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Tall, narrow, corner pub, close to Parliament Square, and rebuilt in the late 1890s. The name is ancient, and a brewhouse named the Red Lion very close to this site has been dated back more than 500 years. The present Grade II listed pub retains several original features from its rebuild including a carved mahogany bar back, a patterned ceiling, and etched glass to the rear. Spot the portraits of former prime ministers in the main bar; there is also a cellar bar and an upstairs dining room.
Following a makeover the pub became part of the Fuller's Ale & Pie chain. There are three handpumps on each part of the bar. Unsurprisingly given its tourist and parliament location this pub is often crowded. Breakfast is served at weekends in summertime but no alcohol before 10am on Saturdays or noon on Sundays. The extensive food menu inludes not just pies, but other pub favourites plus sandwiches, and small plates such as haggis scotch egg.
The pub was honoured in 2022 on the 25th anniversary of National Pubwatch, when it was featured on a special commemorative coin. A previous licensee, Raoul De Vaux, had been a co-founder of the organisation.
Historic Interest
Grade II listed, Historic England ref 1226437. The pub became briefly famous as the "Treasury Annexe" for off-the-record briefings to the press during Gordon Brown's years at the Treasury, but this came to an abrupt halt following a major indiscretion. MPs still use the pub and it has a division bell, now unused in this age of texts, which told them when parliamentary voting was about to take place. In 2016 media reports stated that the pub had been considered for nationalisation, in anticipation of parliament moving out of its home for renovation works, and into one forbidden to sell alcohol! Apparently the thought of having to drink with lesser mortals was too much for parliament to bear; fortunately common sense prevailed and the scheme was ruled out.
Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest
Listed status: II
Rebuilt in 1898-9 by architects Gardiner & Theobald in an eclectic Dutch-cum-Renaissance revival style. It’s a tall building on a small corner site which suggests the presence of a pub here for a very long time. The ground floor bar has been opened out into a long, single space but originally would have had a couple of drinking areas. The row of columns, glazed screenwork and different levels halfway down the bar suggest a partition at this point. Various good-quality fittings survive and the date of 1900 carved into the bar-back is a helpful record of when they were put in. The bar-back itself has 17th-century-style detail and lots of round arches. The counter has a series of unusually detailed panels with circle motifs. At the rear of the pub is some excellent etched and polished glass, including a reset panel announcing ‘saloon bar’. The ceiling decoration is very pleasing work with square panels and delicate swirling foliage. The rather ungainly structures sitting on the counters are modern pastiche.
This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 4 regular beers.
Red Lion, London
Changing beers typically include: Fuller's (varies)
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