The Red Lion

Set in Earsdon, The Red Lion champions hearty, crowd-pleasing cooking with a streak of wanderlust.

This is a kitchen that leans into bold, familiar flavours, then tips its hat to the Mediterranean, the subcontinent and beyond, all while keeping things comforting and generous. The mood is relaxed and inclusive, with little diners well catered for, making it as handy for family outings as it is for easy lunches and unfussy weeknights.

Starters glide from garlicky prawns to honey-glazed chicken thighs, easing into mains where tender chicken meets chorizo with a side of garlic bread, and pork belly lands on creamy mash with green beans. Flatbreads arrive hot and fragrant, topped with cheese and spinach or a lick of chicken tikka.

Burgers run from cheese and bacon to a deft plant-based number. For something lighter, there is a homemade soup of the day or a hummus and roasted veg sandwich, while chips come either hand cut or triple cooked and smothered in cheese. To finish, think bite-size brownies with cream or a classic ice cream sundae.

Gather the gang, follow your appetite, and settle in for simple pleasures done right.