The Red Lion Inn was timber framed with a thatched roof and was located in Cross Street. It was badly damaged by fire in 1964 and subsequently demolished.
Alec Jolly took over The Red Lion on 11th October 1958 and left 9th May 1964 when it burnt down. The pub was owned by the Steward and Patersons brewery rented, by Alec Jolly, for £26 per year, which also included 10 acres of land. Alec installed a Juke box shortly after taking over which brought in trade from further afield. There were 100-200 regular customers. Mostly bottled beer was sold(1pt was 10d) Draught cider was the same price bought in at 5d sold for 10d then put up to 1 shilling. Games, played in the pub, were shove halfpenny and darts.
The following is a list of known publicans:
| Year | Landlord | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1757 | Mary Abbott | 1757 Hoxne Hall estate map | |
| 1777 | John Stollery | Ipswich Journal 20th December | |
| 1801 | John Stollery | Ipswich Journal 28th Nov 1801 | Advert for auction of Cross Street properties at The Red Lion to be shown by John Stollery of the Lion Inn. |
| 1802 | John Stollery | Ipswich Journal 25th Sept 1802 | Auction of contents of The Red Lion Inn late in the occupation of John Stollery, deceased - buried 7th July 1802, aged 59. |
| 1841 | Alfred Kent | Census | |
| 1844 | Alfred Kent | White's Directory | |
| 1851 | Alfred Kent | Census | |
| 1855 | Alfred Kent | White's Directory | |
| 1858 | William HIgh | Post Office Directory | |
| 1861 | Honor High | Census | |
| 1862 | William High | Suffolk Chronicle 13th September | Sale of the goods of William High on leaving The Red Lion |
| 1865 | Charles Neaves | Kelly's Directory | |
| 1866 | Charles Neaves | Suffolk Chronicle 17th March | Advert for letting The Red Lion by Mr B C Etheridge, Brewer, Eye, Suffolk |
| 1867 | Charles Neaves | Norfolk News 31st August | Readvertised for letting The Red Lion by Mr B C Etheridge, Brewer, Eye, Suffolk |
| 1868 | Charles Neaves | Suffolk Chronicle 29th August | Advertised again for letting The Red Lion by Mr B C Etheridge, Brewer, Eye, Suffolk |
| 1869 | Charles Neaves | Ipswich Journal 25th September | Sale of the goods of Charles Neaves on leaving The Red Lion |
| 1871 | John Bart Blomfield | Census | |
| 1875 | George Bullingham | Post Office Directory | Innkeeper & Cattle dealer |
| 1879 | Edward Tye | Kelly's Directory | Innkeeper & Blacksmith |
| 1881 | Edward Tye | Census | Innkeeper & Blacksmith |
| 1888 | Edward Tye | Kelly's Directory | Innkeeper & Blacksmith |
| 1891 | Edward Tye | Census | Innkeeper & Blacksmith |
| 1892 | Edward Tye | Kelly's Directory | |
| 1896 | Walter Huggins jun. | Kelly's Directory | Innkeeper, horse trainer & dealer, & district councillor |
| 1900 | Walter Huggins jun. | Kelly's Directory | |
| 1901 | Walter Huggins | Census | |
| 1904 | Walter Huggins jun. | Post Office Directory | |
| 1911 | Charles Smith | Census | |
| 1912 | Chas. Smith | Kelly's Directory | |
| 1913 | Charles Smith | Kelly's Directory | |
| 1922 | Chas. Smith | Kelly's Directory | |
| 1929 | Charles Smith | Kelly's Directory | |
| 1939 | Archie Bird | 1939 Register | Archie died in 1964 |
| 1958 | Alec Jolly | Alec Jolly | Publican from 11 Oct 1958 until the Red Lion burnt down 9 May 1964 |
The Red Lion caught fire on Saturday afternoon, 9th May 1964. The licensee's wife, Mrs Ivy Jolly, was the first to see that the wooden barn next door was alight. The strong westerly wind fanned the blaze onto the thatched roof of the Red Lion. It took the firemen nearly 20 hours to put out the flames and pull down the wrecked thatched roof. Two fireman narrowly escaped injury as one of the three chimneys suddenly collapsed.
Many local villagers turned out to save most of the furniture, beer and spirits despite the heat, smoke and the water from the firemen's hoses. Soon after the firemen had left, the customers turned up in scores bringing out the salvaged bottles and a juke box from the bar, setting up an open-air bar.
Someone had chalked the words "Business as usual" on the green baize top of a card table and put it on a heap of burnt thatch.
Alec Jolly, the licensee, tried to negotiate for a marquee and hoped to be able to carry on until the brewers, Steward & Patterson Ltd., decided the Red Lions future.
Sadly the pub was considered to be in too bad a condition and was subsequently demolished.
See also Alec Jolly's oral reminiscences of Hoxne and The Red Lion →
With thanks to the Potter family for the pictures.