The Red Lion: Ealing Studios' Unofficial Sixth Stage
From Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers to today's film crews and local residents, this historic pub has played a starring role in Ealing life for nearly two centuries.
Text and photographs © Stefano Fugazzi | StefanoSnapshots.com and This Is Ealing
Standing proudly on St Mary's Road in Ealing, directly opposite the world-famous Ealing Studios, The Red Lion occupies a unique place in British cultural history. More than a neighbourhood pub, it is a living piece of London's social and cinematic heritage, where community, storytelling and filmmaking have intersected for nearly two centuries.
Its enduring appeal was recently recognised when the pub was named runner-up in Fuller's Publican of the Year 2026 awards, reflecting both the quality of its hospitality and the dedication of the team that has breathed new life into one of West London's most cherished institutions. Today, visitors are welcomed by an atmosphere that blends traditional pub warmth with a palpable sense of film history. Vintage movie stills and portraits of celebrated actors adorn the walls, while the acclaimed walled beer garden offers a haven from the bustle of modern London.
Long before The Red Lion became synonymous with British cinema, it played a quieter role within the local community. According to local tradition, the pub served as a discreet retreat for clergy from nearby St Mary's Church. The church's vicar, it is said, would occasionally slip down the road for a quiet refreshment away from parish eyes. Such stories form part of the pub's folklore, adding colour to a history stretching back almost 200 years.
Although the building has evolved considerably over time, a Red Lion has occupied this site since at least 1827. The original nineteenth-century structure comprised what is now the front taproom, extending as far as the fireplace that remains a focal point today. As the pub prospered, two further phases of development expanded the building to the rear, creating additional internal space and eventually the popular beer garden that has become one of its defining features.
There is, however, what many regulars consider to be a fourth and unofficial extension to The Red Lion; one that exists not in brick and mortar but in British cultural memory.
That extension is Ealing Studios.
For generations, the pub and the studios have existed in an almost symbiotic relationship. During the golden age of the Ealing comedies in the 1940s and 1950s, the studios contained only five sound stages. Before long, actors, directors, producers and crew members began jokingly referring to The Red Lion as "Stage Six".
The nickname soon became part of studio folklore. If a colleague disappeared during the working day and someone remarked that they were on "Stage Six", everybody knew exactly where they had gone. The phrase became a light-hearted code for a swift pint across the road.
What began as an in-joke soon reflected a deeper reality. The Red Lion became an extension of the creative life of Ealing Studios itself, a place where ideas were exchanged, friendships forged and productions discussed long after filming had wrapped.
The list of famous names associated with the pub reads like a roll call of British screen history. During the post-war decades, regular visitors included Sir Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers and Sid James, figures whose work helped define British cinema for generations. Later, as television production expanded and the BBC occupied studio facilities nearby, a new generation of performers and production crews adopted the pub as their local gathering place.
The Red Lion takes considerable pride in this legacy. Around fifty photographs displayed throughout the premises celebrate the actors, performers and industry figures who worked at Ealing Studios and enjoyed a post-production drink in what became London's most famous unofficial sound stage. Together they form a visual record of Britain's entertainment industry.
Yet heritage alone does not guarantee survival.
Like many historic pubs, The Red Lion faced significant challenges in the twenty-first century. Economic pressures and a period of closure threatened the future of a venue woven deeply into the fabric of local life. Its potential loss sparked strong support from residents determined to preserve an institution that represented far more than a place to eat and drink.
The pub's revival stands as one of Ealing's quieter success stories. Now operated by the acclaimed team behind Hammersmith's Andover Arms, The Red Lion has re-established itself as a thriving destination while remaining faithful to the character that made it beloved in the first place. When Helder and Vicky took over the Red Lion in March 2023, they were drawn by both the building's personality and its extraordinary connection to Ealing Studios.
Determined to safeguard the pub's identity, the new custodians retained its collection of photographs and memorabilia, bringing them together in a gallery space within the conservatory. Visitors can explore decades of cinematic history while enjoying a drink in a pub that remains very much part of everyday Ealing life.
The influence of the studios extends beyond the photographs. Inspired by the pub's reputation as the legendary "Stage Six", the owners have introduced subtle Art Nouveau and Art Deco touches throughout the interior. Vicky's architectural background has helped shape many of these design choices, while personal objects connected to customers and local residents add further character.
Today, The Red Lion is many things at once: a traditional Fuller's pub, a community meeting place, a testament to Victorian London and a shrine to British filmmaking.
That same blend of heritage and personality is reflected in the food and drink. Everything on the menu is prepared in-house, from the gravy to the most elaborate dishes. Helder's Portuguese heritage influences much of the cooking, while Vicky's Argentinian roots are celebrated through events such as the pub's popular barbecues.
For the owners, food and drink are part of the wider story of the pub itself. Every menu item and event reflects the people who have passed through The Red Lion and left their mark upon it.
Few establishments can claim such a rich combination of local significance and national cultural importance.
Nearly two centuries after the first Red Lion opened its doors on St Mary's Road, the pub continues to play its role in Ealing's story. And while Ealing Studios may now operate with more than its original five stages, generations of film lovers would argue that there will always be a place for Stage Six.
Text and photographs © Stefano Fugazzi | StefanoSnapshots.com