The Red Lion Inn Market Drayton

Let’s talk about the Red Lion Inn in Market Drayton. It’s a pub that looks like it’s been pulled straight out of a period drama, if that period drama had a really good beer tap and a sense of humor.

The Welcome Mat (It’s Actually a Beer Stain)

Walking into the Red Lion feels like stepping into a warm, wooden hug. The ceilings are so low, you half expect a Gandalf to bonk his head on a beam and shout, “You shall not pass… into the bar without a pint!”

But here’s the surprising fact: this inn dates back to the 17th century. That means it was serving booze before America was even a glint in George Washington’s eye.

The Ghosts (And Their Lousy Tipping)

Rumor has it that the Red Lion is haunted. Not by some terrifying specter, mind you, but by a friendly, mischievous ghost who likes to move glasses around. I imagine he’s just annoyed that real beer prices have gone up since his time.

Locals swear they’ve seen a figure in a tricorn hat. That’s not a fashion choice—it’s a ghost from the 1700s. He’s probably still waiting for his change from a shilling.

The Food: Basically a Hug on a Plate

Let’s be real: you don’t go to a place called the “Red Lion” for a kale salad. You go for glorious, sticky, gravy-drenched comfort food. Their steak and ale pie is so hearty, it should come with a warning label: “May induce nap within 20 minutes.”

The Red Lion in Drayton near Norwich

And the chips? Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, like a potato that’s been to therapy and accepted itself. If you don’t order the homemade scampi, are you even living?

The Beer (Liquid History)

This place is a real-ale paradise. They have rotating cask ales with names like “Hoppy Hippo” and “Golden Goblin.” One sip and you’ll suddenly understand why British people whisper about the weather—it’s the only conversation topic that doesn’t get interrupted by a burp.

Fun fact: The Red Lion is the oldest surviving coaching inn in Market Drayton. That means horses used to get stabled here, which is probably why the floor has that particular historic aroma of spilled ale and old hay.

Pubs: Then & Now: #217 Red Lion, Market Drayton, Shropshire : 2000 to 2016

The Staff (Professional Huggers)

The bartenders here have a superpower: they can remember your order after one visit. I swear, you could walk in five years later, and they’ll say, “The usual, mate? One pint of mild and an existential crisis?”

The service is so friendly, you’ll feel like you’ve known them since childhood—even if you’re a tourist from Birmingham who just calls everyone “duck.” It’s like Cheers, but with more wood paneling and less scripted laughter.

The Final Verdict (Go Now)

If you’re ever in Market Drayton—and let’s be honest, you might pass through on your way to something else—stop. The Red Lion Inn isn’t just a pub; it’s a time machine with a jukebox and a cheese board.

Bring your appetite, your sense of humor, and maybe a helmet for the low beams. Just don’t ask the ghost for his view on Brexit—he’s still mad about the Stamp Act.