Red Lion, London

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. There is a cellar bar and an upstairs dining room.

Spot the portraits of former prime ministers in the main bar! 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 to tell them when parliamentary voting is about to take place, irritatingly interrupting their drinking and also confusing tourists who think it is the fire alarm going off. In early August 2016 media reports stated that the pub had been considered for nationalisation, in anticipation of parliament moving out of its home in 2020 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.

Following a makeover the pub is now 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 but no alcohol before 10am on Saturdays or noon on Sundays.

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.