The Lion Hotel, Guildford was on the High Street, opposite Quarry Street. We know that Dick Keeble’s band Keys of Swing were certainly playing there on Boxing Day ’45. In ’48, when the proprietors were W. & E. Russell-Owen there were regular dances on Saturday nights.

The hotel was demolished c’57 to make way for Woolworth, which in turn was demolished to make way for White Lion Walk.

Gallery:

26 Dec 1945: Dick Keeble’s Keys of Swing at the Lion Hotel, Guildford. Source: Carol McCallum via Woking Old and New (Doing it together)
1948 advert for dancing at the Lion Hotel, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
Lion Hotel Guildford in 1956. Source: Guildford Museum via Ben Darnton and Guildford Town Past & Present
The Lion Hotel, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
Lion Hotel Guildford. Source: Adela Stenning via Guildford Town Past & Present