Red Lion, SW1

Single roomed, dark-wood panelled interior, carpetted, old lead-light windows, bar canopy also picked out with small lead-light panels. Walls decorated with pictures & Victorian cartoons and display plates on-high, also a recessed lit display case containing statue of eponymous Lion. There was a corner tv showing muted beeb news Sat pm (it may not have been on during Rex's visit), but the whole feel is of a previous era, and all the better for it, almost surprising that there is no real fire (that I could see) to offer that extra warming welcome. A friend reckoned the steep descent to the loo may be challenging later in the day! Rather strangely, two small stag parties turned up (~14:15) but they were in jovial form. Just two handpumps, Adnams Best & St Austell Tribute (£3), the latter in good shape.

Hidden away down a narrow gaslit alleyway off Pall Mall is The Red Lion. An attractive old style exterior features gas lamps, leaded frosted windows, hanging flower baskets and central double doors. A disused door at the side indicates that this was probably once a multi room pub. Outside we learn that The Red Lion has “reputedly the second oldest licence in the West End” and that we are about to enter “the village pub in the heart of St James”. The cosy interior features dark wood panelling, plush carpeting, red velour bar stools and traditional seating. The walls are decorated with horse brasses and old framed photographs. A collection of decorative plates runs along the top of the wood panelling just below ceiling level. The small bar counter is in one corner and features a gantry with decorative coloured glass inserts. The far wall contains a red lion statuette in a glass case built into the wall. High up in one corner a small relatively unobtrusive TV was tuned to Saturday morning’s Football Focus, enabling us to relive, if we so desired, Bradford City’s penalty shoot out success against Arsenal several days previously. There’s an upstairs lounge bar and, as befits a pub of this style and age, the seemingly obligatory challenging narrow curved staircase leading to the downstairs gents. On the real ale front, two pumps – one either side of the usual row of lager and fizz taps – were offering Adnams Bitter and St Austells Tribute. These appear to be the regular offerings – I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything different. Beer quality is generally reliable here with prices reflecting the affluence of the area ( Adnams - £ 3.70p ). You should look this one out when you get the opportunity.

This secretive pub is located down an easily missable gaslit alleyway that leads off Pall Mall. A small sign at the head of the alley proclaims the pub to be the “London’s last village inn” and it is hard not to disagree. The pub is thought to be around 400 years old and has the 2nd oldest beer licence in London (the White Hart in Drury Lane claims the oldest). The setting is very enticing with flower baskets and old world frontage and the interior is equlayy enchanting although those expecting basic threadbare furnishings may be surprised to find a quite cosy and comfortable setting. The carpeted single room has dark paneling and diamond latticed windows containing coloured glass shields. The bar in the far corner has a canopy with coloured glass panels and there are neatly arranged pictures, cartoons, plates and brasses. One wall contains a mirrored recess containg a Red Lion statuette. Seating is a bit limited with a few padded pews and small round tables plus a convenient ledge opposite the bar that is handy for parking a pint when busy. It is not unusual for customer overspill to head into the alley rather than u[pstairs where there is a sepaaerte lounge bar. A basic old wide screen TV on low volume sits in a corner and there is no music so any ambience is generated by the mainly suited office workers who seem to mnake up the customer base. The pub is a it off the radar for the average tourist. The place has never been an ale destination although they have doubled the number of hand pumps to 2 since my last visit with the Adnams now joined by Tribute (£3.60). The quality has also improved from what I remember and I note they now hold Cask Marque accreditation. There are 2 Red Lions virtually within throwing up distance and both are worthy of a visit although this one falls short on the ale front for it to be considered anything more than an occasional quick couple of pints.

Randomness Guide to London - Red Lion entry

Randomness Guide to London - Red Lion entry

This remains one of the few “real” pubs in Central London. There are no unnecessary mechanical distractions – such as televisions, one-armed bandits or jukeboxes. Tucked away down an alleyway near St James's Palace, you don't often see any tourists in here; in fact, as much as any pub in this area can be, it still seems to be mainly a locals' pub. The furnishings are fairly ordinary, which is no bad thing in a decent pub. It has large(ish) leaded windows that let in as much light as possible bearing in mind that it is situated in an alleyway. St Austell Tribute and Adnam's Bitter on when I was in there – I had the Tribute that was very good. Highly recommended – I shall definitely return.