The Red Lion, Whitehall, London SW1 - geograph

The Red Lion is a Grade II listed

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and wa ...

at 48 Parliament Street, London SW1. The pub is known for its political clientele and has been described as "the usual watering hole for MPs and parliament staffers" and "much-plotted-in" due to its proximity to UK political institutions including

Whitehall Whitehall is a road and area in the City of Westminster, Central London. The road forms the first part of the A3212 road from Trafalgar Square to Chelsea. It is the main thoroughfare running south from Trafalgar Square towards Parliament Sq ...

, the Palace of Westminster, and 10 Downing Street.

History

As early as 1434, a tavern known as the Hopping Hall existed in this location.The Red Lion, Westminster: History
/ref> In the

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardia ...

, a pub called the Red Lion standing on this spot was visited by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

as a young boy. The current building was erected in about 1890. It has been visited by Prime Ministers

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from ...

, Clement Attlee and

Edward Heath Sir Edward Richard George Heath (9 July 191617 July 2005), often known as Ted Heath, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975. Heath a ...

. It is owned by Fuller's Brewery. DSCN0358 Derby Lion

Association with British politics

Although there are several pubs and bars located within the Palace of Westminster, the Red Lion is the closest public house to the Parliamentary Estate and so often frequented by MPs, civil servants, and political journalists. Interviews with clientele often feature complaints about the pub's expensive drinks and cramped interior, but note that its location makes it indispensable. Political journalist and author Marie Le Conte described the Red Lion as "the lowest common denominator – people say ‘I don’t go there’ but then everyone ends up there." The pub's association with UK politics became notorious in 1997 after Charlie Whelan, press adviser for then- Chancellor of the Exchequer

Gordon Brown James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Tony B ...

, "unofficially" briefed journalists at the Red Lion that the UK would not be adopting the Euro. Whelan did so without the knowledge or authorisation of

Tony Blair Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007. He previously served as Leader of th ...

, with some sources suggesting that the "briefing" was simply that Whelan was overheard by journalists discussing the policy. Blair was reportedly outraged at this breach of protocol and rang Whelan (who still at the pub) to complain, only to be told: "Sorry Tony, it’s too late." The Red Lion is one of several public houses in the Westminster area to be fitted with a

division bell In some of the Commonwealth realms, a division bell is a bell rung in or around parliament to signal a division (a vote) to members of the relevant chamber so that they may participate. A division bell may also be used to signal the start or end ...

, used to alert MPs that a vote is imminent (referred to in parliamentary language as a "division" as it requires "dividing the House"). Others include the Blue Boar and Westminster Arms. Members of the public and visiting tourists sometimes mistake the ringing of the bell for a fire alarm.

References

External links

* 19th-century architecture in the United Kingdom Grade II listed pubs in the City of Westminster Fuller's pubs {{pub-stub