The Red Lion Pub is a historic public house in the
Withington
Withington is a suburb of Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it lies from Manchester city centre, south of Fallowfield, north-east of Didsbury and east of Chorlton-cum-Hardy. Withington had a population at the 2011 ce ...
area of
Manchester
Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...
,
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, established in the 17th century.
History
The Red Lion pub was originally established in the 17th century and has retained much of its traditional character despite various renovations. The Red Lion is Withington's oldest structure and a
Grade II listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...
, and has likely stood for at least 200 years, most likely longer. Until 1841, the Withington
court leet
The court leet was a historical court baron (a type of manorial court) of England and Wales and Ireland that exercised the "view of frankpledge" and its attendant police jurisdiction, which was normally restricted to the hundred courts.
Etymo ...
convened here, as did the trustees of the
turnpike trust
Turnpike trusts were bodies set up by individual Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom, Acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road toll road, tolls for maintaining the principal roads in Kingdom of Great Britain, Britain from the 17th ...
overseeing Wilmslow Road. In the mid-20th century, the pub was owned by
Noel Burrows a, well-known local entrepreneur and
bowls
Bowls, also known as lawn bowls or lawn bowling, is a sport in which players try to roll their ball (called a bowl) closest to a smaller ball (known as a "jack" or sometimes a "kitty"). The bowls are shaped (biased), so that they follow a curve ...
player who played a significant role in the community. Under his ownership, the establishment not only thrived as a public house but also featured an adjacent bowling green, which was popular with local residents. This dual focus on hospitality and community sports helped cement the pub's reputation as a central meeting place in Withington.
Architecture and interior
The architecture is typical of traditional British public houses. It has a brick façade, large sash windows, and period interior details, such as exposed wooden beams and original fixtures. Despite modern updates intended to improve comfort and efficiency, many original elements have been preserved, allowing visitors to appreciate the pub's heritage.
Community role
Over the years, the Red Lion pub has evolved into a vital part of Withington's social and cultural landscape. The venue regularly hosts local events including quiz nights, live music, and sports viewings, and it remains a popular destination for both long-time residents and visitors interested in experiencing traditional Manchester pub culture.
[{{cite web , title=Red Lion Pub Reviews and Community Feedback , url=https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/red-lion-pub-withington-manchester , access-date=2025-02-08 , publisher=Yelp]
See also
*
Grade II Listed Buildings In Manchester
There are many Grade II listed buildings in the city of Manchester, Greater Manchester, England. The majority of Manchester's listed buildings date from the Victorian era, Victorian (1837–1901) and Edwardian era, Edwardian (1901–1911) e ...
References
External links
Official website of the Red Lion PubRed Lion Pub on WhatPubRed Lion Pub on CamraRed Lion Pub on Twitter
Pubs in Manchester
Buildings and structures in Manchester
Withington
17th-century establishments in England