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The Red King was situated at 162 Bury New Road.
From Architects Of Greater Manchester:
Named after the character in Alice through the Looking Glass, and the only public house so named, the Red King, at Whitefield was built in 1885 as a replacement for the William IV beer‑house. Road improvements at the junction of Bury New Road and Moss Lane to improve access to the intended Whitefield Station had necessitated the demolition of the earlier beer-house, although the station was eventually built on Stanley Road. As with the Smut Inn and Black Friar, literary quotations again appeared; one over the door on Bury New Road: Welcome The Coming Speed The Parting Quest and a further quotation on Moss Lane in small individual gold letters under the chimney: There Is Measure In Everything. The Moss Lane elevation also has a date‑stone for the rebuilding and a monogram HB while on Bury New Road there is yet another terra-cotta distance marker set into the brickwork giving distances to Manchester Town Hall, Radcliffe Bridge and Bury in miles and yards. Early photograph (c1915) shows a door into the Vault immediately to the right of the main entrance; this has since been removed and the opening incorporated as part of the bay window. Although built at Boddingtons’ expense, the landlord of the William IV became the registered owner of the Red King. Bought by Boddingtons about 1900.
From an 1892 book charting the history of Besses o’ th’ Barn Band from 1818-1892:
At the end of 1866, another very important change took place. A certain building, adjoining the Red King Hotel, which had been erected at the expense of Mr. J. Hacking, late landlord of the Red King, formerly and previous to being rebuilt called William IV., was the subject of some comment by certain individuals in connection with the band, in reference to the feasibility of its suggestive adaptability for a band room, and social or workingmen's club. Accordingly, upon the recommendation of one or two, a meeting was convened for the purpose of discussing the same, which ended in a resolution being adopted, appointing and authorising a deputation, consisting of three or four members, to wait upon Mr. Hacking, relative to the acquiring of the premises. This accomplished satisfactorily, a special meeting of band members and honorary members was called for the purpose of adopting, or otherwise, Mr. Hacking's terms, which proved to be £10 per year rental, with the option of purchase at any time for £150. The meeting resolved unanimously (with the exception of two dissentients), to rent the premises for the first year, and if possible, purchase at the expiration of that term. And, finally, in November, 1885, articles and conditions were signed to that effect. The building was now stripped from roof to floor, cleaned and beautified throughout, and in addition to a refreshment bar, the games of billiards, cards, draughts, &c., instituted. The result being a great inducement for honorary members to join, at a subscription of one shilling per quarter, the proceeds of which, after defraying all necessary or incumbent expenses, to be devoted to the tuition fund of the band; the band members to be financially responsible under the title of “Besses-o' th'-Barn Old Band Social Club Union.” The results of the first few months' working of the Club were very gratifying, and this, with the continued booking of engagements, which month by month increased, proved a very strong impetus to still pull together and try to verify the superlative claims of the past by a repetition of similar successes.
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Other Photos
1892 advertisement	Picture source: Steve Hughes