Mayfair's Red Lion – beyond recognition!

Mayfair's famous Sixties haunt of the offshore jocks, The Red Lion, had walls that were seeped in tales of broadcasting from the briny. Just around the corner from 17 Curzon Street, Caroline House and 32 Curzon Street, the HQ of Radio England, the old pub and its landlord of more recent years, Greg Peck, had seen many watery wireless reunions, including Caroline in 2004 and Radio England/Britain Radio in 2006.

The Red Lion closed unexpectedly in 2009 and the building had been derelict for some time. One of the problems is reputed to have been people drinking outside in the street, to which the pirates contributed wholeheartedly, as these photos show. The brewery decided the site was worth more as an asset and sold it. Now a transformation has taken place and those who remember the pub will be astonished to see it in its new role as 'Red Lion House' – a £25 million seven-storey luxury residence, with a lift if you don't fancy climbing all those stairs. It's still slightly watery though, as it now has a swimming pool in the basement.

We have collected together a montage of photos from offshore gatherings held in the Red Lion, trying to include those that give a flavour of the old building, both in and outside. Everything has been demolished, except for the original facade.

In 2002, John Aston, Mick Luvzit, Gord Cruse, Kenny Tosh, Graham Webb and Bud Ballou paid a visit to the pub on a Sunday and disappointingly, found it closed	A much bigger group poses outside in 2004, during Roger 'Twiggy' Day's Caroline reunion

Some of the post-MOA outlaws: Admiral Robbie Dale, Johnnie Walker, Twiggy Day and Spangles Muldoon	Engineer George Saunders chats to Simon Dee while John Aston decorates the pub with posters and memorabilia

Behind Colin Berry, landlord Greg Peck phones in the news of a pirate invasion.	Paul McKenna, Ronan O'Rahilly and David Williams. Another of the ubiquitous red lions is behind Ronan's head.

Rick Randell, his wife Joy and Larry Dean prop up the bar during Grey Pierson's Radio England/Britain Radio reunion, 2006	Filming Mary in the restaurant for Grey's SRE documentary. (Note the red lion on the glass panel behind her.)

In the bar, Chris records a phonecall with Jack Curtiss Down Under. In the background are Paula Pierson and Steve England.	Phil Martin, Twiggy Day, Johnnie Walker, Rick Randell and Larry Dean sing for England - Radio England, that is

There was rumoured to be a secret door or shortcut that conveniently linked Chesterfield Gardens (behind this ivy-clad wall) and Waverton Street