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one of ... Britain's Real Heritage Pubs

This pub is taken from the National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors, CAMRA's pioneering effort to identify and help protect the most important historic pub interiors in the country.

NORFOLK - Kenninghall, Red Lion

National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part Two

East Church Street, Kenninghall, NR16 2EP

Tel: 01953 887849

Web site: www.redlionkenninghall.co.uk

Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs 12noon-3pm. 5.30-11pm. Fri/Sat 12noon-11pm. Sun 12noon-10.30pm

Draught Beer & Cider: Greene King Abbot from the cask, Greene King IPA, Woodfordes Wherry and two guest beers usually including an Elmtree beer

Pub Food: Meals 12 to 2; 7 to 9.30 (Fri & Sat); Sun 12 to 3; 5.30 to 9

Accomodation: 2 twin rooms and 2 double rooms, all en-suite. These are in the former stables and butchers shop adjacent to the main building.

Listed Status: Grade II

View this pub on a local map


An early 19th century pub which had been shut for seven years before being reopened in February 1997. Fortunately, the new owners realised the rarity of the snug and so it was retained and is situated to the right of the entrance. It consists of curved partition walls forming high backed settle seating. There are only a handful of similar rooms or snugs formed of two or more high backed settles left in the whole of the UK.

They can be found at the following Britain's Real Heritage Pubs – the Holly Bush, Mackeney, Derbyshire; Malt Shovel, Spondon, Derbyshire; Five Mile House, Duntisbourne Abbots, Gloucestershire; Green Dragon, Flaunden, Hertfordshire; North Star, Steventon, Oxfordshire; Kings Head, Laxfield, Suffolk; Bell & Cross, Holy Cross, Worcestershire; Old White Beare, Norwood Green, West Yorkshire; and Red Lion, Llansannan, North West Wales.

The bulging walled snug, which has lost its door, is otherwise intact but was white painted and stained by nicotine so was shot blasted back by the new owners to show the wood grain. It did have a perspex window but this was replaced by the present cell-like window. Above the doorway is a curious 'letter box' which locals say was to let out smoke in the days of smoking in pubs. This tiny room has an old Norfolk pamment floor and wood surround fireplace where the inner brickwork is claimed to be original from c1900 and it has a mantleshelf almost reaching the ceiling.

From the front door the passage has dado panelling and at the end the doorway on the right side of the the servery was the original off sales. Around the exterior of the snug is a place for passageway drinking - there is a shelf attached to the snug and also an old basic bench.

The public bar on the left is totally changed and the old bar top has been re-used as a table top in the dining room. On the right at the end of the passage, which has original Norfolk Pammet tiles, is a dining room, that was formally living quarters, and has bricks that have been turned upside down, stable-like seating areas and a large fireplace.

Red Lion, Kenninghall
Red Lion, Kenninghall
Exterior of Snug
Red Lion, Kenninghall
Snug