2 Duke of York Street,
St James's,
London,
SW1Y 6JP
(020) 7321 0782
The ViewLondon Review
The Red Lion on Duke of York Street is a treasure of a traditional boozer. Definitely worth a visit to see its beautiful etched glass and sample some of their fantastic brews.
The Venue
The centerpiece of the Red Lion is its handsomely carved dark wood bar that sits in the middle of the room and is accessible from two sides. Surrounding the remaining walls of the bar are attractively etched mirrors and glass, which reflect light throughout the room. The pub is diminutive in stature and what few seats there are available fill up quickly; however, there’s no getting away from the fact that this is a really attractive watering hole.
The Atmosphere
The Red Lion gets very busy with the after work crowd; however, it’s worth jostling your way through the people in order to be served. The staff are friendly and manage the crowd well. It can get very crowded and the noise of conversation is understandably quite loud, but the environment and great selection of beverages more than make up for any inconvenience.
The Food
The food menu is divided into snacks and sharers, with everything from pistachios and olives to platters and hot finger foods on offer. It’s pretty basic, but the prices are reasonable for the area.
The Drink
The Red Lion spoils you for choice when it comes to drink selection. There is a great choice of wines, including a changing seasonal option, and all the bottles come in at under £20 each. There are loads of lager options with Kronenbourg, Staropramen, Fruli, and Erdinger on offer among others. For ale fans, there is always London Pride and Timothy Taylor plus a selection of guest and seasonal ales. They even have a seasonal soft drink, which is a nice touch. There are eight different kinds of gin available and the coffee comes from Costa. How do you decide?
The Last Word
The Red Lion on Duke of York Street is definitely worth a visit for its stylish period interior and their vast drink selection. Try to plan your visit outside of 5pm-7pm in order to have space to move around and sit down.
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