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New Pub with Poohbear1863
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Saturday, 5th September 2026
With picture contributions to 13128 other pubs
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Detail Pages
Old Red Lion, Kennington, SE11
SE11
SE11 4RS
Served areas
Reviews of Old Red Lion (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Old Red Lion
My third three star heritage pub interior of the evening, and the most authentic looking (so probably largely fake). There's old wood everywhere, stained glass images of a red lion over one very small door, and one of a Toby jug over another. The bar counter has four hand pumps with two beers from Portobello who run the pub, and a rather late seasonal beer from Wimbledon called Smash. A Welsh cider was splitting these three. My halves of the two Portobello beers, Star Bitter 4.3% and Westway Pale 3.8% came to £5.25 and were Very Good and Good respectively. There was a quiz night starting up soon after my visit, so I can't judge how busy this pub usually is - there were quite a few in the garden, several in the extension behind the main building, and handfuls in the room to the right, so maybe 30 at about 7pm. Service was friendly and informal, bordering on cheeky. On the whole, seems like a good pub.
On 1st September 2026
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 4910 recommendations about 4493 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Old Red Lion
A very nice period pub with a CAMRA listed interior as well described in the reviews below. Formerly run by Antic but one of those that was sold to Portobello a couple of years back. Four ales spread across the pumps with two from Portobello as you would expect (Star and Westway) alongside TT Landlord and one from ELB.
The Portobello Star was very good on a hot afternoon, and the enclosed courtyard garden out the back was an excellent spot in which to enjoy it.
On 9th July 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2375 recommendations about 2216 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Old Red Lion
The Red Lion – as it would once have been – dates from around the mid-18th century, this incarnation built in 1933 as a Hoare’s swansong, grade II-listed and included on CAMRA’s inventory of pubs with historic interiors, this being of Exceptional National Historic Importance; a comprehensive description is included on both CAMRA’s and Historic England’s websites.
Certainly, the exterior is as fine an example of brewers’ Tudor as you’ll ever see, with the name Charrington still visible to the sign and to a metal band on the lantern. No longer part of the Antic stable, ‘baronial’ doesn’t do the interior justice, with roughhewn wooden members, the name in wrought iron to the pot shelf, leaded stained-glass windows and heraldic shields, a copper shield displaying the Charrington’s Toby logo to a wall and depiction of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s return to Scotland, all to dark mysterious lighting; I wouldn’t have been surprised if Simon Shama had emerged from a nook. There was a good soundtrack, featuring the likes of Billy Idol, Alice Cooper, Slade and Rainbow, playing to a mixed crowd.
With no mead on offer, ales amounted to Brockley’s Pale at a very competitive £4.90 a pint and their Summer XPA then Portobello’s Westway and Star at £2.20 a half and on fine form, served by friendly bar staff.
This is a must-visit pub for SE11 and certainly worth a look if in London.
On 9th August 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2344 recommendations about 2284 pubs]
View more reviews of Old Red Lion (15)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of Old Red Lion - theoldredlion.uk
- Randomness Guide to London - Old Red Lion entry
- Facebook - Old Red Lion
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Old Red Lion - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 25 September 2018 by Komakino .
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 25 September 2018 by Komakino .
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 25 September 2018 by Komakino .
- Karaoke : No last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Live Music : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : Yes - Tuesday - last updated 01 September 2026 by Will Larter
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - Disabled WC. - last updated 11 August 2023 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by Quinno _
