Avebury Restaurants

Large and rambling pub clearly geared to serving a large number of visitors. Lots of rooms including one with a real wood fire (needed in winter!), a larger one for the singalongs favoured by the New Age crowds that congregate here, and a barn-like family dining area.

Claims to be the most haunted pub in Britain, if that's your thing, and also to be the only pub within a stone circle

Favorite Dish: Traditional English fare. I had organic sausages with mash and gravy which tasted of Bovril, which was good. But the food is expensive for what it is. Nor does any magic there may be in the circle do anything for the keeping of the beer. But it slipped down nicely nonetheless on a hideously wet day!

Yes, I know I said few people come here but that doesn't mean no one, and as this pub is next to the famous stones, this is where most visitors stop for a drink and/or meal so they must rake it in summertime. Considering this, it is a bit sad that they cannot spend a bit more on refurbishing the back of the pub where the family friendly area is quite worn and colours horribly outdated. Apparently they also have some rooms to rent if you want to stay the night but judging by the pub interior, they might not be that cosy even if the pub exterior could fool you into thinking it is gorgeous. Having said all this, the pub has perfectly OK food (although again, my portion seemed smaller than elsewhere considering the higher price) and staff are very friendly. There are also some outside seats in summer if you want to admire some stones whilst drinking. There is also a small cash machine in the pub since the village has no cash point.

Favorite Dish: Wild mushroom lasagne was the only thing I had and that was delicious.

The Red Lion is the pub in Avebury village, and it does a roaring trade in food, including tea and cakes as well as more normal pub lunches.

Options at lunchtime range from lighter meals (jacket potatoes, sandwiches etc.) to heartier fare. There are daily specials, and also an offer of 2 main courses for £9.95.

Service can be a little slow when they are busy (we waited 45 minutes) but it was worth it.

Oh - and it's supposed to be haunted. But there wasn't much evidence of this on a lunchtime in April.

Favorite Dish: Home-made steak and ale pie is excellent - but comes in a very large helping, so it's not for dainty eaters!

I had smoked haddock florentine from the special offer menu, which was also very good (nice smoked haddock, not the dyed sort, and smothered in cheese).

Sadly we didn't have room for dessert, but they offer sticky toffee pudding cheesecake, chocolate and walnut brownie, Eton mess (fruit compote, crushed meringue and cream), among other delights.

Rather fallen from it's former glory, but the Waggon & Horses, about 2km south of Avebury at the junction of the A4 (London to Bath) and A361 (Devizes to Swindon) roads, is still going and serves decent Wadworths beer together with predictable pub fare.

It's a bit of a mausoleum these days but freer than the Red Lion of New Age types.