Unique Bars & Pubs London's Best Pubs West End Pubs The Red LionRed Lion - St James's
The Red Lion, St. James's is not exactly hard to find, but the chances of happening upon it, are pretty remote. Crown Passage is a narrow alley running north through St James 
from Pall Mall to King Street. The passage still has gas lighting and the diamond-pattern, leaded windows of the Red Lion suit the Georgian lamps well.
It's almost as if the Red Lion is hiding, as the passage has such an anonymous entrance onto the tourist busy Pall Mall, that you wouldn't think to venture up it out of curiosity. (Crown Passage is below the blue and white flag of Quebec House).
The Red Lion has a local feel to it (they bill themselves as 'London's last village pub'), and has been pulling pints for hundreds of years. Its customers are fairly well heeled during lunchtimes and early evenings and it enjoys a regular crowd looking for a 'proper' pub. It's more of a melting pot than your usual - with tradesmen and the suitless, also much in attendance. No fancy food or drink - just lunchtime fillers and drinks that sell well.
As you can see from the photo, the Red Lion doesn't get much light, so the house-lights are up full during the day, giving it a cosy atmosphere. If you look around, you get the impression that there's more than the odd drinker, skiving off work and there are few better pubs to do it in.
Probably best to visit outside the popular hours of weekday lunchtime and early evenings, as they're not overburdened with space, but in the warmer months, plenty stand outside and there's room upstairs too.
Best time to visit: in the grip of Winter, feet sore from a forced shopping trip and an ennui developing for London's crowds and noise. Slip down Crown Passage for a recharge.
Open usual hours - 11:30 - 11:00pm Mon-Sat. Closed all day Sunday.
Crown Passage, St James's, SW1Y 6PP.
Piccadilly Circus or Green Park Tube.
Call: 020 7930 4141
