THE RED LION LEYTONSTONE MARKS FIRST ANNIVERSARY WITH BALLROOM CELEBRATION AND BOUTIQUE HOTEL RELAUNCH
A year after reopening its doors, The Red Lion in Leytonstone is positioning itself once again as one of East London’s most distinctive pub and events destinations, combining heritage, hospitality and live entertainment under one roof.
The historic venue, revived in February last year by Urban Pubs & Bars, will mark its first anniversary with a large-scale birthday celebration in its landmark upstairs Ballroom, alongside the launch of newly refurbished boutique hotel rooms above the pub.
For operators in London’s competitive hospitality sector, survival is no longer the benchmark; sustained community engagement and diversified revenue streams are. Over the past 12 months, The Red Lion has sought to do both — reconnecting with its local customer base while expanding its offer across drinking, dining, live music, private hire and overnight stays.
The anniversary event, scheduled for Thursday 12 March, is designed as both a celebration and a statement of intent. Held in the venue’s iconic Ballroom — a space that previously hosted performances by The Who and Led Zeppelin — the evening will feature live music, a DJ, complimentary welcome drinks and nibbles, with free entry throughout the night. Tickets will be made available via the pub’s website, inviting regulars, neighbours and new visitors alike.
The spotlight on the Ballroom is deliberate. Once a cornerstone of Leytonstone’s cultural life, the space has been restored as a flexible private-hire venue catering to weddings, birthday parties, live music events and community gatherings. Its reinstatement reflects a broader strategy to re-establish The Red Lion not simply as a pub, but as a multi-purpose hospitality and events venue embedded in the local economy.
Over the past year, the business has hosted a range of public and private functions across its different areas, including the Ballroom, the garden and The Den. Each space has been positioned to serve different segments of demand, from late-night celebrations to informal summer gatherings. The management team is now actively welcoming bookings for future events, signalling confidence in sustained demand for experiential venues in East London.
The anniversary also coincides with the reopening of The Red Lion’s boutique hotel rooms. The nine rooms, located above the pub, have been refurbished to offer what the operators describe as a character-led alternative to chain accommodation. The refreshed rooms are aimed at guests attending events at the venue as well as visitors exploring East London’s growing cultural and hospitality scene.
Chris Hill, Managing Director at Urban Pubs & Bars, said: “It’s been fantastic to see The Red Lion settle back into the heart of Leytonstone over the past year. The return of the Ballroom as an events and private-hire space, alongside the reopening of the hotel rooms, feels like an exciting new chapter. This first anniversary is a chance to celebrate with the community that has supported us, and we’re really looking forward to what’s ahead.”
Downstairs, the core pub offer remains focused on seasonal British pub food, a broad drinks selection and a relaxed, neighbourhood atmosphere. The outdoor garden and The Den provide additional capacity for private parties, corporate gatherings and summer events, reinforcing the venue’s year-round appeal.
As London’s hospitality operators continue to adapt to shifting consumer habits and rising operating costs, venues capable of combining food, drink, live entertainment and accommodation are increasingly well placed. For Urban Pubs & Bars, the first anniversary of The Red Lion represents more than a birthday party; it marks the consolidation of a historic East London pub as a modern, diversified hospitality business.
