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.
Tim Barnard wrote an article for the ‘Nailsworth News’ in December 2008 / January 2009 about the excessive amount of licensed premises in Nailsworth when there was an average of one public house to every 100 persons. The Nailsworth Licensing Session in February 1903 heard about the conduct of the Red Lion in a report given by Superintendant Biggs: “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.”
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!
The Gloucester Citizen (14th February 1907) described the Red Lion as a ‘constant source of trouble to the police’.
The small single bay windowed building is now a private house but has changed little in appearance over the years.
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
1885 Robert Bubb
1891 Philip Harman
1901 W. Wakefield
1902,1903 Thomas Blake
1906 William A. James
1907 Allan James (Allan was a traction engine driver who was ‘often away from home’.)
