Our story

The pub was built along the main route through Tedburn St Mary no later than the 1840s. The village was an important stop-off for coaches travelling between London and Cornwall. The Red Lion would have provided accommodation, food and entertainment for weary travellers.

Having been part of the then locally dominant Exeter City Brewery, the pub now changed hands and fell under the ownership of Whitbread.

A fire caused extensive damage to the pub. During the rebuild and refurbishment, the original small two-bar layout was opened up to create a larger bar area.

The Red Lion passed from brewery control to independent ownership by private landlords, and remained this way.

The pub’s name was changed for a brief period to ‘The Village Inn’. Before long, its historically important name ‘The Red Lion’ was restored.

In a serious blow for the village, the pub closed its doors for what was feared might be the last time. During a "Save the Red" campaign, over 50 letters of objection were submitted, and a community benefit society raised funds to try to buy the pub.

EGN Services –  a local investment company with close personal ties to the village – stepped in to spare The Red Lion from demolition, and give it a new lease of life.

Following a major renovation, The Red Lion reopened to the public as a traditional village pub – honouring its heritage but also presenting some exciting new ideas.