I was recently invited to visit The Old Lion at Harborough Magna, Warwickshire which reopened its doors in September 2024 following a closure of almost six months during which time a complete refurbishment & upgrade of all of the pubs interior fixtures & fittings & the outside facade were completed. Harborough Magna is a small village of about five hundred residents, located about four miles northwest of Rugby on the B4112 road, a mile south of the M6 motorway and a mile north of the Oxford canal.

The Old Lion in Harborough Magna, has a history dating back to the 18th century. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book and there are a number of very old houses in the village some dating back to the 17th century and was once home to several sawmills that employed many of the village workforce. The pub was previously known as The Golden Lion and was rebuilt after a terrible fire in 1986.

Chef patron, Harishankar Krishnamurphy, who also owns The George at Kilsby, who took over The Old Lion at the end of 2023, has taken his inspiration for The Old Lion’s exciting menu from top Indian restaurants in London & Birmingham. His plans for a new look at The Old Lion slowly developed into a major refurbishment.

Harishankar outside The Old Lion at Harborough Magna with its fresh exterior and new logo

“We originally aimed to close for only a short amount of time, but I had a vision of an exceptional menu filled with modern Indian cuisine and I knew the space deserved to be distinctive too. It’s taken a little while, but it had to be right. Whether customers come to The Old Lion to have a drink in the bar, taste our beautiful Indian flavours or enjoy a classic British dish, I want them to have an experience to remember.”

The new restaurant décor at The Old Lion at Harborough Magna

“ With hand-crafted furniture from one of the major heritage and arts hubs of India, Rajasthan, we were looking forward to the opening and to hear what previous visitors thought about the transformation and our new flavoursome menus.”  

Yusef, the Operations Director at The Old Lion and The George at Kilsby

When my wife & I entered the Old Lion, we were warmly welcomed by staff. The seated bar takes up most of front facing aspect of the pub, splitting the pub comfortably into two sections, the large beautifully decorated 90-cover restaurant, opens up like a Tardis to the rear. Plans are in place to transform the large paved front garden during the spring of 2025 into a outdoor eating & drinking space.

The contemporary Indian menu was devised by Harishankar and executive chef Durai, who is classically trained in Italian and Indian cuisine and has worked in several high-end restaurants in cities such as Dubai. Harishankar has also worked globally and trained under 3 Michelin starred chef George Blanc, in Vonnes France.

Our Food: A La Carte Menu

Starter:

  1. Curry Mile Naga Wings with Asian slaw, charred lime and basil & mint chutney
  2. Tempura Soft Shell Crab Telicherry pepper , saunf slaw & plum chutney

Delicious starters on The Old Lion’s menu included tempura soft shell crab served with telicherry pepper, saunf slaw and plum chutney, curry mile naga wings served with Asian slaw, charred lime and a basil and mint chutney and Welsh lamb seekh kebab served with crispy corn and a fig and tomato chutney. My wife and I opted for the shell crab and naga wings. The wings were wonderfully hot with a mixed slaw which complimented them perfectly. A mix of cabbage, fennel swirls, beetroot, spring onion & a little chilli were very satisfying on the palate & the mint chutney refreshing! The tempura crab was of course deep fried, crispy on the outside and tasty on the inside. There was quite a lot of crab too, which was very pleasing!

Curries:

  1. Lucknowi Nalli nihari Gosht – 8 hour slow cooked Hampshire Lamb shank & Kashmiri chilli, Chapati, Plain Naan & Pulav Rice
  2. Lamb chettinadu tawa masala – Lamb cubes chettinadu spice mix & curry leaves

Harishankar had tipped the Lucknowi nalli nihari gosht main course, an 8 hour slow cooked Hampshire lamb shank with Kashmiri chilli, would be a customer favourite! I chose this dish when I visited and I can strongly support his claim. The lamb dropped off the bone so easily and the sauce in which the shank sat was simply incredible, so rich, spicy but not too hot, leaving a warm satisfied feeling inside my mouth. It was a dish made in heaven!

Desserts:

  1. Gulab Jamun cheese cake – Indian dessert infused cheese cake with summer fruit cremeaux
  2. Louis XV Chocolate praline cake – Feuilletine Praline, chocolate mouse & toasted hazelnut

My Gulab Jamun cheese cake was the most unexpected cheese cake I have ever had the joy to eat! Gulab Jamun is a sweet confectionary or dessert, originating on the Indian sub – continent. It is usually served as small round balls but this cheesecake is the perfect dessert! I think it is made with gulab jamun, digestive biscuits for the base, butter, double cream, cream cheese, icing sugar and cardamon, presented in a Kilner jar! I love a cheesecake and I love Indian sweets, so this was a revelation. A real eye opener. A big hand to the chef.

The choice of authentic classic Indian dishes on offer is simply breathtaking!

“Durai and I have taken inspiration from the very best of contemporary Indian food being offered in London and Birmingham, including restaurants such as Opheem, Gymkhana and Jamavar. We hope that people will soon be saying that The Old Lion is more than your average curry house but we’re simply applying the principles that we treasure so much straight from The George at Kilsby. Customers should expect a wealth of rich and diverse flavours, high-quality ingredients, value for money and a cosy welcoming atmosphere. I want to make sure every customer goes away with a smile on their face.”

Head chef patron Harishankar Krishnamurphy, or Hari, to his friends

On weekdays, the bar is open from 4pm to 10pm and the restaurant takes orders between 5.30pm and 9.30pm. Food is served from 12 midday to 9.30pm on Saturdays and customers will also be able to enjoy live music. Sunday’s menu is also served from 12 midday to 9.30pm & includes the addition of a traditional roast dinner, which is also a popular feature at their sister pub, The George at Kilsby, which customers return for time and again!

Visitors to The Old Lion are able to place orders for takeaway deliveries and collections and it has also launched its much anticipated Christmas Menu & New Year’s Eve party with an Indian buffet.

The Old Lion appears to be very popular with locals & visitors from outside the village. Whilst enjoying our meal I noticed several local people coming in off the street, not only to eat in the restaurant but to sit and enjoy a drink with friends. It is obviously still very much a local for the community as well as a fine pub restaurant. It is also a very popular pub for visitors with their canine friends! I saw several dogs leading their owners from in off the street! There is also plenty of car parking at the front & side of the pub.

Have you thought about visiting a new pub restaurant, for that special dining experience?

Why not visit The Old Lion at Harborough Magna for that special occasion. You won’t regret it. I had a great time.

For tasty food, friendly professional service, and quality ales, in a local friendly village pub atmosphere, The Old Lion is going to be a smart choice. One of the Old Lion`s biggest assets are the staff themselves. Staff took the time to explain the menu to my wife & I, explaining what was in the dishes and making recommendations. They also laughed at my jokes, which was admirable! The staff at The Old Lion made us both feel very special. A touch of sincere pub hospitality, which was very welcoming. The food was without exception, extremely good, beautifully cooked, and professionally presented to table. The Old Lion is a great local village pub & restaurant!

By providing such excellent quality food and drink combined with the warm, friendly hospitality, this classic village pub restaurant is sure to win awards for its food and hospitality over the next couple of years. It certainly comes highly recommended from me!

The Old Lion at Harborough Magna

Pailton Rd, Harborough Magna
Rugby CV23 0HQ,
United Kingdom.

Disclosure: My visit to The Old Lion was courtesy of Harishankar Krishnamurphy and Keredy Andrews at Hannes Digital

The views and comments expressed are as usual my own.