Pub 57, Day 23 – The Red Lion

By Rob

In terms of Pubquest milestones, we'd already reached quite a few. Pub number 50 had recently been ticked off; we'd found a pub that merited the coveted 10/10 (because it was a good pub and not because it provided Andy with sexual gratification); and we'd even produced a bonus blog.

Although we celebrated every significant achievement, we'd often thought that the real indication of longevity would be when we visited a pub with the same name as one we'd previously been to. It transpired that The Red Lion, on Charles Street, was to be the first such place. (As you will recall, the first Red Lion on our journey was a nice little pub over in Gleadless, where we'd shamed ourselves on the snooker table, right before a beautiful little man-date at Viva Tequila.)

To anybody with a half-decent knowledge of pubs, the title of our first repeat-namer will come as little surprise. After all, it's a well-known fact that the most common pub name in the UK is the Red Lion. While it's true that the top ten pub names change depending on the list you're looking at, and of course the numbers are constantly in flux, the Red Lion tops every chart.

Top 10 Most Common UK Pub Names:^[1]

1. Red Lion
2. Crown
3. Royal Oak
4. White Hart
5. White Horse
6. Swan
7. New Inn
8. Rose & Crown
9. King's Head
10. Bell

Why is the Red Lion so popular, I hear you ask? Why not the Blue Tiger? In fact, why not something with a more obvious message, such as The Nice Pint or The Cheap Beer?

In truth, there's no clear-cut reason behind why the Red Lion is such a popular name. However, its origins are widely assumed to be heraldic, namely the fact that red lions were a common feature on the many different coats of arms in medieval and early modern England. A savvy innkeeper, wanting to ensure he's on the good side of the bloke who owns the land beneath his feet, could display the local lord's crimson cat above his doorway as a mark of respect and loyalty.

There's also a theory that, like with The Mulberry Tavern, a decree of King James I is behind the name – with the Caledonian monarch alleged to have ordered the Scottish red lion displayed on all public buildings after acceding to the English throne. As a key figure in the history of British unification and a monarch whose life was almost snuffed out by the Gunpowder Plot, James' lasting influence on UK pub names is often overlooked.^[2]

***

Having spent a gruelling few hours doing all of those things that students do during the day,^[3] I felt ready for a drink when the evening rolled around. I called Andy and arranged to meet him in town for some light refreshments.

Sitting squarely in the city centre, The Red Lion fitted the bill nicely. The pub's a pleasure to behold from the outside and is somewhat set back from the city's main thoroughfares (which is why we'd previously missed it during our tours of nearby Norfolk Street and Arundel Gate). Inside, the pub is comprised of two distinctly different sections: a classic, old fashioned lounge area with a pool table and a newer, conservatory-like extension.

Unable to ignore an empty pool table, we wasted three pounds on three frames and Andy stole every one, thereby extending his already significant lead. The only consolation was that the games were snappy and each one ended quickly – unlike the debacle at the initial Red Lion.

We moved into the other room to finish our drinks (two pints of Saxbob Blues, a slightly citrussy session ale that, while not overwhelming, was perfectly drinkable) and both agreed that we were big fans of this particular setting. The hanging fabric and large windows helped to create a modern, light and airy drinking space that gave this otherwise ordinary pub an edge.

As the last drops of ale vanished, we debated what to do next. We decided that the evening shouldn't end with The Red Lion, and so we began to discuss the next pub on our agenda. But that's a story for another blog...

Red Lion pool score: Andy 3-0 Rob

Pubquest pool score: Andy 40-28 Rob 

Pub: The Red Lion (109 Charles Street, S1 2ND)
Rating: 7.5/10
Pint: Saxbob Blues
Brewery: The Sheffield Brewery Company 

NEXT UP: Witnessing a punch-up, at the Horse & Groom...

References:
[1] Most popular pub names, Daily Mail (for the link, click here)

[2] Mark Andrew Pardoe, Pub names – Red Lion, BBC Nottingham, http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/entertainment/pubs/redlion.shtml

[3] "All of those things that students do during the day" is largely taken to mean napping, watching TV, playing on the Xbox, and opening up the laptop and looking at the work that needs doing without ever attempting to complete said work