please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Not a great change from last visit - had a decent pint of Exeter bitter, was served in turn by diligent staff. Inside area still had same 'local pub for local people' feel but the outside area by the canal was just right for a sunny day. There's a swing bridge to get you across to the tow path side of the canal which you may sometimes have to move back.
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I was in the area for a MK Dons game so this was the perfect chance to tick this friendly community pub.
We arrived after a 20 minute walk from the stadium in the pouring rain, greeted warmly by the landlord and a few chatty locals.
There is 1 bar that serves the 2 very different rooms, both of them had live rugby on. In the larger bar area there’s a pool table which helped pass the time while we enjoyed our beers and kept out the rain.
3 ales as well as Old Rosie on the hand pumps. The 3 pints of Rudgate’s Ruby Mild were all on very good form.
The Red Lion overlooks a lock but on the day we visited the rain was so bad you could barely see outside. The welcome is warm inside as was the fire that was on. The ales are good and being under a 2 minute walk from Fenny Stratford station the location couldn’t be any better.
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The landlord of this pub is the most obnoxious rude person I have ever had the misfortune to meet. So best avoid this Punch Taverns pub
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Excellent beer, excellent setting alongside the Grand Union Lock 22. Nice beer garden, recently refurbished both outside and in. Locals very friendly and happy to give directions and recommendations to local restaurants. Well worth a visit if you like your real ales (3 hand pumps) or ciders 2 scrumpies and a perry on offer.
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A real gem of a pub with a friendly atmosphere. Inside the Grade II listed building, the main bar area has various seating, a pool table, duke box and a large screen TV showing live rugby/football matches. It can get quite busy at weekends and a further room is available for those busier occasions. An open fire is also used during the winter months.
Externally, the pub has had a facelift and it now looks splendid with its new coat of white paint and striking red lion. The garden is right on the edge of the Grand Union canal and is a lovely place to spend a few hours on a sunny afternoon watching the boats go by.
Two regularly changing real ales are offered with a further hand pump being brought into use on Fridays and the weekend. These range from mainstream brewers to some of the more obscure and smaller breweries with a few nice surprises being discovered on some visits, such as Kelham Island ‘Pale Rider’, Harviestoun ‘Old Engine Oil’ and Inveralmond ‘Thrappledouser. Future beers include Wooden Hand Brewery’s ‘Cornish Mutiny’ and Whale Ale Co’s ‘Premium Amber’.
The landlord certainly knows how to look after his cellar with the beers always being served in tip-top condition. Ciders.... are Strongbow and Westons Old Rosie, with a few bottled ciders also on offer.
The pub was awarded MK and North Bucks Pub of the Year in 2010 and is Good Beer Guide listed. It’s also dog friendly and well worth a visit.
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First time ever at this pub and we took some friends with us as it was recommended by the Good Beer Guide - what a dump!! Down a side road by the industrial units and although in a potentially great location by the canal lock this is a very down-at-heel boozer and not what we expected. The beer choice was poor with really only one "guest ale" to talk about (An Orkney Pale Ale) the others being standard national brands. We got the feeling that the pub might be in the processs of changing hands? Main bar had blaring music and a bunch of lager-drinking blokes playing pool so we went outside via the grotty gazebo into the canalside "garden" which had a few flowers but as many weeds and nettles around it. Toilets were basic. Shall not be going back unless it gets a complete re-fit.
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A slightly down at heel boozer which when approached by car is in an uninspiring location down a dead end street in the middle of an industrial estate. Once you're there though, or if approaching by boat or along the towpath, you find an idyllic location alongside the canal, immediately adjacent to the lock, a small hand-operated swing bridge and opposite what was presumably at one time the lock-keepers cottage.
The main bar area is fairly non-descript with cream plasterwork on the walls, bench seating around the perimeter, old blue carpet on the floor, a small brick fire-place to one side with a plasma stuck on the wall above it, although this was not in use when I visited. Off to the right is a pool table and somewhat unusually a lighting rig and glitter ball on the ceiling, perhaps hinting at a slightly livelier atmosphere on occasions.
To the left is a smaller room with a darts board, another plasma and a fruit machine. A selection of 80's music was playing. Outside is a garden with several benches to make the most of the location, along with a small marquee for more inclement weather. It was fairly quiet on a recent early Tuesday evening visit, with just three or four locals sat at the bar using some rather colourful language.
Beers on tap were a little disappointing considering the Camra accolades that the pub has received, and were just Tribute and Wharf Bank Brewery's Best Bitter. A third pump clip advertised a Honey Blond beer that was apparently "coming Friday". Ciders were Strongbow and Weston's Old Rosie. The pub does not offer any food, which is somewhat unusual given it's location.
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Very friendly pub landlord likes his real ales and sport ,rugby ,football ,cricket ,
dog friendly, beer garden over looking the lock on the Grand Union Cannal, pool table,dart board,and juke box, car park and a quiet location
bow50 - 25 Oct 2012 12:14 |
Excellent locals' pub and on our visit, we were regaled with tales of pre- and post- new town life - hunting, pies and discotheques - by an Uncle Junior Soprano lookalike. A few frames of pool became shabbier in quality as each successive pint of the superb Hopfest went down - and these folks certainly know how to keep an ale. Friendly and welcoming and a great location beside the Grand Union canal as it trickles its way northward to Braunston.
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Canel side pub Nice friendly landlord / landlady good range of beers two real ales on rotation good for away supporters visiting MK Dons. Sky sports tv ,pool table and good outside covered area for summer use.
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Very good selection of REAL ALE's and ciders. One pump changes weekly and all three pumps will be changed around 6-8weeks I think. Good atmosphere and show's live Rugby and Cricket which is good.
porch - 29 Sep 2011 11:00 |
Stayed nearby and visited over the weekend. Found the four real ales well kept and i particularly liked the Otter Bright. The landlord and locals were friendly and if down this way definately worth a visit. Camra pub of the year (local branch) 2010.
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visited this pub last week not very friendly. landlord grumpy.real ales very good.but lagers not nice
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Excellent traditional pub situated on the Grand Union canal. At least four ales on when I visited including Hobgoblin and Henry's IPA. Informally split into two bars, one showing rugby and the other football when I was there. Pool table and darts available.
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A pleasant place to drink, no bar meals but servers the ususal snacks. This is a plus for me as I dont want a food pub and prefer a place to drink and catch up with friends.
There is a good selection of real ale and always kept in excellent condition, always in the correct glasses showing that the landlord takes pride in what he serves.
The pub appears to have a few local characters that are good for a chat or game of pool.
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Keeps getting better, Local CAMRA pub of the year, 3 real ales plus a real Scrumpy. Just had a mini beer festival to celebrate Cask Ale Week, they served about 25 different ales. The landlord is welcoming but has one of the most sarcastic sense of humor once he thinks he knows you...... be on your guard
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Visited before Saints 1 - 0 win over MKD in the JPT. Black Sheep Bitter and Youngs Winter Warmer with Westons Traditional Cider also on handpump. Both beers in goood nick. Main bar has a pool table, dart board in smaller bar to the left. I heard some Genesis and Tull playing, not sure if it was radio, CD or jukebox. Looks like it's the best option for Franchise FC and probably a nice place to be when it's warm.
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Two minutes walk from Fenny Stratford station and beside the canal. Reasonable kind of a pub, the Black Sheep was a decent pint and the girl behind the bar served people in order (despite the wishes of certain locals to get priority). It should be the kind of pub that would score highly but it just doesn't have an overall friendly feel to it and I doubt I will be making a return visit.
anonymous - 23 Jan 2010 23:21 |
Much improved since my last visit ,there are now 4 handpumps with GK brewed Ruddles County a regular,a guest (Wadsworth Henry's IPA ) and a second guest at the weekend.The fourth handpump dispenses a traditional cider.Judging by the collection of pump clips,there has been some interesting ale on offer in here and my Henry's IPA was very well kept and quaffable.The main bar has Sky sports TV and a pool table , has been refurbished and is clean while to the side is a quieter area for drinking.Red Lion is popular with the local motor bike club , has a real community feel and a chatty barmaid.Best ale in Fenny by a considerable distance.
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Visited this pub before the MK Dons v Leeds match. It is a reasonable place with a small room housing a dartboard and a larger room which includes a pool table. The pub is plain but does have its plus sides.
The landlord was friendly whilst the beer was good, with both Wadworth Henrys IPA and Davenports on hand pulled.
The best part however was its location, tucked down a small lane which leads to a busy lock on the Grand Union canal. The pub has a delightful setting and a small beer garden where you can enjoy your ale while watching the passing barges on the canal.
Definitely worth a visit if you are attending a game at MK Dons.
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Still a great place for really well kept beers, with a landlord who knows what he is talking about when it comes to real ale. Last visit he had three ales on and the cider. Changes the beers so often, almost a complete change every visit. Interesting to try all these different beers, but when you find one you particularly like its rather disappointing that it probably wont be on next time!
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The pub now has 4 handpumps, one of which has a real cider on it 2 regulary changing ales and a special for the weekend. Marston's Pedigree is the premium ale at the moment
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good pint Batemans - nice friendly landlady - nice to sit outside alongside the canal
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Still with 2 real ales, always in excellent condition. Black Sheep seems a fixture now, the other (guest) ale is Directors, but will change presently. Still no food, but worth a visit for excellent beers and pleasant garden.
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Friendly little canal side pub serves a good range of beers.Spoke to the Landlord who says it will probably be next year before he tries putting food on
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Decent pub by the canal with 2 Real Ales on when I visited with the Dartmoor being in excellent condition. The cricket on Sky Sports was being shown at the time.
Enjoyed a good discussion with the landlord about Real Ale pubs and football and his brother very kindly gave me a lift from the pub to the mkstadium for the most disappointing part of the evening - another norwich defeat.
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Visited The Red Lion on Tuesday 12 Aug 08. Friendly Landlord who had 2 Real Ales on - Wadworth 6X and Dartmoor Best. I had a few pints of the Dartmoor which was in good nick. Fantastic outdoor entertainment watching narrowboat novices attempting to negotiate 2 lock gates and a swingbridge!
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Still no food, but truly excellent beer, landlord keen as ever. Nice clean presentable pub with great outdoor seating. Does need to do food though, plenty of passing trade from boaters, might be a bit quiet in the winter.
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Looks like no food till late summer. But the Beer gets better and better. They now have plenty of seating outside
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Red Lion re-opened in December 2007, saw the new year in there. There was a tasty spread put on which went down well with the cocktails that we had.
We can not wait for the summertime it will be lovely to sit outside and what the barges go by. Also Landlord said they should be serving food hopefully by easter. Will have to sample that. New owners very friendly people.
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The new couple seem very friendly, The Landlord is passionate about his REAL ALES
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Just Re-opened after a tasteful makeover. The new owners are a very friendly couple. The Landlord seems very keen on his Real Ales
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Been closed since september, rummors of new people opening in december
anonymous - 13 Nov 2007 21:03 |
my favorite pub in Fenny
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Now serving 2 varying real ales
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Canal side pub with garden next to the smallest lock on the Grand Union Canal. A pub with potential.
Under new ownership, with plans for the future!!!!
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