Wetherspoons Red Lion oldest pub in Bitterne, Southampton

If you whisper "Red Lion" in Southampton, some might think of the ancient, timber-framed marvel on High Street. That particular Red Lion is a legend, with tales stretching back to Norman and Tudor times, and even hushed stories of royal plots from 1415.

But today, our toast is to Bitterne’s own Red Lion. 

Its roots are firmly planted in the 19th-century soil of a village finding its feet, evolving from a vital coaching stop into the vibrant community hub it remains today. 

This isn't a tale of medieval kings, but of local spirit and a pub that’s been part of Bitterne’s DNA for nearly two centuries.  

Bitterne was a world away from the busy suburb we know now, back in the 1830s. 

It was during this era that the original Red Lion first opened its doors, not just as a pub, but as a crucial coaching inn. 

The clatter of hooves, the rumble of carriage wheels, and the welcome sight of the inn for weary travellers on the main route to Chichester. 

In an age before railways dominated, coaching inns like the Red Lion were the lifeblood of transport and communication, offering not just ale and a hearty meal, but also a place to rest, stabling for horses, and a hub for local news and commerce.  

The very establishment of such an inn symbolises Bitterne's growing significance. 

Until its incorporation into Southampton in 1920, Bitterne was a distinct village located east of the River Itchen. 

Its 19th-century growth spurt was significantly fuelled by the opening of the first Northam Bridge in 1799, which dramatically improved access to and from Southampton. 

As grander homes began to appear and the population swelled, the need for reliable amenities like the Red Lion became paramount. 

It wasn't just serving locals; it was a welcoming beacon for the increasing flow of traffic and trade passing through. 

From its earliest days, the Red Lion was more than a pub; it was an integral part of Bitterne’s developing infrastructure, a cornerstone of its identity, and the first in a long line of establishments to offer continuous service to the area.  

Like Bitterne itself, the Red Lion wasn't one to stand still. 

The 1860s, a period of great Victorian dynamism, saw the construction of the building that, at its core, still greets us today. 

Intriguingly, this new structure was built "in front of an earlier pub of the same name," a savvy move to command an even better position at the increasingly busy local crossroads.  

There’s a little historical footnote that adds to the charm: a Wetherspoon historical account mentions a photograph of "this site, originally constructed in the 1840s, comprising four small shops with accommodation above." 

The exact relationship between the 1830s inn, these 1840s shops, and the 1860s pub is a delightful puzzle. 

"This site" likely refers to the broader triangular plot known as Bitterne Fork. Perhaps the original inn sat further back, with these shops springing up to cater to the growing village, before the grander 1860s Red Lion took centre stage. 

What's clear is that this was a period of energetic development, and the Red Lion was right in the thick of it, adapting and evolving. 

Elements of this 1860s Victorian build formed the pub's heart for more than a hundred years.

And you simply can't tell the Red Lion's story without a nod to its legendary location - Bitterne Fork. 

For generations, this V-shaped junction, where the rural High Street (now Bitterne Road) met Bursledon Road, was the pub’s address. 

It was famously, or perhaps infamously, a traffic bottleneck, a spot where progress literally had to pause! 

The very centre of Bitterne village gradually shifted to this point, right in front of the Red Lion, because it was where the toll roads to Botley and Bursledon, completed in 1801, converged.

For many years, the triangular plot in front of The Red Lion even served as the landlord's garden, a little patch of green offering a moment's respite.  

The character of Bitterne Fork, however, was destined for change. 

The V-shaped fork has long been replaced by a pedestrian precinct, a transformation largely thanks to the Bitterne Bypass (Maybray King Way) which opened in 1982 and rerouted the thundering through-traffic. 

If you stand before the Red Lion today, a magnificent stone lion will greet you. 

This noble creature, the Bitterne Lion, wasn't always a pub fixture, though. He originally held court on top of a row of cottages on Bitterne High Street, named Lion Terrace, built in the 1840s. 

The lion's journey to its current prominent spot is a tale of community pride. 

"In 1983 it was removed from the rooftops, and in 1987 it was re-erected on top of a newly-built plinth in front of the Red Lion public house," with the grand unveiling on June 23, 1987. 

This act of preservation ensured a beloved local landmark wasn't lost. Since then, the Bitterne Lion has since become the symbol of Bitterne. The Red Lion, by offering this icon a home, cemented its own place as a custodian of local heritage.  

The pub's role as a community hub is also echoed in personal memories. 

While a full roll-call of landlords might be elusive, a touching comment online speaks volumes: "Charlie and Margaret were huge influences on me as a youngster... we as a family loved their Red Lion of that era". 

Even in more contemporary times, the Red Lion continues to be a place of significance. 

In October 2012, as part of Black History Month, a plaque was unveiled there in memory of Joseph "Joe" Harriott, the highly influential Jamaican-born alto saxophonist and jazz pioneer.

 Harriott, who had connections to Southampton and is buried in Holy Saviour, Bitterne, was thus honoured at this central Bitterne landmark. This shows the Red Lion isn't just dwelling on its past; it remains a vital part of Bitterne's present, a space where local and cultural history is actively celebrated.  

A significant new chapter for Bitterne's oldest pub began in 2016 when it was acquired by the national chain JD Wetherspoon. 

Following a substantial refurbishment and enlargement, it reopened its doors in March 2017. This transition brought considerable investment, "more than doubling its size" and introducing a new layout with a large downstairs bar and an upstairs area leading to a balcony overlooking the patio and Bitterne precinct.  

In true Wetherspoon fashion, the pub’s walls are now adorned with historic pictures that illustrate the history of the pub, including sketches of the stone lion and old photographs of the area. 

This ensures that while the facilities are modern, the pub’s deep-rooted heritage – its unique story as Bitterne’s longest-serving public house – remains proudly on display for all to see.