Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Gann
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Red Lion, SW1
SW1
SW1Y 6JP
Pub Type
Fuller'sReviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Red Lion
A true must visit and rightly listed by CAMRA as a historic pub of national importance.Operated by Fullers ,it's small but perfectly formed and so traditional.The front bar has a non opening door marked as Public Bar and it's quite basic but drift around to the rear of the island bar to get the full deal.Great traditional door with etched glass gives way to a space with an elegant curved bar,embossed mirrors ,wood panelling with a drinking shelf and bar stools to pitch down on.A small flatscreen was showing the 6 Nations but at low volume and it did add to the feeling you were in a friendly local.
Ale choice on my visit was from Fullers portfolio namely London Pride,Seafarers and HSB,Dark Star Hophead and Pacific Dawn IPA (NBSS 4).There is an upstairs room which was roped off and a very low ceiling on the descent to the gents which only added to the experience.
A very fine example of a small London boozer,make sure you visit it when in the area.
On 20th March 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Red Lion
On 25th August 2018 - rating: 7
A first in here the other night and I can't add anything to the earlier reviews.
However, it's a Fuller's pub and their beers are hardly Full o' flavour - I can't tell the difference between Pride and Doom Bar, ESB being too strong and sweet for a session ale.
The other problem is that this pub's tiny; any more than ten drinkers and it's utterly rammed, and I mean *rammed*. So full, that it's not just getting to the bar that's a challenge but moving; trying to reach the lavs or even eventually leave are exasperating ordeals.
This pub is a must-visit but if I hadn't been in a group I wouldn't have bought a drink, just stuck my head in the door then moved on - the pub is high on visual attractions but in terms of usability it's a dead stick.
--------------------------
A return the other night to an altogether far quieter pub with just four other customers, which is actually quite a crowd given the size, though it still gave me the chance to take in the fabulous ceiling as well as the stunning etched mirror panelled walls, which are some of the best I've ever seen, fully justifying this pub's place on CAMRA's inventory of pubs with stunning interiors, this being of National Importance; a must-visit, the score upped accordingly.
On 1st October 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1984 recommendations about 1950 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Red Lion
Another revisit to this fine pub found it in rude health on a mid week early afternoon and the beer range is now improved by inclusion of at least one Dark Star offering which was a well kept Dark Star Hop Head to go alongside the usual Fullers suspects of Pride, ESB, Oliver's Island and Gales Seafarers.
Remains one always worth detouring from Piccadilly Circus to find.
Original Post: 11th February 2010
One of London’s classic pubs. A wonderful Victorian treasure hidden down a backstreet in St James just off Piccadilly. Fantastic décor and superb display of Victorian glasswork which gets it into the Camra inventory of unspoilt pub interiors.
As Strongers says, used to be a Nickolson house with a regular changing list of beers. But it was bought by Fullers in 2009 and although it still dispenses up to six beers these are usually all from the Fullers range and although they are well kept and as much as I also like Fullers beers, I feel this gem has lost a little by not also having beers that you cannot find in several other London hostelries. Still worth a visit though.
There are two small bar areas either side of the central serving area. Doesn’t take a lot in to make it extremely busy, so probably be prepared to stand. But it is worth it for the décor alone.
On 24th August 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Red Lion
A two roomed pub with original etched glass and mirrors set in beautifully intact wood panelling, with bar counters in each room to match. There are five hand pumps on the front bar and two in the back room, with Fullers beers throughout, including their damson porter. This is a National Inventory pub and well worth seeking out, especially if you can get here before it fills up with the after work crowd.
Date of visit: 21st November 2017
On 10th January 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3734 recommendations about 3471 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Red Lion
An attractive and traditional looking pub with black exterior woodwork and hanging baskets, it was quite busy with after work drinkers on our recent early evening visit, both inside and out.
Internally it’s quite small, and arranged in something of a sideways U shape around the central bar counter. The walls are almost entirely covered with elaborate etched mirrors, leaving little room for anything else other than a minimal amount of carved woodwork. Red patterned carpet was on the floor and seating was certainly at something of a premium.
There was a good choice of beers on tap with London Pride, Seafarer’s Ale, Oliver’s Island, ESB, Butcombe Rare Breed and Castle Rock Harvest Pale. In contrast the solitary cider was Cornish Orchards. All in all I thought this was a decent little pub and would happily return if in the area.
On 7th April 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1947 recommendations about 1860 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Red Lion
Small, yet beautifully formed.
Lovely interior - all etched mirrors.
Fullers ESB at well over the £4 a pint mark. Should be expected.
Some photos at my walking blog - http://bit.ly/1nVW6J7
On 7th February 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Red Lion
A random revisit and nice to see that virtually nothing has changed. Was fortunate to arrive just before 5 so managed to bag the last remaining table space and admire the interior. Six pumps spotted, three either side of the divide; all Fullers (ESB, Pride, Seafarers, Oliver's Island) with Butcombe Bitter as the guest. My ESB was in decent nick - £2.28 for a half (ouch) but given the location and the wonderful pub itself, maybe not quite so bad - it was only 8p more than I paid for Adnams in the Sanctuary an hour earlier. It should be on the central London ‘must-do’ list if you’re visiting, but schedule your visit for mid-afternoon when it’s quiet.
April 2013
Located just off Jermyn Street and right near the Houses of Parliament, Fullers now own this cracking piece of high Victoriana with magical sparkling cut glass, dark wood and gilded mirroring all round the walls of the pub plus a pretty impressive ceiling too. It’s small inside with a central staple-shaped bar encircled by a fairly cramped and narrow drinking area which has few seats and is mainly for standing, with a number of pint-perching shelves. We arrived just on 5pm and it already filling up, so much so I wasn’t able to get to the back of the pub to gawp at the glass work. Three doors outside indicate that the pub interior was once divvied up into even smaller sections. Six Fullers stable ales available across eight pumps (there are two at the rear of the bar) and my ESB was in decent shape if somewhat pricey. The bijou qualities of this place make it well-worth a visit even if the prices will put the frighteners on the average wallet over a session. Rated 8
On 26th November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Red Lion
Small Fuller's pub with an old ornate interior as described below. 6 real ale taps in the front bar and 2 at the back.
On 16th October 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Red Lion
Small and beautifully decorative Fullers pub near Piccadilly & posh shopping. Lovely little place and the beers are kept very well.
On 2nd July 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Red Lion
Another example of London's fine Heritage pubs and well worth a visit. We visited on a Saturday afternoon and so expected the pub to be at full capacity. Thankfully it was fine, which enabled us to enjoy its splendour and get served easily. A choice of four Fullers ales on this visit.
On 4th February 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]