been too long baby !!!! We visited the red lion and was delighted to see the place is thriving under the leadership of manager Tom. He instantly remembered us and welcomed us with a smile and a handshake which made us feel at home...

This is the third time this year that we've been here to meet our friends for lunch and on this occasion as on the others, the service from the waitress and from the manager was excellent and polite. They couldn't be more helpful. Oh, and...

We had the most fabulous Sunday lunch here. We ordered the lamb and it was simply one of the best roast lamb dishes we've ever had. We will most certainly return.

Great service but let down by small portion and misleading pricing. Lovely evening to dine out in the garden and everything was fine until the bill arrived. We chose the cote du boeuf but did not appreciate the price was per person. £65 for such...

Checked out the menu and whilst the roast dinner was expensive we thought due to it always appearing busy we would give it a try after our usual trip to the churchyard. Food was in our opinion average with the roast potatoes ‘well done’ as...

An off the cuff visit are going to NT Greys Court to see bluebells which were great, but this was excellent. Great service from walking through the door, beautifully refurbished and outstanding food. Thanks to Tom W for looking after us so we’ll. cheers, we’ll...

The quality of food was cooked to perfection and the service was excellent. We will be back for more…..even for a Sunday roast.

We've visited The Red Lion a few times now since it has been reopened and have had a great experience every time. The staff are always welcoming and very accommodating and the food is delicious. Good value wines and great coffee as well! Keep up...

Came with my friend for a birthday Sunday roast! The food was amazing as always, and the staff were incredible! Will definitely be returning soon and spreading the word!! ⭐️⭐️

We have always judged pub Sunday Lunches by the quality of the vegetables and roast potatoes. And guess what, we have trouble finding many places in the area we'd go back to. The Red Lion Sunday Lunch is fantastic and now that Luscombes has closed...

One of the BEST roasts I have ever had! Our local pub and we LOVE it there ! The staff are always so friendly and the food is delicious. Would highly recommend :)

We had a wonderful evening at the Red Lion. Friendly welcoming staff with. Good buzz atmosphere. The Chateaubriand was exceptional well presented on a wooden platter … beautifully cooked medium rare. The only disappointment we had was there was no Shepherd’s Pie and only 1...

Nice country pub with plenty of parking. We came with local friends, having heard that it has a good reputation. 3 of us had the Bakehouse Sourdough starter and we were disappointed with this. The sourdough had been toasted to the level that it was...

Great spot for Sunday lunch. Drinks outside in the pub garden and lunch in the cosy indoor space. We’d been recommended the sharing lamb roast and it didn’t disappoint. Great wine - Puglian red is a favourite. Presentation, service and atmosphere was high quality. I...

What a great renovation and makeover this pub has had. I come here while my son plays evening tennis and the beer is always excellent, the staff are always so attentive and knowledgeable. Will be back with the family for dinner.

We love the Red Lion, can’t wait to go back. To see how it has been renovated to bring life back to a lovely old pub has been amazing. The inside has been lovingly restored but still has that old pub welcoming feel. The garden...

The Red Lion Team …very kindly hosted my daughters 8th birthday party this past Sunday. The venue was wonderfully dressed. The pop up tent(think large tipi/marquee)had beautiful lighting and a warm cosy family vibe. The tipi leads onto a safe outdoor garden which is perfect...

We’ve visited in the summer when it opened and throughout the winter months too. They've done a fantastic job. The Red Lion offers that rare balance of a pub feel with beer to match the best ale houses, alongside fantastic food that is clearly well...

Recently visited with friends for lunch and everything was on point - lovely decor, great service and really tasty food! We will absolutely be back!

Went the red lion a few weeks back for a mates bday, and had a fantastic time. Lovely cosey pub. Food was excellent which I find hard to find these days at pubs (get the shepherds pie it’s off the scale). Also do great cocktails....

Dropped in for lunch after our original destination was closed. We had visited the Red Lion some years ago, intending to eat, but ended up just having a drink as it was all a bit underwhelming... What a transformation! Really smartly done up. Friendly and...

Beautiful venue and scenery, incredible food. A wonderful Friday date night. Service absolutely spot on and a lovely Irish coffee to finish.

Our party of four had lunch at this lovely pub today. The food was excellent and the service could not be faulted - a little gem of a place, and one we will definitely return to.

We were blessed with the very best possible experience at The Red Lion when we took a lunch time booking for 4 recently. The staff were amazing and the food utterly delicious. We jokingly mentioned our friend celebrating her birthday and she was presented with...

Only popped in for a couple of pints. But could tell immediately this place is special. The staff were so nice to me. And the lager (called 676?) was one of the best I've drunk all year--lush, orangy-coloured, a little hazy. And what is better...

Visited today for a family get-together lunch. A lovely refurbishment, great food and charming service. The spiced plum crumble was divine. Could have stayed all afternoon and had tea, and the delicious home made cakes displayed on the bar! We have booked for Sunday Lunch....

A lovely local pub with a great atmosphere. Cosy with excellent food - we had the Xmas lunch menu and the steak was perfectly cooked. Good wine list and nice staff. Bravo!

Slightly loathed to leave a review as I want to keep going back and be able to book a table! But the secret is clearly out. These guys really know their stuff - absolutely wonderful food and drink with excellent service. I cannot recommend highly...

I run a local Nordic Walking Group in the Chilterns and booked lunch for 25 today The he food and service were excellent and nothing was too much for them. The menu catered for all needs and they were very flexible with number of courses....

We had lunch and it was £95 per couple including what I think was 12.5% service. Two courses plus two desserts, couple of proseccos and some beer. The specials included (market fish of the day) sea bass - a couple of quid at the supermarket,...

Fabulous friendly service. Nice buzz and feel to the place. Many of the specials were gone. Menu feels small when dishes are exhausted but a sign of popularity. Onion soup was average and battered fish and chips ok. Fish cakes and chicken supreme all just...

After a long period closed for refurbishment the Red Lion is back, now more as a bistro pub/restaurant than a pub. The interior is wood floors, candles, large wooden tables, creating a lovely atmosphere reminiscent of times gone by. But the food is bang up...

This is a great establishment with top quality food and beverages, The place is clean and well run. Service is superb and a real pleasure to be there. The particular waitress serving us was so good and attentive I was happy to give her a...

Just had a very good Sunday lunch. Quality food with just the right amount. Very good service and nice wine. Very pleasant dining pub. Definitely recommend this place. Good decor too

First visit since reopening last Friday evening. Very busy which was great to see but service was top notch throughout; very friendly and attentive. Food was excellent; not the biggest portions but high quality. Small menu; about 4 or 5 choices for each course. Definitely...

Spur of the moment visit. Sat in garden for late summer lunch. Opted for the Roast Beef… Absolutely delicious as were the veggies. Desserts beautiful presented and tasted just as good. Staff very friendly and accommodating. Will be back