The Pride of Longdon Green
Restaurant Review.
The Red Lion on the Green, Longdon is a village pub with a twist, which my significant half and I have wanted to try out for a long time. So we decided to book and go for Sunday lunch and give me a well earned rest.
When I phoned to book a table I was pleasantly surprised to find out the Red Lion, is not only child friendly, but we could take our dog Colin, if he was the type to sit under the table quietly. Not a chance if there's food around.
As you approach the pub it really does have that chocolate box look about it, set in lush green countryside and offering a large patio area with seating giving an al fresco feel, plus ample parking with an area for the kids to play. Kevin and Angie have run the Red Lion for two years "We love eating out, and having a boy of 5, we understand how to cater for families wanting fresh cooked food, and from the offset want to make it possible for families to come and enjoy good home cooked food".
We certainly weren't disappointed, when you walk into the bar area there's a real mix of traditional meets contempory, with a cosy area by the fire place to relax and take in the menu with a good glass of wine. The restaurant was already full of families heartily eating away, it's a good job we booked in advance. You can choose from the a la carte menu the specials board or 3 types of roast dinner.
It really is hard to choose. The specials board is full of seasonal goodies, we all decided to try a starter from the specials board, we chose, King Prawns on a Bed of Salad with Ritea dressing, and the Home-Made Chicken Liver Pate with Marmalade Chutney, followed by the Roast Dinner for main. My partner and I decided on the Roast Packington Pork with Crackling and Apple Sauce, and Jacque had the Free Range Chicken with "pigs in blankets", all came with roast potatoes and a dish full of fresh seasonal vegetables. Both dishes were delicious, but I really wish I had the roast beef, the Yorshire puds were huge.
I wondered if I would have room for Dessert, but the temptation was too great, from chocolate bread and butter pudding to rubarb crumble, again all home-made and if you havent got a sweet tooth, there is a great Cheese Board. We went for the baked Alaska, and chocolate bread and
butter pudding.
Unfortunately they had run out of the bread and butter pudding, apparently it is very popular with the regulars (must make a mental note for next time). We decided on the baked Alaska and Jacque had a bowl of ice cream, which is a good job too as the baked Alaska was huge – containing 3 kinds of ice cream on a chocolate cake base and meringue topping, as a pudding lover I was in absolute heaven.
If you're looking to have a relaxing family meal out, the Red Lion ticks all the boxes. Good quality fresh food, reasonably priced, you have the option of ordering child size portions from anything on the menu, friendly helpful staff and plenty of space outside for the kids to run around (once the weather picks up again), there's even talk of a crazy golf course I can already see the competitive dad syndrome coming to the fore.
Deborah Taylor.
Red Lion 'On The Green',
Hay Lane, Longdon Green,
nr Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 4QF.
www.redliononthegreen.co.uk
Reservations on 01543 492906
