The Red Lion Pub in Cherwell

That was the best time for a long time eating at the restaurant, the friendly staff and Chef Mario recommendation was the best advise,the Piri chicken and the Beff pie was amazing !!

Lovely surroundings, nice atmosphere and dog friendly. This was our second time we have dined here. Had to wait for a little while for a member of staff to notice use and take us to our table (we had booked in advance). Nice menu with plenty of options. Our party enjoyed their meals although my braised lamb shank was quite tough which was disappointing.

My partner & I enjoyed the most beautiful Sunday Roast at ‘The Lion’ yesterday. The food was gorgeous & the staff were wonderful. Janine - and the rest of the Team - went above and beyond to provide an exceptional service. We will definitely be returning. Thank you very much. :)

Good location good parking Waited at bar to be serviced for over 10 minutes no staff to be seen when a girl finally appeared no apology. Shown to table and given menus not very welcoming. Food was very disappointing mushroom started was cold and soggy. Main chicken was dry covered in breadcrumbs which Tasted stale. Coffee to finish was the only thing that was good . This is the third visit seems it’s getting worse each time . Will not be returning again

Elisha absolutely made our evening. She made us all feel special. It was our first visit- not our last 6 friends on a weekend away. Fab food fab ambiance and great staff- what an asset

We stayed overnight at the Lion and had an excellent family evening meal with very friendly and polite service from both Carla and Faye. Would highly recommend!

Very good food and beer. In particular, the desserts are to die for. Easy to find--just South of Bicester close to the M40/A41 interchange.

I stayed here with my family for a few nights and it was nice. The breakfasts were great with a diverse menu which is unusual for pubs! The rooms are lovely, when we visited it was unusually hot but our rooms all had fans. Our first issue was unlike most places you need to display a sign to request your room to be cleaned, which we were not informed about. Upon realising this we did put our signs on our doors but they do fall off, also one of the rooms didn’t receive any more toilet roll so they did run out. Also, amenities like tea, coffee and water weren’t replenished. The pub is gorgeous with lots of little nooks and an amazing grass beer garden. The food was very nice. They have an extensive cocktail list but a couple of cocktails they don’t actually do and when we asked one lady for them she seemed rather put out and unimpressed. One day we ordered champagne which was very nice but the bartender did warn us that the champagne wasn’t refrigerated, but not a big issue as he did warn us beforehand. The pub is dog friendly; resulting in many people bringing their dogs in the beer garden to do their business, despite the fact there’s an adjacent field out the way of people, where they could do this, which wasn’t very nice. Overall we would return and I would recommend.

Came with some friends last Monday evening after not visiting for a while and we definitely wasn’t disappointed , staff was welcoming, food was amazing and service was 10/10 even though it was super busy. can’t fault a thing, the improvement since I last visit a couple months ago is drastic.we be back again very soon.

Absolutely delighted to have found this pub. We are always looking for a good lunch venue which is halfway between myself and two other friends. The food was absolutely delicious and the staff were friendly and welcoming. There was a bit of a blip when we came to pay– a mistake initially by the member of staff taking our payment but one that I should’ve seen too. However he quickly realised, was full of apologies and soon corrected it. Mistakes will always be made but as long as they are corrected in that sort of manner it’s more than acceptable. We enjoyed our visit so much we talked about perhaps coming for an evening meal and staying overnight.

We stayed for one night on a Friday. We had a lovely evening meal in the restaurant with very good service even though the staff were rushed off their feet as it was very busy. The four stars I have given are really for this meal as the accommodation was disappointing. The room itself was fine, very clean and comfortable with a good shower but had I known that the rooms were motel style around the outside courtyard area I wouldn't have booked it. We were on the ground floor and I didn't feel very secure. It was also very noisy with people sat outside very nearby talking and loud music playing. On returning to our room at about 10pm this music was still being piped out and continued until 11.10pm, not great when you have rooms facing onto this area, my husband at this point went over to the pub to ask for it to be turned off. After the evening meal I was looking forward to breakfast but it was rather underwhelming, not very tasty and portions small. I don't think the room was worth £150 taking into account the noise and breakfast. I would however return to eat there if in the area.

Stayed here for a night to visit Bicester Village. Room was excellent, very clean, very well finished, comfortable sleep. Had a lovely meal in the evening, service was very good and quality of food was excellent and was great value for money. Breakfast in the morning was excellent, freshly cooked, not buffet, service was really good. Overall I would highly recommend The Lion, either for a meal or for a stay

We met up with family and had a lovely lunch with great, friendly service. We visit several times a year because it is convenient for everyone, and keep coming back because we get such good service. The food was as usual great. The lunch menus are always good value and they don’t skimp on portion size.

Sunday lunch with friends. Roasts were delicious and generous portions with interesting vegetables. Service was less impressive. Very friendly but we had to prompt at every stage so they didn’t appear very organised.

Managed to fit us in for a Sunday lunch Delicious food, extensive menu friendly efficient service and good value. Lovely old building-all areas spotlessly clean

I booked this pub for a large family get together and it couldn't have been better! The pre order system was great, the staff were friendly and professional and the food was fantastic and everyone in our party had a really good time. Can't recommend The Lion enough and we'll certainly be back in the future.

Last time I visited this venue it was still called the Red Lion. Much has changed in that time and it has now gone from being essentially a village pub which did food to primarily a dining venue-cum-hotel. although they still welcome drinkers and they do occasionally have live music and quiz nights, and there is still a bit of a pubby feel about the place. The sign on the outside says "The Lion near Bicester" - slightly annoying; I really think they should be proud of being in Wendlebury, an attractive village, and emphasise it accordingly, rather than trying to associate with what is no more than a nondescript, unattractive town. The pub is owned by Brakspear's and ales seem to be exclusively those bearing that company's name (now brewed in Wolverhampton). The food is of a very high standard, and priced accordingly. This is not the place to come for relatively cheap pub grub - it's where you would come for that special meal. The appealing menu includes such delights as Pan Roasted Chalk Stream Trout, Pan Roasted Monkfish, Confit Duck Leg Pie, Pave of Venison and so on. These dishes are priced around £20 or a little more but, as they say, you get what you pay for - the food here is of exceptional quality and the service is good. They also do a set lunch menu with two or three course options, which is a bit cheaper but, if I come here, I can't resist the main menu.

Again Fantastic time at Lion , staff very friendly and helpful specially Natalia and the food it’s exactly what I expected just fabulous and delicious, chef Mario recommended venison and was absolutely amazing cook to perfection!!! Another visit another grate time !.

GLORIOUS place. I live nearly three hours away, but visit for food as often as I can (twice last week). The menu is fantastic - something for all tastes (literally), and great for vegetarians. The food is simply delicious. The staff are so friendly (huge thanks to Rachel and her colleagues), as is the local moggy Billy, who likes to pop in. Cannot fault it and will be visiting again as soon as I am able.

A really nice pub in a quiet setting, perfect for a mid-week catch up & were able to choose from a selection of board games to entertain whilst there. A great atmosphere & a charmingly decorated, cosy upmarket vibe. Plenty of parking space too

After driving up from the cross channel ferry that took 5 hrs due to the Easter traffic torrential rain and floods. All that kept me going was the thought of a pint of Brakespear bitter on arrival. That wish was granted and a very fine pint it was. Most of us dream of finding a little gem of a pub with good food ,excellent beer and good accommodation. Well let me whisper this so only you can hear. This is one . Dinner was superb the food and flavours just right . The bedroom a superior double was just that superior with a fantastic walk in shower. Being away from the actual pub means no noise from the pub locals and with a bed that just begs to be slept on i had a great night’s sleep. The breakfast menu almost surpassed the dinner offerings. My poached eggs that nestled of a bed of avocado and sourdough bread were done to perfection a little runny and a little firm . I departed that morning determined to keep the Lion a secret only to be shared with close friends and I promise you I haven’t told anyone else. Honestly .

We were really pleased with all aspects of the service we received here. As a result of a bereavement, we needed to have an important family meeting quite early one Sunday morning at a location all three of us could easily get to. We were so lucky to find The Lion as it provided everything we wanted and more. I phoned up speculatively the week before and the landlord was really helpful and very understanding. When we arrived, Amy, Carla, Fay and the team were equally helpful and welcoming. The location is perfect - a charming rural location five minutes from the A34/M40 junction. The Gallery was a really nice, quiet space for our meeting and we were able to get tea and fruit juice as needed from the bar on a tab. After the meeting, we had a delicious Sunday Roast, plus equally tasty Starters and Desserts, in the restaurant. This was the perfect place for a more informal family catch-up, something that was really important in the circumstances. The restaurant service was very smooth, friendly and efficient. In short, The Lion was just what we needed and, after several hours of desperately trying to find a suitable place in the preceding week, we were so lucky to find it. Highly recommended. Thank you very much to every member of The Lion, Bicester team for doing such a great job.

lovely food friendly staff but they are a cashless establishment. Why? Disappointing. I’d not return for this reason.

Had been planning on coming here for a while but kept having to change plans. Anyway tonight we made it! Saturday nights are not usually a night we book but.. We had starters and mains of steaks and paella. Absolutely delicious. Steaks were tasty and perfectly cooked. Ambience was great, waiting staff were friendly and attentive. We will definitely be going back. Thank you

Food was unbelievably delicious. Varied menu with great selection of choices for all. Happy to customise burger as not a fan of tomato slices or horseradish mayo. The Waygu and Pancetta Burger was out of this world. The onion chutney in the bun complemented the meat perfectly. I wish they sold the chutney as I would have bought some to take home. Hubby had the seafood paella which he said was flavoursome. Shared the Chorizo Scotch Egg starter between is which was also extremely tasty. Bit of a spice to the sausagemeat but not too overpowering that it spoilt the taste. The breadcrumbs on the outer scotch egg were crispy, dry and delicious. Service was quick and friendly. You could easily miss this pub if you are in the Oxford/Bicester area as it’s in a beautifully small village near Bicester hidden behind the A41 but would 100% recommend it if you are looking for a quality meal in this area

Best burger I’ve ever eaten! Lovely surroundings & friendly staff I orders the beef & chorizo burger. It was served in a brioche and sesame bun with horseradish mayo and pickled cucumber and was very tasty. It arrived with piping hot fries that were divine! My friend ordered the same and we both agreed how lovely it was. We then ordered the treacle tart & pecan pie and shared those. They were equally tasty but slightly small portions given the cost. We went at 6.30 on a Friday, so arrived before they were too busy I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend

Shocking !!!!! We sat down for dinner and waited and waited , eventually I had to go and find a waiter who seemed to be more interested in the Ireland V Wales game that was showing in the Bar. We had to then go and find someone else to order drinks. Breakfast was even worse. We waited 20 minutes before we were asked if we wanted tea/coffee, again I had to go and find someone. The young lady did apologise and explained she was on her own. The food was average and only warm when it finally did come. We had planned a later check out and had booked in for Sunday roast. We decided to check out early. We found some where else to get lunch . On checking out I mentioned the mirror in our room was smashed and there was dirty tissues underneath the bed. We probably should of refused to pay. AVOID AT ALL COSTS

Fantastic venue for a catch-up with friends. Top quality accommodation in idyllic location. We enjoyed a lovely evening meal in a buzzing ambience with great service. Although the bar had flooded overnight due to torrential rain, the staff laid on a delicious breakfast for all the guests and still had time for a chat and a laugh. We left after breakfast to head on to our next location and the ‘water girls’ were still sweeping up relentlessly. We will definitely be back - super pub, restaurant & accommodation

Our family has just had the most amazing experience at The Lion. There was 13 in our party celebrating my nephews 30th. Age range 28-86 From the moment we checked in until we left the next day we received tentative, professional, fun support from all the staff, Cameron, Rachel, Amy & Nicole. Our bedrooms were spotless, modern, with an en-suite that was huge. Bed was comfortable, provided with tea and coffee & complimentary bottled water..felt very spoilt. We hired the private dining room, perfect for us. Food was superb and the team at The Lion couldn’t do enough for us. Breakfast the next morning was delicious and catered for all dietary requirements. We loved our time at The Lion we are all going back later in the year. Highly recommend for couples/ families/ friend gathering …go book

Oh the joy of being in a pub/ restaurant again after lockdown and what made it even better was the fabulous welcome and attention we received. Having eaten in this delightful pub many times before we were once again not disappointed. In fact I would go as far to say the best Sunday lunch I’ve had out. It was so nice to be recognised even after these long months. The pub itself is beautifully laid out and a real gem.

Great food & great service in a cosy pub. We sat on the terrace in the sunshine for a long lunch before lockdown.

We popped in shortly after lockdown ended to be met by a very rude man who told us we could't have a drink as there was no room even though best part of the garden was empty, I do believe it was because we had our puppy dog with us but nevertheless there is no need to be rude. I would never go to this place again.

We've now dined & stayed at The Lion three times over the last couple of years and have had nothing but fantastic experiences. The rooms are well kept, clean and the beds have been incredibly comfortable.Our last visit was in September just before the restaurant returned to a full menu. Whilst it was a shorter menu due to supply issues the food was still very good with only the burger not being quite as good as it usually is.The service throughout was excellent and our waiter (Alexander I believe? He'd formerly worked on cruise liners) looked after us incredibly well. When he realised it was our anniversary he brought us a complimentary pudding and glasses of fizz too.We will be coming back.

I have eaten here before and thought I would give it another go. My costly steak was not hot when it arrived. The cut of meat described as a sirloin was not what I expected. It was very flat and filled with sinew that made eating it very difficult. When I mentioned this to the waiter he walked away with no comment. The whole table did receive free desserts as an apology which was appreciated. The service in this restaurant has always been an issue for us. On this last visit we waited approximately 15 mins between courses. Sadly we will not be returning.

This is a very stylish hotel and restaurant. We stayed here for three nights and were very happy. Location in wendlebury is lovely with a large carpark. Our stylish bedroom was delightful and had a very comfy bed. We ate here on the first night and the food and service deserve credit. The staff work very hard. Breakfast each morning was also very good. We had a full english one morning then a continental and finally poached eggs , all very fresh and hot.we would highly recommend staying here if you are in the area.

Came here with my parents and sister on the way back up North while visiting a friend in Wendlebury, who recommended here as a place to eat. What a beautiful setting and the food was exceptional. We had the chateaubriand and the stone bass, followed by coffees and the chocolate bartlett for dessert. What really impressed us also was the Covid safe environment that the team fostered. A special mention to Alexander who gave us the history of some of the dishes!

Amazing food and fabulous service. We were impressed with everything including the professional approach to social distancing. Perfect stop off point on the way to London from the North when in a motorhome... car park is big enough to accommodate. Our dogs were welcomed too. Thank you to Alexander our waiter and the chef.

The Lion is a great place to meet up with friends for a meal. The drinks and service were great, the food fabulous. By the end we had 3 courses and coffee and left with big smiles on our facesThey coped well with 1 of the group who has a gluten allergy.

Perfect ending to our weekend. AlexNdro was amazing, his professionalism, customer service and friendly smile was welcomed after a weekend where we had very bad service from another hotel and it was refreshing to see how passionate he is about service and we will be back and the food was delicious. Speedy service and well priced.

The rooms a very bright and spotless, bathroom has a large shower and of a very good size, the bed is very comfy and he sheets of a high quality.Dinner was table service only due to Covid-19 , we had two Sunday lunch evening meals and a couple of drinks all was good.Breakfast service was great and the food was cooked to perfection.For a nights stay and shopping in Bicester Village or Oxford this is a great village and place to stop.

This was the first dinner we have had out since lockdown was lifted so we were understandably a little nervous about venturing out. All our anxieties were put to rest as soon as we walked into The Lion; we were greeted warmly, they have an excellent one-way system in place through the pub so you do not have to cross-paths with other diners and it seemed as though every detail had been thought about with keeping us all safe. The service was excellent throughout the night - all the staff we were served by were friendly and chatty, we were even offered a complimentary drink as we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. The food was also very good; a nice range of dishes on the menu and the choices we made were very tasty and well-presented. We will be back again, thank you.

Met up with 2 old friends for a beer and a sandwich. There was only one sandwich available. Chicken and Bacon at £10. Grossly overpriced cant comment on quality as did not order at that price.

Lovely food. Great service. Had a meal there yesterday with two friends. Everything was lovely. Staff very helpful and attentive. Food was hot, tasty and well cooked. Was a limited menu, due to Covid I assume, but would definitely go back again.

Just back from a lovely lunch at the Lion. Our 1st venture out and it was great. Food, super, staff lovely and felt very safe. Thank you

Sat 15th Aug and our first date night since before lockdown tonight, and to celebrate our wedding anniversary on 17th. Chose our favourite place to eat out, The Lion, it didn’t disappoint! Fantastic food, as always, the service and ‘social’ arrangements were excellent, everyone was very attentive, which made our trip even more special. We will be back more often now we have ‘broken the ice’. Thank you so much

During Covid we’re all very anxious about eating out, Staff at the Lion we’re amazing! Respectful, understanding and one hell of a Covid safe environment! Highly recommended for surroundings and it goes without saying the food is top notch! Well done guys!

Booked Lion as we were staying in Bicester hotel and spa with little alternatives near by.Idyllic setting,quaint village but management and service were truly terrible. We had to wait for about half an hour to be seated- 6pm booking with virtually no one in the pub. Asked for outdoor table but were denied as they were fully bkd- which was a bit surprising for such an early slot ( we were seated indoors which was unbearably hot ).We ordered our starters pretty much when we arrived ,i.e. 6.30-werent served starters until 7.15 -incredibly slow. Our child was starving -only to be served fish and chips at around 8 pm .....with bones in it. Absolutely unacceptable for a 3 year old !!!It felt like management and staff couldn't care less and in fact werent really able/willing to cope. The worst service i'be had in a while.Such a shame as the village and venue looked lovely-food was ok but when it served 2 hours late with no cuttlery it becomes irrelevant. Sadly- avoid!!!

I am writing this following a pre-booked reservation for Monday 10th August. On that same day I emailed my comments to the pub (as below) and have received no acknowledgement or response which in my book reinforces the review I am giving.To the ManagerI would like to share with you my experience of booking a meal today (10th August) at the Lion.The “app” was not working - the reception person said it does not work Monday - Wednesday because it does not allow the Govt “eat out” deal. So I booked by telephone 388228. And was given a 12.45 arrival time slot. Our name - even though I spelled it out - was booked in incorrectly!We arrived on time; the door queue (understandably) took a little longer as rules were explained but we were seated with menus at 12.50 by the Reception person; asked if we would like water we said yes while looking at the menus.Three more groups arrived after us.The waiter proceeded to take orders from two later arriving tables and ignored us completely; by 13.25 we had NOT been served the water we requested nor had we had our orders taken.I can understand that lunchtime can be busy BUT it is no excuse for not knowing the order to serve tables, NOR to ignore the request for water which DID arrive on other tables.At 13.25 we left, explaining our dissatisfaction to the waiter.Not a good recommendation in these difficult times.RegardsDavid ClaytonThe setting is lovely but totally spoilt by this experience.

Made arrangements to meet an old friend for a couple of drinks and a catch up after lockdown. The lion has a beautiful courtyard and a couple of drinks soon turned into lunch and more than a few drinks! The staff are all friendly and fun and the food delicious (recommend the calmari and chorizo starter, its yummy!) One of my favourite places

Worth a visit with the governments offer of £10. Would have been disappointing at full price. Great starters. Limited choice for mains as at 6.30pm they had run out of some options.(fish and duck). Disappointed as we had booked but were sat in a corner- quite literally looking at the corner and a fire extinguisher.

First time occupant at the Hotel in this establishment for me. Although my wife and her sister and mum have used it before when staying overnight to shop at Bicester Village.We had been here a number of times just for food and generally no complaints. Arrived on Saturday at 3.30pm and were greeted by a young man called Vlad - who didn’t look up from what he was doing as we walked in and offered us “Children’s Menus” clearly meant for someone else who he was expecting in????We were then passed to Charlotte who we found out is the assistant manager and was much more clued up and efficient. She showed us to our room and explained the social distancing rules that they had put in place. We had drinks in the bar and the young lady behind the bar was also very good at her role. However we also booked in for Sunday Lunch and had our two Daughters drive up to join us. We waited an age for a coffee and a tea and even longer for some dipping bread and oil.Then had to ask THREE times for the table to be cleared. The man apparently running the place was just plain lazy in my opinion and was eager to leave any serving or clearing to Vlad or Charlotte. Not impressed by this with the odd exception being the two girl staff!!! I will wait to be invited back by the brand before trying this place again!!!!!

Lovely pub, lovely friendly staff, great food very tasty but too limited, need to have much more choices, worked well on their SD and other silly rules and regs, defo worth a visit

The bar and restaurant are lovely... the food is great as is the wine!We also had a superior room for 2 nights and it was beautiful! Lovely Temple Spa goodies and great, immaculate bathroom. Don’t think twice... just visit!!

The Sunday lunch was very good. The roast beef was very good value for money and the service was of a very high standard. Good covid protection in place to make you feel safe. The app was easy to download and use and worked well.

My wife and I have just spent last Thursday and Friday at the Lion.We ate in the restaurant both evenings. The food was absolutely excellent. We also thought it very good value, well presented and above all, hot, on warm plates.the included breakfast was enormous, and had to be scaled back on the second day! All cooked on a griddle!The drinks menu is extensive and also good value.The staff are some of the most friendly and obliging that we've ever met.Nothing was too much trouble!We shall definitely be staying here again when in need of some retail therapy at the Bicester Village outlet!Well done Lion Team!

fantastic and delicious dinner with my husband. Our last meal here before moving and the waiter was friendly and professional as always.

We have eaten here many times but in the past there has always been a slight snag with one of the meals or no record of a booking. This time on impulse we walked into the bar found a table, ordered and food arrived within 20 minutes without any issues. I had fish and chips which was very good - sometimes chunky chips can be very starchy but these were perfect and the fish was just the right size. Looking forward to coming back.

Spent a night here, rooms are very light, well decorated, clean and comfortable, we also had a meal in the restaurant which I must say was extremely good, to start we had a sharing steak with three cheese fondue, delightful, followed by fillet steak, broccoli and chips with a rocket, red onion and Parmesan salad, wonderfully presented and cooked to perfection, very good wine selection.

The place is very nice and welcoming. We chose to stay at the bar hovewer they have restaurant also.The food....it is amaizing! I recomand the melted cheese, it comes with warm bread.Hummus is excelent, also the fried Hallumi chees. This restaurant it's a must!

Fantastic Food and amazing service Anthony and Alex were the perfect hosts. Highly recommend this pub.

Great place to eat and fantastic service... highly recommend this place...Good selection of food to choose from and good prices!

Came to the lion for dinner with a few friends, we have been before but not for a long time as we meet up annually, when booking the table I rang and spoke to Katie, she was very helpful and arranged for two of our party to stay. The food was exceptional and the service was prompt, I have visited during the week for business and the pie Tuesdays are excellent.Very friendly staff and good service and facilities.

Popped in for a drink and perhaps some lunch on Sunday. Sat in the very pleasant bar and had a pint and a glass of wine. Enquired politely about lunch and was greeted by an extremely rude woman who said ‘nothing were fully booked!’ so I asked if we could eat in the bar (tables set with salt & pepper and menus) but she just barked ‘no...I said we’re fully booked!’. That’s fine but perhaps not being a female Basil Fawlty may help with customer care? I shan’t return.

We visited here today for a family lunch which was over priced for what you had ,apart from a friendly man behind the bar who was happy and polite the rest were almost rude and miserable,no one even asked if our food was ok so here goes the burger was dry and the chips were swimming in fat no one even said thank you or good bye ....I’d strongly suggest that some of the staff need a crash course in customer service and good manors actually cost nothing won’t be going back

⅓ of the way into a 6 hour drive and we felt we deserved more than a service station lunch so did quick search for restaurants near Bicester before we had to get on the motorway. Trip Advisor reviews were very encouraging so without hesitation we headed straight there and it really was only a few minutes diversion for us. We had a very warm welcome on arrival but I was faced with several difficult decisions - firstly which gin to have and then which tonic! A lovely dilemma on a cold Saturday afternoon. His lordship was driving so only I got the pleasure of thE honey gin with cucumber and watermelon (delicious!) Then what to eat? The choice was huge and all of the food was wonderful - ale-battered sustainable haddock and the best chips, and a winter ploughmans with venison sausage roll, pork pie (nothing shop bought here - all fresh with the most wonderful flaky pastry) a carrot soup, toast, cheese and a creamy cheese and leek quiche. Couldn’t fault a thing - even the bill!

I stayed here for work just before Christmas and was so impressed with the level of Comfor in the rooms. The bathroom is great and finished to a high standard, the shower was amazing! Breakfast is great and the Evening meal selection and quality can’t be faulted.

This was the second time we had Christmas lunch at the Lion. The staff are very friendly and helpful especially as we need an accessible table for an elderly relative with mobility problems.

Myself and family went to the lion for a family lunch , to keep this review short and sweet the food was of a good standard but the service was left wanting some attention , as we were the only family (customers) in the restaurant we were surprised to wait on average 35 mins between courses , and when we wanted to drinks we had to track down our own staff as they sat in the other room chatting . So all in all it was an ok experience, lucky we had loads of time to spare .....

We booked one night prior to moving into a new home close by. On their website they had an option to include dogs in the booking but not cats. I emailed them to let them know I would be arriving with 2 cats and they could not have been more welcoming - no charge!

Really great location for Blenheim palace or Bicester village, lovely rooms and great breakfast. Good for the money !

Overall, did we enjoy and would we visit again? Yes, with some extra client focus recommended.

Where to start? It really was a perfect day, from start to finish. Warm, friendly staff, excellent food and a really lovely atmosphere. Anything we asked for.. nothing was too much trouble and they were completely accommodating.

Lovely 2 days spent over New Year’s Eve 2019. 5 couples 4 dogs we couldn’t have been made more welcome. Good food great service . Would definitely recommend & return .

The Lion for Christmas Day Dinner was something we thought would be a rare, albeit, expensive treat for the family.

Stopped at pub after visit to bicester shopping .well I was amazed .clean and welcomed even with dog in tow . Food was excellent and very tasty.

We booked here a few weeks ago with friends for a Sunday lunch. The whole meal was fantastic. The food was delicious, all meals arriving at the same time. The staff were so friendly and professional , highly reccomend.

Visited for Sunday lunch with the family, restaurant is beautiful, service attentive and excellent, we all ate roast dinners which were delicious, perfectly cooked and plentiful. Well done to the whole team. Cannot wait for our next visit.

Went for a business lunch and was surprise to experience great service, served by Alex, good food and very pleasant ambience.

Met our family for Sunday dinner. Its a great pub, really friendly and had a great meal. Great for the dogs too

Given the great reviews, website and the decor, and not least the price, we felt we were in for a treat.

We booked a 1 night stay with breakfast included. Upon arriving we waited at the check in desk, several staff members walked past us many times but completely ignored us, they even stopped to use the laptop right in front of us! Without any acknowledgment! Eventually one of those members of staff checked us in. No apology for being ignored or the wait. The room itself was really pretty and the bathroom was beautiful but it didn't look like housekeeping had been in, apart from making the bed, the bins were all full, the carpet looked like it hadn't been hoovered, they left us less than half a toilet roll and there were cobwebs hanging from both ceilings. Unfortunately for us we only noticed the toilet roll situation when we went back to the room later and the pub was then shut! We ate in the restaurant that evening and service was very slow, despite there being only 2 other tables with people on. We ordered drinks and they still hadn't arrived when we were eating the starter, we had to ask somebody for them again and then they turned up warm ( they were beers!). We then had to find somebody to ask if they had cold ones which strangely they did! The gentleman from Romania was very apologetic and very nice but he was the exception. We went to the bar for breakfast in the morning and ordered 2 full English breakfasts, after we managed to find somebody again, we were given no instructions on helping ourselves to tea and coffee, etc, it wasn't until I asked that the waitress pointed us in the right direction. The breakfast turned up looking very sad on stone cold plates, which made the food cold too. The streaky bacon was so cold and so undercooked it was just chewy fat. Our scrambled eggs were more like scrambled fried eggs! I don't think they had seen a whisk. My husband asked for some tomato and brown sauce and the waitress said she would go and see if they have some?? It's a restaurant! We were also the only people in the restaurant having food so how could it arrive cold? She came back and gave us a small ramakin with about a tablespoon of tomato sauce in it and said there was no brown sauce because they ran out last week! All in all a pretty unenjoyable stay, i did tell the young lady in reception about all the room issues and she said she'd let housekeeping know, no apology though. It is very rare that I give a negative review on here and I feel bad doing it but all the issues above really spoilt our stay here. We were really looking forward to coming but I doubt we would stay here again. Poor service from the staff let down what could be a really nice place. When we tried to check out a gentleman went to get the lady and she let out a huge sigh, rolled her eyes, huffed and said "I'll do it!". We left feeling very unwelcome and like we were a nuisance, everything felt like it was too much trouble. There is also no mobile or internet connection, only the 1 hour free you can get on the pub's wi-fi. The evening meal was ok, but expensive for what we got.

A lovely overnight stay, we chose the Lion for its proximity to Bicester Village only 5 mins drive away. Great value for money on the Winter 20 deal booking direct, which includes full English or Continental breakfast. Our room was spotlessly clean, the bed was huge and extremely comfy and the bathroom was excellent with large walk in shower. We enjoyed an excellent evening meal also, staff are super friendly and efficient...highly recommended!

The place to stay! The accommodation and venue was stunning, finished to a very high standard. The staff can’t do enough for you and were very helpful. We would definitely look to stay here again. Highly recommend!

Really lovely place that ticked all the boxes. Great food, great service, friendly attentive staff, beautiful building and decor inside, dog friendly, reasonably priced for a pub/restaurant of this standard, plenty of parking, nice cocktails included on the drinks list, very pretty bar area with lots of space. We didn’t eat in the restaurant area but it looked really nice. Lovely garden & courtyard at the rear, it was raining on our visit but would be really nice in the summer. A real gem of a place that I look forward to returning to! Highly recommend

A great hotel, lovely traditional bar, the hotel room was 5 star with comfy bed and amazing shower. Breakfast and dinner were exceptional and the staff were very friendly and helpful throughout our stay. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting the Bicester area.

Fantastic menu, thank you to Anthony for assisting in our choices both the fish and burger were wonderful. Thank you also to Alex for your dedicated five star service.

We met for a Sunday lunch here as it was convenient for people travelling from the midlands & the south.

I have been to The Lion a few times now and I am always disappointed with the service. The food I had always been pretty good and this has kept me coming back. However, the service is a shocker.... every time!! This time after we were seated we waited 20 mins for our order to be taken, this included drinks. Halfway through me eating my meal they tried to clear the plates... finally we waited an hour to receive a dessert menu and that was only after I asked!!

I'm currently staying here and whilst the rooms are lovely, spacious and clean the food is a huge disappointment. I stayed here in Feb and loved in hense the return visit however when we arrived last night and ordered food not only were the vegetables stone cold but the meat wasnt cooked to my liking even after sending it back once because of the exactly reasons mentioned.

Party of 5 .. seats very uncomfortable ... items missing from our starters as described on the menu .. didn’t realise until after the meal... main meal came on cold plates.. will not visit again as meal was not inexpensive or value for money

Have stayed here on a number of occasions for business. Rooms are small but very new and clean. Food is good and reasonably priced. The staff are generally freindly and helpful apart from one person who may be the manager. She was never outwardly rude but from the moment of check-in myself and my colleagues felt that she seemed abrupt and somewhat "off". Considering the friendly attitude of the rest of the staff, she might do well to lead by example.

Overnight stay with evening meal and breakfast at this charming, idyllic pub/hotel that was friendly and welcoming. The room (# 12) had lovely decor that was fresh and stylish; the bed was amazingly comfortable and we had a great night’s sleep. Dinner and breakfast were spot on with lots of choice and excellent service. Definitely worth a visit.

A fabulous evening and overnight stay at this gorgeous place. The staff couldn’t do enough for us, the food was excellent and a lovely ambience. We stayed in room 12 - spotlessly clean, super comfy bed and a cracking shower. Will definitely be back - highly recommended.

My husband & I stayed overnight in this pretty English country pub. On entering we were welcomed by a friendly receptionist, a cosy bar and an inviting log fire. Perfect on a cold November day!

We had a great night away with friends. Arrived in to a lovely bar area followed by an evening meal. We stayed in one of the rooms overnight which was to a good standard.

Last Sunday my family of 10 including children, had a lovely Sunday roast. Anthony and his staff were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble. The pub has a lovely atmosphere, you feel very welcomed.

Friendly staff and lovely pub. Food was superb! Thoroughly enjoyed our starter of baked Camembert. Accommodated my Gluten free requirements. Tender and moist flat iron steak cooked just the way I liked it and my friend really enjoyed the battered cod and chips!

Fantastic overnight stay with excellent breakfast. did not have dinner but it looked as good as breakfast, and the beer was good!

Popped along because of our Airbnb recommended a visit, really pleasant evening and great service. Food was delicious and we'll presented. Our evening wasn't wasted. Thanks

We went to Bicester Village and wanted to go somewhere local for some pub food. The food was amazing and would definitely go back, lovely old country pub too