Landlords, legends, census records, and lost taverns.
Westminster St James index
Originally built in 1762, the Golden Lion was most recently rebuilt in 1900. Our stained glass windows and 'theatre bar' upstairs pay homage to the history of our pub, which was once frequented by Napoleon II, Lille Langtry and Oscar Wilde apparently. It is a stone's throw from St James's Park, Buckingham Palace and Spencer House.
It was a Greene King public house in 2017, and still in March 2026. Greene King has announced plans to sell off, or convert 150 pubs into tenanted or franchised locations, as the UK hospitality sector struggles with rising costs.
Historical London public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels.
Residents at this address.
1869/William Berry/../../../Post Office Directory
1881/Sarah E Judge/Licensed Victualler/32/London, Middlesex/Census
1881/James R Jacke/Manager to Licensed Victualler/21/London,
Middlesex/Census
1881/Annie Sponge/Barmaid/24/London, Middlesex/Census
1881/Eliza Malarky/Barmaid/18/London, Middlesex/Census
1881/Jane Barton/Cook/29/Kent/Census
1882/Mrs Sarah E Judge/../../../Post Office Directory
1884/Sarah E Judge/../../../Post Office Directory
1891/Miss Sarah Elizabeth Judge/../../../Post Office Directory
1895/William John Purser/../../../Post Office Directory
1899/William Charles Ferris/../../../Post Office Directory
1910/Frank Arthur Butler/../../../Post Office Directory
In 1911 at 25 King street, St James Westminster,
Frank Arthur Butler, Licensed victualler aged 44, and born in London, Middlesex
Florence Butler, Wife aged 42, and born in St Ives, Hertfordshire
Frank Purser Butler, Son aged 15, and born in St Johns Wood, Middlesex
Florence Kate Butler, Daughter aged 14, and born in St Johns Wood, Middlesex
Laura Martha Buckhurst, Assistant barmaid aged 24, and born in Kings Cross, Middlesex
William Wigley, Assistant barman aged 29, and born in Dudley, Worcester
Minnie Lloyd, general servant aged 24, and born in Wolverhampton, Stafford
Winifred Blackman, general servant aged 18, and born in Arundel, Sussex
1915/Frank Arthur Butler/../../../Post Office Directory
1938/Regent Catering Co Ltd/../../../Post Office Directory
1944/Regent Catering Co Ltd/../../../Post Office Directory
1944/Mrs Elise James & W C C Taylor/../../../Post Office Directory
Golden Lion, King Street, St James', London SW1
Mr & Mrs Cliff Taylor, late of the
Falcon, Gough Square, Fleet Street, and
the Mitre, Tooley Street (Messrs Levy & Franks) beg to announce that they
take over the above premises on the 26th September 1944.
Golden Lion - Mrs & Mrs Cliff Taylor in 1944
Kindly provided by Mike Weaver