The Red Lion Stodmarsh

A quiet country pub under new management. Offering a varied a la carte menu with good choices, plus pub classics and well kept beer. Friendly welcome. Clean and comfortable. All good appeared to be freshly prepared and was well cooked. Outside seating and marquee for cover. Give it a try.

Booked a couple of weeks in advance to have Sunday lunch here with visiting family. Have eaten roast dinner here before and it's always been great. However, an hour before we were due to go to the pub they sent out an email stating that they do not offer a Sunday Lunch!!! Didn't even have the decency, or the balls, to gives us a phone call. Clearly they have had complaints from previous customers who expected to be able to order a Sunday lunch, like they have offered previously and they somehow thought that an email just an hour before our booking was an appropriate method of avoiding any problems when we arrived. Luckily enough for us we had not left home so we were able to alter our plans, cancel the booking and had one of the best Sunday lunches we have ever eaten at a different location (see other reviews), but the Red Lion let themselves down with their thoroughly unprofessional approach and we will not be returning.

The Red Lion is a proper pub with a couple of nicely decorated rooms upstairs. Ours was comfy with an enormous bathroom featuring roll-top bath and rain shower. It's an old building so some sound does carry but this wasn't a problem at all during our stay. I always pack some earplugs when staying above a pub but they weren't needed here. Our room was well aired before arrival and no problem at all to eat outside – both so important as Covid-safe. Another reviewer mentioned the lack of water or tea in the room, and that's true – but it was no problem to get these from the bar as needed, including a very nice jug of fruited water to take up to bed. Similarly the pub having a couple of cats & a dog added to its charm for us, but were easily avoided if you don't like pets. The breakfast was truly excellent, possibly the best I've had at a B&B. The full English featured a selection of homemade and delicious items, cooked perfectly. There was a steady flow of tea and coffee to wash it down, while sitting in the sunshine of the spacious beer garden. Our dinner was also good, with some interesting combinations of local (and foraged) produce. This is a great hideaway for couples looking for a classic pub stay. There's good walking on its doorstep, or you could use it as a rural base to visit nearby Canterbury.

Bedroom was cold...No toiletries, glasses, water, tea making facility. Large bathroom ruined with faeces all over the toilet brush. Fine dining in a pub with locals having a good and load music did not work. Also do you want cats and a dog roaming about. The staff were friendly, but being charged for a cup of tea on arrival was not good hospitality. I have stayed in better places for B&B with an evening meal for half the price