Landlord of the Year 2009
Eat Out Award 2008
Local Food Produce Menu of the Year 2007
AA Pub of the Year 2006
The Red Lion Inn in the village of Stathern surrounded by the beautiful open countryside of The Vale of Belvoir, popular with walkers, riders, cyclists and shooters.
Passionate about local produce; in the kitchen Edward Leslie uses the best local producers and suppliers to supply him with ingredients such as game from Belvoir Castle, sausages from the village butcher, eggs, steaks, chickens, vegetables and fruits sourced from local farms as well as cheeses and bread from nearby dairies and bakers. Creating a daily changing menu to include dishes such as 'Red Lion salad of peppered beef (Blackberry Farm, Clipston) Colston Bassett stilton';'Mrs Kings Melton Mowbray Pork pie with home pickled shallots and piccalilli';'Loin of Venison (Buckminster) parsnip mash, red cabbage, mulled wine sauce'; as well as pub classics; 'Deep fried Whitebait, garlic & lemon mayonnaise; Fish and chips; Red Lion chocolate cherry Eaton mess or Rhubarb crumble, ginger ice-cream.
Relaxed and welcoming with Marcus and Owen overseeing the front of house, the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming a bar full of locals serves local beers on the hand pumps as well as speciality beers on draught such as Leffe and Hoegaarden, and an extensive drinks list offering wines from classic vineyards through to up and coming new world producers, as well as an extensive list of speciality continental bottled beers and ciders all chosen to compliment the food. Mulled wine and roast chestnuts by the open fires in the winter and homemade lemonade, Pimms cocktails whilst we barbecue in the courtyard garden in the summer.
The Village Inn since the 17th Century, when it is said, Charles the 1st death warrant was signed, at the Red Lion, as it was the local squire Francis Hacker who was the Colonel in charge of the Kings execution.
Local Builders, carpenters & decorators spent 3 months re-furbishing the inn, after it was bought in April of 2002, a brand new kitchen was built, the exterior was entirely repainted and the lounge, bar & dining room were redecorated and refurnished. Although the inspiration and standards of quality are the same as The Olive Branch, the Red Lion Inn has its own unique character, a traditional local bar serving real ales, lagers and specialty bottled beers, an informal lounge with magazines, newspapers comfy chairs and sofa, an informal dining area and a more formal and elegant dining room.
Since opening the Red Lion Inn has been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand, was voted Food Pub of the Year in the Publican Pub Food Awards and is the AA Pub of the Year for 2006.
