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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.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Red Lion
Down a side street off Piccadilly, the Red Lion is a small, two bar Fullers pub with a wonderfully preserved Victorian interior. The present building was constructed in 1871, although a pub stood on this site for many years prior to that. The present day pub is divided into two rooms – one at the front and another to the rear, separated by a central servery which serves both areas. The front room has some rather cramped fixed bench seating under the large windows with their beautiful etched floral patterns. The doorways here have snow flake designs in their glasswork and a central set of double doors bears the sign ‘Public Bar’, giving a hint to the previous layout. The place must have been extremely cramped back in the day, as a ‘Private Bar’ sign can be found a short distance to the right, indicating that these front rooms would have been very compact indeed. The servery is predominantly dark wood with some intricate detailing, a ‘Red Lion’ sign above the bar back and a more modern looking etched glass gantry. The right hand wall and much of the back wall in the rear bar, has been covered in magnificent cut glass mirrors, creating a dazzling display that must have wowed visitors for over a century now. The rear bar has a couple of high tables and stools plus some drinking ledges, but is best used as an escape from the inevitably packed front room. My post-work, mid-week visit saw the place absolutely rammed, making it particularly difficult to get a good look around, although I’m sure with a more prudent choice of visiting time, this shouldn’t necessarily prove so difficult.
Five ales from the Fullers range were available – London Pride, Chiswick, ESB, Seafarers and Wild River. I hadn’t seen the latter available for a long time, so decided to give it a try at £4.15 and thought it was very well kept and probably not much pricier than the average for this part of the city.
This is a fine pub that really is worth taking time out to visit in order to marvel at the wonderful interior. This, coupled with the prospect of a reliable pint, makes it the ‘must-visit’ pub in the area and a good starting point for anyone interested in London’s heritage pubs.
On 4th November 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Red Lion
Splendid little pub, with the emphasis on 'splendid' (with a glorious glazed interior and fine woodwork around the island bar), 'little' (and for central London, it really is) and 'pub' (in all the best senses of the word, with a relaxed atmosphere and efficient staff - even when busy). Six handpumps along the front of the bar (and a couple of duplicates around the back), offering Pride, Chiswick, ESB and Seafarers (£3.69) from the Fullers / Gales range. Overall, thoroughly recommended.
On 24th July 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about The Red Lion
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.
On 28th September 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Red Lion
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.
On 24th November 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Red Lion
This tiny little ex-Nicholsons pub is now run by Fullers and has six hand pumps dispensing their range of ales. I found the two barmaids to be very friendly and the clientele was mostly business rather than tourist which is probably explained by the high prices.
The pub circles the small bar and it has a traditional feel with lots of ornate mirrors on the wall stretching from the entrance. I was lucky enough to find a seat at one of the tiny tables lining the exterior walls, but I wouldn’t hold much hope of doing this after 5pm.
I’m a fan of Fullers so I liked it in here and I would recommend this place to others, if only to just have a look.
On 4th February 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Red Lion
I paid another visit to this survivor from the height of Victorian pub interiors the other evening. In days gone past this was an Allied Brewery’s pub, trading as Ind Coope in London, and is now a Fuller's pub. The takeover from the pubco that owned it previously (Nicholson's) has improved the ale selection in my opinion, as in addition to the Fuller’s ales on offer, the guest ale on my latest visit was Butcombe Bitter, which is an excellent ale and was in fine nick.
This is so obviously a genuine Victorian treasure, having survived the ravages of WWII and the developers. Definitely a must for a visit for the decor alone. The etched and cut glass mirrors are some of the finest examples of this late Victorian trademark still in existence, reflecting light around the pub. This is definitely one of the best pubs in the area - along with its namesake in Crown passage.
On 31st July 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Red Lion
Another handsome pub, aesthetically pleasing outside & in. Dark wood, lots of etched mirrors, central horsehoe bar encircled by rather cramped narrow drinking area. Busy on arrival (Sat 15:15) and just one barman who did an admirable job but was left rather high & dry by a management who should have had more staff cover if this level of custom is the norm. Not much seating room, front or rear, but peripheral drinking shelves help a little. Pumps offered ‘sip before you sup' tasting and consisted of Pride, Adnams Best, Landlord (reverse clipped), Oakham Inferno & Nethergate Monk's Habit, the latter two in great condition. Beers pulled short but the lone staff was under such pressure I couldn't bring myself to complain, although others later were topped up without problem. Nice little pub, decent beer selection, I'd certainly go back when in area.
On 1st December 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]