Red Lion, Woolwich

This ex Beasley¹s of Plumstead house is a delightful rebuild of c1880 in a jolly red brick Queen Anne style with prominent half timbered gables. It is set back from the main road. According to the 1981 Camra London guide, there was a refurbishment around 1980 which took its toll of the pub's character. A further drastic refit by Bermondsey Pub Co. in 2016 saw the servery on the right-hand side truncated, thus marooning a section of the bar back. The pub is now a single L-shaped space, with a contiguous area at the rear on the L. There is an L-shaped servery; the counter appears to be Victorian but has sadly been painted a ubiquitous gastro shade.

The bar back consists of 3 bays facing the front and 4 on the right-hand section. The coved top is supported by columns with decorated capitals: a clock is mounted above the central bay at the front. Pillars of lower shelves remain but now mainly fridges and some new shelves. Behind the columns are a series of etched mirrors. These seem rather free floating; the likelihood is that formerly they were incorporated within a suitable timber structure. Compare with the bar back at the White Ferry House in Pimlico.

Opened-up area on the left with fixed seating and an old fireplace painted a dull green colour? Left door has ‘Public Bar’ etched panels. Opened-up to rear room in modern times.

Much etched window glass, some showing the eponymous lion. A vestibule with more etched glass. ‘Red Lion’ mosaic on the floor of the corner porch.