Our history

the Lion ballroom

In 1839 the Red Lion Inn was bought by James Woodhouse along with the building next door and they were combined to form a new refurbished hotel know as Lion Hotel. This was one of five coaching inns in Leominster. James Woodhouse’s vision was to have an assembly room at the hotel and he employed John Collins the architect to design the Lion Assembly Room now know as The Lion Ballroom.

The building works were completed in May 1843. In December Thomas Prosser bought the building and dinner was held to celebrate the new landlord and this magnificent new venue. Tickets cost one sovereign and included dinner, wine, dessert and waiter service.

In 1853 with the arrival of the railways, coaching inns were no longer needed and within three months the Lion Hotel was in decline and up for rent.

By 1861 the Lion Hotel had been closed for some years and was then bought by an ironmonger, Samuel Alexander. His business was called Lion Implement Warehouse and his showroom was in the ballroom and occasionally it was used for social gatherings.

During the 1920’s the building diversified and sold a wide range of wares from a sack needle to a threshing machine. The domestic and furnishings were displayed in the former Assembly Rooms.

In 1975 Alexander and Duncan moved and the premises were sold to the Hinton family.

New plans were drawn up for the redevelopment of the whole of the Lion Yard including repairs and restoration of the ballroom. At this point the ballroom was in a very sorry state but not beyond repair. Much of the plasterwork was cracked or missing, notably a large section in the middle of the ceiling which had fallen out and been plastered over to make good. The chandeliers were missing, and the floor needed repairing. Artistic Plasterwork of Bath carefully repaired this plasterwork and water-based paints were used in thin coats to revive the walls. A new entrance hall, stairs, lift, catering facilities and toilets were also incorporated into the building works. This was partly funded by grants and the balance met by the owners, John and Stuart Hinton.

In 1980 The Lion Ballroom was re-graded as a Grade 2* listed building by the Historic Buildings Council and has since been used for private hire, concerts and as a venue for community functions.