The Red Lion & Pineapple Jd Wetherspoon

Picture this: a pineapple. No, a lion. Wait – both. Together. That’s the actual name of a J D Wetherspoon pub in London. It’s called The Red Lion & Pineapple. And it’s exactly as bonkers as it sounds.

Let’s get one thing straight. This isn’t some fancy cocktail bar. It’s a pub. A proper, no-nonsense, sticky-floor-in-a-good-way Wetherspoon. But it has a pineapple in its name. Why? Because the lion and the pineapple were once popular symbols on London street corners. The lion meant strength. The pineapple meant welcome (and also “I’m rich enough to afford imported fruit”).

The building has secrets

This pub sits on Richmond Green, in a gorgeous 18th-century building. But don’t let the fancy exterior fool you. Inside, it’s classic Spoons: cheap pints, sticky tables, and a carpet that looks like a Dalí painting. The real fun? The building used to be a coaching inn. Think horses, muddy boots, and travelers drinking ale by candlelight.

Today, you’ll still find ale. But the horses are replaced with tourists and locals arguing about the best roast dinner. The pub’s history is a little fuzzy, which is perfect. Nobody can agree on exactly when the lion and pineapple first got together. It’s like a pub origin story with a lot of creative gaps.

The pineapple obsession

Here’s a weird fact: pineapples were once the ultimate status symbol. In the 1700s, you’d rent one for a dinner party just to show off. Some people even carried them around until they rotted. The Red Lion & Pineapple nods to this bizarre food history. It’s basically saying, “We’re a pub, but we also have fancy fruit energy.”

The lion, of course, is the old-school pub cliché. Every third pub in England is called The Red Lion. But add a pineapple? Suddenly you’re not just another boozer. You’re a curiosity. You’re a pub that screams, “I contain multitudes!”

What to expect when you visit

First: the price. A pint of beer is about £3.50 in 2025. That’s aggressively cheap for London. You’ll get that classic Wetherspoon experience – ordering at the bar, waiting forever, then getting your drink and a side of mild disappointment that the chips are cold. But who cares? You’re in a pub with a mythological fruit-beast mascot.

Second: the atmosphere. It’s a mix. Families with kids eating breakfast. Office workers nursing a pint. A guy in a tweed jacket reading a newspaper. And you, sitting there, wondering if the lion and pineapple ever had a fight. (My money is on the pineapple. It has spikes.)

Third: the garden. There’s a lovely beer garden out back. It’s green, it’s quiet, and it’s the perfect place to drink a pint and ponder. Ponder what? Why a pineapple? Why a lion? Why are you here at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday? No judgment. That’s the Spoons way.

Quirky details you’ll love

Look up. The pub sign shows a red lion and a pineapple. They’re not fighting. They’re just hanging out. It’s like a buddy comedy waiting to happen. The pineapple is the weird sidekick. The lion is the grumpy straight man. Together, they serve cheap Stella.

Also, the pub has a secret door. No, really. In the back, there’s a door that leads to a tiny courtyard that used to be a stable. It’s now a smoking area. But in your head, it’s a portal to 1743. You half expect a ghost to order a Diet Coke.

And the toilets? Classic Wetherspoon. They smell faintly of bleach and regret. The hand dryers are loud enough to make your ears ring. But there’s a weird comfort in that. It’s reliable. You know exactly what you’re getting.

Why this pub matters

The Red Lion & Pineapple isn’t just a place to get cheap booze. It’s a time capsule. It’s a reminder that pubs used to be the center of village life. They had weird names because people wanted to remember them. “Let’s meet at the house with the lion and the pineapple!” That’s memorable. That’s fun.

In an era of boring chain pubs with generic names, this one sticks out. It’s a Wetherspoon, yes. But it’s also a piece of British weirdness. It’s a place where you can bring a friend from abroad and say, “Look, a pineapple. On a pub. Deal with it.”

The verdict

Go. Just go. Order a pint of Doom Bar. Eat some chips. Stare at the pineapple on the sign. Does it look smug? Yes. Does the lion look tired? Absolutely. That’s the whole vibe. The Red Lion & Pineapple is a pub that knows it’s ridiculous and doesn’t care.

It’s cheap. It’s weird. It’s a little grotty. And it’s delightful. Next time you’re in Richmond, skip the fancy wine bars. Go straight for the lion. And the pineapple. And a ketchup sachet that’s probably expired. You’ll love it.

Seriously. Go. Your curiosity will thank you. And if you see a ghost? Tell it the pineapple said hi.