The Red House in Longstowe, Cambridgeshire awaited its latest incarnation for a long time. An unloved pub that closed for a few years, the new owner painstakingly revitalised the Grade II listed building with a gorgeous refurbishment. Now a fantastic pub and restaurant with a great menu, it was worth the wait!

I recently visited The Red House to have lunch with fellow foodie friends Paola, Alison and Wendy. The attractive exterior made an excellent first impression with its beautiful surroundings, clear signage, well maintained car park and imposing front door.

It only got better on the inside. The interior, divided into cosy eating and drinking areas, still felt spacious. There is a designated dining space but we chose a table by one of the fireplaces in a spot decorated for Christmas. Staff were helpful in getting us settled in and we felt very welcome and at ease.

We all admired the place before we cast our eyes on the menus. In addition to the dining space, there is a nice bar area with a changing beer line-up, a relatively private corner to accommodate larger groups as well as cosy little nooks to sit by the fire and enjoy a chat and a drink. We were even impressed with the loo floor… I have never seen a floor so clean and shiny!

On to the food! The lunch menu offered a great selection of sandwiches but the dinner menu was also available. It’s not often I see a menu where I genuinely have a tough time choosing, as everything sounded so appetising. I particularly liked the menu “Favourites” featuring good, solid pub food such as fish & chips, burgers, pie of the day, mussels, sausages & mash and ham, eggs & chips. More elaborate dishes consisting of venison, pork belly, chicken, hake and various cuts of steak were included in “The Main Event”, ideally for a leisurely dinner.

Wendy and I went for the sandwich with roast beef, caramelised onion, dressed salad leaves and horseradish mayonnaise, with a choice of white or brown bread and served with fresh salad and tomatoes in a tasty vinaigrette. The sandwiches were freshly prepared and filled with quality ingredients. We shared a side order of hand cut chips and they were phenomenal. More like potato wedges than chips, they were soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. I’m not sharing next time!

Paola and Alison had the same amazing chips with their ham and eggs. We all agreed on the awesomeness of these potatoes (I’m still thinking about them)! The honey glazed Suffolk ham with two free range eggs and hand cut chips made a hearty dish very much enjoyed by both Paola and Alison. I could tell the ham was high quality and the eggs were definitely free range with their vibrant, orange yolks. It’s so wonderful when there is a real effort to source local, quality ingredients.

I’m looking forward to many return visits, for lunch and dinner, to try more of The Red House’s tantalising menu. It’s not overly complicated, with dishes to suit a range of preferences yet varied enough to keep the food interesting. From simple sandwiches (available only at lunch time) to gourmet main courses, it is clear that there is a talented chef and team who know what they are doing in the kitchen. Matched with great service and a nice drinks menu, The Red House are doing everything right.

The owners, managers or staff did not invite me to visit this establishment and were unaware that my experience would be the basis of a written review. It is based on my experience at my own cost and I did not receive compensation for my review.

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