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(Pub, External, Key). Published on 03-09-2017
Image: (Pub, External, Key). Published on 03-09-2017
(Pub, External). Published on 03-09-2017
Image: (Pub, External). Published on 03-09-2017
Interior after 2022 refurb. (Pub, Bar). Published on 27-07-2022
Image: Interior after 2022 refurb. (Pub, Bar). Published on 27-07-2022
Interior after 2022 refurb. (Pub, Restaurant). Published on 27-07-2022
Image: Interior after 2022 refurb. (Pub, Restaurant). Published on 27-07-2022
Interior after 2022 refurb. (Pub, Bar). Published on 27-07-2022
Image: Interior after 2022 refurb. (Pub, Bar). Published on 27-07-2022
Interior of Main Bar. by Geoff Brandwood. Published on
Image: Interior of Main Bar. by Geoff Brandwood. Published on
Exterior. by Michael Slaughter. Published on
Image: Exterior. by Michael Slaughter. Published on
Copper Relief Panel 1. by Michael Slaughter. Published on
Image: Copper Relief Panel 1. by Michael Slaughter. Published on
Copper Relief Panel 2. by Michael Slaughter. Published on
Image: Copper Relief Panel 2. by Michael Slaughter. Published on
Copper Relief Panel 3. by Michael Slaughter. Published on
Image: Copper Relief Panel 3. by Michael Slaughter. Published on
Copper Relief Panel 4. by Michael Slaughter. Published on
Image: Copper Relief Panel 4. by Michael Slaughter. Published on
Heritage Pub

Black Lion, London

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Operator: London Village Inns
274 Kilburn High Road, Kilburn, London, NW6 2BY (View on Google Map)
(020) 3876 8204
Website
Facebook
Real ale discount scheme

Sometimes the Five Points is not always on - on a visit in July 2024 it was on with Harvey's Best and Tiny Rebel Cwtch. The refurbishment of the letting rooms is now complete so 11 such rooms are now available to book, see website for details.

Lease taken on by London Village Inns - operating seven thriving diverse pubs, a unique Indian restaurant and two boutique guest houses in London. After undergoing a thorough wash and brush up - incl installing handpumps it has reopened and cask beer and cider has returned after many years absence. Well worth a visit especially to try the food - with many dishes influenced by north Indian cuisine.

Fantastic interior décor - with a rich ceiling, original bar counter, island back bar, screen partition, etched and cut glass and very decorative cornice. A Grade II listed building and listed by CAMRA as having an historic pub interior of national importance. There is a separate dining area - suspect this was the former billiards room. What was a separate side entrance for the hotel has now been incorporated back into the pub creating a small side room. Opposite The Kiln Theatre.

In 2013 the owner/licensee took the unusual step of removing all draught beer in protest at the pricing policies of the large Pubcos for, although owning the freehold, he remained a tenant of Enterprise to whom he was leasing the property! In 2022 he leased the pub to another, established operator.

Historic Interest

Grade II* listing:- Location Statutory Address: BLACK LION PUBLIC HOUSE, 274, KILBURN HIGH ROAD The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: Greater London Authority District: Camden (London Borough) National Grid Reference: TQ 24928 84302 Summary Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Reasons for Designation Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. History Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Details CAMDEN

TQ2484SE KILBURN HIGH ROAD 798-1/57/989 (East side) 14/05/74 No.274 Black Lion Public House

II*

Public house. c1898. By RA Lewcock; interior carved panels by FT Callcott. Red brick with stone dressings. Pink & grey granite public house frontage. Slated roof. Flemish Gothic style. Rectangular plan on corner site. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and single storey extension to right. 4 windows, bowed window angle and 4 window left hand return. Arcaded ground floor with pilasters and panelled, part-glazed double doors to main road and at angle. Etched glass to windows and doors. Upper floors with brick pilasters rising to support an entablature with projecting cornice surmounted by an arcaded balustrade with cartouches and finials to the dies. Irregular transom and mullion fenestration with a bowed bay and canted bay to 1st floor; most with scrolled pediments. Left return with 2-light casements having glazing bars to upper light; 1st floor with scrolled pediments. Bowed windows to 1st and 2nd floor angle terminating in a lantern with ogee cupola and weathervane finial. Extension with wide 4-centred arch window and arcaded balustrade with modified scroll pediment having lion mask and plaque inscribed "The Black Lion rebuilt 1898". INTERIOR: has original U-shaped bar serving 2 rooms divided by glass and wood screen; mirrored fixtures and fittings and fireplaces with mirrored overmantels. 2 main bars with deep, gilded Adam style plaster frieze, plasterwork ceiling with medallions and several gilded bas relief plaques on the walls by Callcott. Extension room lit by 3 lanterns each with deep Adam style frieze at base and similar wall frieze to bars.

Information for this venue is provided by the North London Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Camden
Last updated
20/04/2025
Last surveyed
30/07/2024
Leasehold owner
London Village Inns
Freehold owner
B & B London Properties Ltd
Pub ID
NLD/6132
Asset of Community Value

Three star - A pub interior of outstanding national historic importance

Listed status: II*

Pride of place here goes to the series of four copper relief panels by designer F. A. Callcott depicting eighteenth-century ladies and gents at leisure at the supposed antecedent of the present pub.

An impressive corner-site pub built in 1898 to designs by architect R. A. Lewcock. It has a light, spacious interior enriched with some particularly spectacular and appealing decoration. The copper relief panels depict ladies and gents variously enjoying a game of bowls, drinking and smoking, watching the inn sign being painted, and taking the waters at Kilburn Wells, the spa that lay nearby to the south. There is a deep and superbly ornate Florentine frieze in both main rooms and also a richly decorated ceiling.

Originally the main space would have been subdivided – see the names 'bar' (probably the public bar), private bar and saloon above the doors externally - but there is still one screen surviving, which was moved to its present position on the left in 2003, before which it was at right-angles to the main road. There is also a long, panelled bar counter; note the doors to service the beer engines in former times, and the original bar-back. There are fine etched windows on the side elevation but most have sadly been removed from the front. The large room on the right (now a restaurant) was originally a music room.

General information about historic pub interiors

An imposing corner-site pub built in 1898 to designs by architect, R. A. Lewcock. It has a spacious, light interior enriched with some particularly spectacular and appealing decoration. Pride of place goes to the series of four copper relief panels by designer F. A. Callcott depicting eighteenth-century ladies and gents at leisure at the supposed antecedent of the present pub. They are variously pictured enjoying a game of bowls, drinking and smoking, watching the inn sign being painted, and taking the waters at Kilburn Wells, the spa that lay nearby to the south. There is a deep and superbly ornate Florentine frieze in both main rooms and also a richly decorated ceiling. When built the main space would have been much more subdivided than it is now but there is still one screen surviving: it was moved to its present position during a major refurbishment in 2003, before which it was at right-angles to the main road. Long, panelled bar counter and original bar-back. Fine etched windows on the side elevation but mostly sadly removed from the front. The large room on the right (now a restaurant) was originally a music room.

General information about historic pub interiors
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Opening Times Unavailable

Current beers

This Pub serves 3 changing beers and 0 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen
Butcombe Original
Butcombe - Butcombe Original

Session Bitter

ABV: 4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No

Spotted once recently. Last spotted 1 week ago

Changing

Changing beers typically include: Five Points - Pale

Source: National

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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Garden Garden
To the side of the pub
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Accommodation Accommodation
Contact number 020 4559 9143
Real Fire Real Fire
Restaurant Restaurant
Separate dining room
Smoking Smoking
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Cider Real Cider
30/12/24 Raspberry pulp on handpump
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
LocAle LocAle
Member Discount Scheme Member Discount Scheme
10% off cask beer with membership card
Transport
Close to bus routes
Nearby Station (700m)
West Hampstead
Close to London Underground/Overground/DLR (300m)
Brondesbury

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