The Best Brownie Pudding I’ve Had in Ages
The Red Lion at Odiham, one of three pubs in the New Dawn Pubs collection alongside The Castle in Farnham and Godalming’s Gomshall Mill, is well worth a visit. Situated on the historic high street of the charming north Hampshire market town, it’s just 20 minutes from Farnham and an easy drive of 40 minutes from Godalming, making it an ideal destination for drinks with friends, a relaxed meal or even an overnight stay in one of their luxuriously comfortable bedrooms combining rustic charm with contemporary style.
Housed in a beautiful Grade II listed building, The Red Lion combines character with comfort. Exposed beams and an open fireplace create a warm, traditional atmosphere in the dining area, while the bar at the rear offers a lively pub feel. We were seated by the window overlooking Odiham’s historic high street and enjoyed friendly, solicitous service throughout the evening from Josh and Nathaniel. Despite it being a Tuesday, the pub was pleasantly busy, creating a welcoming buzz without feeling overcrowded.
We began with a refreshing Hugo Spritz and a perfectly chilled, zero-alcohol Thatchers cider before choosing starters. The Crispy King Prawns were piping hot, perfectly seasoned and served with a sweet chilli dipping sauce and a fresh leafy salad garnish. Equally enjoyable was the Maple Glazed Ham Hock Terrine, where subtle maple flavours complemented the mustard seeds beautifully. It came with a generous number of crisp toasted ciabatta slices of the ideal thickness, and a tangy piccalilli that cut through the richness perfectly.
For mains, the Gammon Steak arrived with two fried eggs, a generous portion of crispy skin-on fries and a fresh dressed salad. It was hearty, satisfying pub food done well. The Chicken Supreme was another success, featuring beautifully crisp, flavourful skin and tender meat. Rather than a traditional rösti, the accompanying potato cake was made from well seasoned crushed skin-on new potatoes, which paired well with the plentiful rich bacon and mushroom sauce. Plenty of perfectly cooked Tenderstem broccoli balanced the dish nicely.
Although we didn’t plump for the Pie of the Day special from the menu, we were seriously tempted by the delicious sounding Lamb & Mint pie and the vegetarian Mushroom Bourguignon and Vegetable pie. If you’re a pie lover then the Red Lion has you in mind!
The menu was cleanly presented and easy to navigate, while a chilled New Zealand Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc with delicate gooseberry notes proved an excellent accompaniment to dinner.
Dessert, however, stole the show. We shared the Chocolate Brownie, served warm with salted caramel ice cream and a rich dark chocolate sauce. Deep, dark chocolate flavours were lifted by subtle salty notes, preventing it from becoming overly sweet. Quite simply, it was the best brownie pudding I’ve had in years.
Excellent food, warm hospitality and professional service made this an evening to remember, along with a delightful walk around the history-steeped streets of Odiham afterwards to walk it off. We’ll certainly be returning—and I’d recommend you give The Red Lion a visit too.
Take a look at their menus and overnight stay packages on their website: redlionodiham.co.uk.
