The Red Lion, SW1

The ales are very well kept and the welcome was warm and attentive but the magic of this Victorian gem is its amazing, glittering interior. Built in 1821 (although the frontage was rebuilt in 1871) the Red Lion is a tiny pub appearing much bigger inside by the fabulous glittering cut glass and gilded mirrors lining the walls. It is a wonderful Victorian treasure hidden down a backstreet in St James, just off Piccadilly. Part of my ‘Victorian Splendour’ pub crawl - see link below.

Confusingly, one of two Red Lions within a few hunded yards of each other, this classic Victorian pub has all the sumptious fixtures and fittings to justify its inclusion on the CAMRA Inventory for historic pub interiors. An earlier version of the pub stood here until the current building was built in 1821 although the frontage was rebuilt in 1871. The visitor is first attracted by a mass of flower baskets above which protrudes a fine, imposing pub sign. The interior is quite special albeit ver small, essentially just a single room with an island bar although a few divides split it more into convenient front and rear sections. There is little seating, just a couple of small tables in the front bar and stools at the bar itself or at ledges. The décor is all dark wood and spectacular patterned mirrors with an equally ornate ceiling. The 3 doors to street suggest that the pub was originally divided into even smaller bars although the central door, labeled as the public bar in the window, is no longer used. There is no music or TVs, no darts, pool or fruit machines, just a babble of chatter, mainly from what generally appears to be a quite upmarket customer base. Now a Fullers pub, there were 6 ales across the 8 hand pumps (6 in the front bar and 2 at the rear) with a good range including Pride, Chiswick, ESB, Discovery, Red Fox and Seafarers. The quality was fine but prices predictably steep with the Red Fox clocking up £3.45. This is one of the few unspoilt pubs remaining in central London and a place that pub afficianados should make an effort to visit.