Red Lion Hotel, Ayton, Scotland 1973

Standing prominently on Ayton’s High Street, the Red Lion Hotel is a striking example of an 18th-century coaching inn that has long served travellers passing through the Scottish Borders. With its classic whitewashed façade, arched pend entrance, and Georgian proportions, the Red Lion is more than just a local hotel—it’s a building steeped in the history of transport, trade, and hospitality in southern Scotland.

A Landmark on the Road North

Built in the late 1700s, the Red Lion Hotel was originally established to accommodate travellers on the important coaching route between London and Edinburgh. In the era before railways, Ayton lay on a key stretch of road for horse-drawn mail and passenger coaches heading to and from the Scottish capital.

The building’s original layout reflects its purpose: a long eight-bay frontage, central entrance, and a large arched pend that led to stabling and outbuildings at the rear. Inside, visitors would have found comfortable if modest rooms, a bar or taproom, and meals suited to weary travellers and drivers.

Over time, the Red Lion was expanded with additional rear wings and modest architectural changes, but its essential character and proportions have remained remarkably well-preserved.

Architecture and Design

The Red Lion Hotel is listed as a Category C listed building, recognising its local importance and well-preserved features. The building is rendered and whitewashed, with painted stone dressings that frame the traditional sash-and-case windows. The central porch and gabled dormers give it a solid, symmetrical appearance typical of late Georgian inns.

To either side of the main building are low boundary walls, each topped with painted lion statues—a playful visual reminder of the building’s name and a feature that has become familiar to generations of Ayton residents.

The rear of the hotel retains signs of its original use, with evidence of old coach houses, stables, and service entrances still visible in the layout.

A Social Hub in the Village

While the coaching era faded with the arrival of the railway, the Red Lion remained a central fixture in village life. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, it served as a gathering place for locals, a stop for commercial travellers, and a venue for meetings, events, and celebrations.

Visitors staying in Ayton today often use the Red Lion as a base for exploring the Berwickshire coast, nearby Ayton Castle, or the borderlands beyond. Its traditional character and convenient location near the old A1 route have made it a favourite with walkers, cyclists, and those seeking a quiet Highland break.

A Living Link to the Past

Despite changes in transport and tourism, the Red Lion Hotel has endured, adapting to new generations while retaining its historic identity. It remains a tangible reminder of the days when Ayton was a bustling staging post, and its continued use as a hotel keeps the spirit of the coaching inn alive.