Charlotte Skidmore visits a country pub that is on the money when it comes to atmosphere

Great British Life: The steak was lovely and tender and was served with a blue cheese sauceThe steak was lovely and tender and was served with a blue cheese sauce (Image: sub)

Walk into The Red Lion Inn in Babcary and you’re greeted by a roaring fire, flagstone floors and all the other elements of a traditional country ‘boozer’.

Delve a little further and you’ll find modern rooms, a cracking menu and some great hand picked wines to boot.

Want a pint of traditional Somerset cider? They have it covered. More of a wine connoisseur? They can cater for that too.

Great British Life: The mussels were so moreish that I wasn't leaving a scrapThe mussels were so moreish that I wasn't leaving a scrap (Image: sub)

Food

Well, what more could I ask for than one of my favourite combinations; mussels and steak?

In fact the mussels to start were so deliciously moreish in their creamy white wine sauce that I couldn’t bear to part with one scrap.

After another helping of bread to mop up just that, every last scrap, I was in food heaven.

On to the main and a nice sirloin steak, perfectly pink in the middle (medium) and my knife just glided through it.

The menu at The Red Lion offers a mixture of traditional favourites like ham, egg and chips and haddock and chips as bar food, while the restaurant serves delights like whole roast red leg of partridge with smoked bacon and carrot puree, girolles, spring greens and champ mash (£16.50). Or how about slow roast belly pork with braised red cabbage, mustard mash, apple sauce and red wine jus (£15.50)?

It’s not cheap, but I have no doubt the quality of any dish this team could serve up will make it worth it.

Accommodation

The Red Lion has six en-suite guest bedrooms, which are in a gorgeous barn-style building next to the main pub.

The new addition stands where the old barn once did and the rooms have been stylishly decorated to keep the cosy feel, but with a touch of modern.

The room we stayed in had a huge comfortable king size bed and a sofa that can pull out into another double.

Our room lacked a bath, which I do enjoy, but that was my fault for not mentioning that upon booking as I know some bedrooms there have them.

In conclusion

Want a few nights away in a lovely traditional village within easy reach of some of Somerset’s main towns? Want a cosy night or two by the fire in the pub and a nice modern room to escape back to? Want some great food and drink thrown in? I think I just found the place for you.

redlionbabcary.co.uk