The Red Lion stood on the junction of Market Street and Brewery Lane. It was tied to Playne’s Forwood Brewery, Minchinhampton in 1891. It passed to Stroud Brewery ownership in 1897. The Red Lion was very close to the Nailsworth Brewery. The brewery workers might have had a pint or two of their rivals’ ales between shifts.
The small single bay windowed building is now a private house but has changed little in appearance over the years.
Gloucestershire Chronicle, Saturday 18th June 1836 – To Licensed Victuallers. To Let with immediate possession. The old-established inn, called The Red Lion at Nailsworth (a Free House) – Apply to Mr J.C. Tarram, Auctioneer, Nailsworth.
Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, Saturday 24th June 1876 – Petty Session: Petty Sessions, Thursday. Ann Lewis, a married woman, was fined eleven shillings, and nine shillings costs, for being drunk in the Red Lion, Nailsworth, and refusing to quit.
Stroud News & Gloucestershire Advertiser, Friday 12th March 1880 – To Be Let: At Midsummer, The Red Lion, Nailsworth. Apply to George Playne & Sons, Forwood Brewery, Minchinhampton
Stroud Journal, Saturday 11th April 1885 – Nailsworth Police: Man and Wife, Leonard Stevens and Prudence Stevens, were charged with having been drunk and disorderly behaviour at Nailsworth on the 28th March. Neither of the defendants appeared.
P.C. Frank Webb stated that on the night of the 28th March he was sent for to the Red Lion, at Nailsworth. When he got there he found the two defendants in the kitchen. Mr Bubb, the landlord, in the predsence of the defendants asked witness to turn them out, as they had been kicking up a row there. Witness told Leonard Stevens he must go, and witness took the goods which the defendants had been hawking, and which were strewn all about the kitche, out into the street. Leonard Stevens still refused to go, and witness threatened to turn him out by force, but after some more persuasion the defendants both went out into the street. They were both very drunk, and witness helped the man to pick up his goods and told them to go home. They both made a great noise and used language so bad as not to be fit for anyone to hear. A great crowd of people collected, and the disturbance lasted about half-an-hour. Constable Beck came up, and he and witness then threatened to lock them up if they did not go on, and the defendants then went home.
Robert Bubb, landlord of the Red Lion Inn, Nailsworth, was called, and he corroborated the statement of P.C. Webb. It appeares that both defendants had been several times previously been convicted of simlar offences, and they were each sentenced to 14 days imprisonment with hard labour.
Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, Saturday 14th May 1887 – Edward and Eliza Lock, man and wife, were summoned for having been drunk and disorderly at the Red Lion Inn, Nailsworth, and for refusing to quit the premises. They were each fined five shillings, with costs 6s.9d.
Stroud News & Gloucestershire Advertiser, Friday 5th December 1902 – Adulterated Whisky: Thomas Blake, landlord of the Red Lion Inn, Nailsworth, was summoned for having on 29th October, sold a pint of whisky which was adulterated with 36 per cent water. P.C. Neale, inspector under the Foods and Drugs Act said that it was his dury to go round the district and take samples. He visited the Red Lion, Market Street, Nailsworth, and purchased a pint of whisky from the defendant’s wife, for which he paid 2s.4d.
Superintendent Biggs said the defendant’s house was the property of the Stroud Brewery, and he would speak to the Company about it. Defendant said the whisky was obtained from the brewery.
Stroud News and Gloucestershire Advertiser, Friday 13th February 1903 – Nailsworth Licensing Session, report James Boulton Biggs, Superintendent:
“With regard to the Red Lion, this house has been conducted very unsatisfactory; the police have on several occasions had to complain of the disorderly conduct carried on there; much drunkenness has originated there, and the licensee has failed to exercise proper control over the conduct of this house. On one occasion, during a visit of a constable to the premises, in consequence of a disturbance, a brutal assault was committed upon him, the landlord taking no steps to prevent this. I therefore consider that he is not a fit and proper person to conduct the house. I have served him with a notice of my intention to oppose the renewal of his licence on the following grounds. Firstly, that he is not a fit and proper person to hold a licence; Secondly, that the house in respect of which a licence is now held by him is of a disorderly character, and that drunkeness has been permitted upon the premises; Thirdly, that the house is not needed to supply the wants of the neighbourhood.
In the following weeks, a petition was put forward in favour of renewing the Red Lion’s licence. A statement of takings for the house during the previous year (£621) was used as justification for the petitioner’s claim that the pub was required to service the neighbourhood – along with the other six pubs in Market Street!
Gloucester Journal, Saturday 25th May 1907 – Notice of Principal Meeting of the Compensation Authority for the County of Gloucester: With reference to the renewal of the licenses of several premises including the Red Lion, Nailsworth, and submission to the Compensation Authority for possible closure.
Gloucestershire Echo, Tuesday 15th Ocober 1907 – Compensation Authority payout: Red Lion, Nailsworth £1,460.16s.7d. claimed. £1,001.17s.9d. accepted.
Map Reference: ST 849994
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: George Playne, Forwood Brewery, Minchinhampton
Rateable value in 1891: £11.5s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: Stroud Brewery
Rateable value in 1903: £11.5s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Full licence
Closing time in 1903: 11pm
Landlords at the Red Lion include:
1856 H. Gunter
1861 (Oct) Alfred Arundell
1885 Robert Bubb
1891 Philip Harman
1901 W. Wakefield
1902,1903 Thomas Blake
1906 William A. James
1907 William Allan James (Allan was a traction engine driver who was ‘often away from home’.)