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Detail Pages
Skinners Arms, WC1
WC1
WC1H 9NT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about Skinners Arms
With the current closure of the nearby McGlynn's this is now my current goto pub close to KK station for a decent pint and it did not disapoint again yesterday. All six ale pumps in operation and alongside the permanent GK IPA and Abbot was TT Landlord, St Austel Proper Job, By the Horns Diamond Geezer Red Ale and Exeter Brewery Avocet Ale. Between us we tried all the non GK brews and they were all in good condition and served by a competent team behind the jump.
On 28th February 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2109 recommendations about 1991 pubs]
Graham Coombs left this review about Skinners Arms
I am guessing this was one of the old Taylor Walker heritage pub restorations; at any rate it is difficult to know which bits are original and which are modern reproductions but the overall historic effect is nice enough. One of the Greene King pubs which has managed to retain a few guests, in this case Exeter Avocet, Sharps Solar Wave, Tribute and Landlord alongside the obligatory IPA and Abbot.
On 27th May 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Skinners Arms
Attractive corner pub with some stained and etched glass and other heritage features both inside and out. Comfortable split level bar with further seating in a room beyond. Traditional dark furniture and decor throughout, but not to the extent that the interior becomes overly gloomy. Also has a few patio tables out on the pavement. On this revisit, the six handpumps were featuring the regular Greene King IPA and seasonal Rocking Rudolph plus Landlord and Tribute as the well-known guests and Exeter's Avocet Ale and Hopadelic from By the Horns (£5.25) as rarer visitors. Well worth a visit if in the Kings Cross / St Pancras area.
On 18th December 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Skinners Arms
An impressive street corner Victorian pub,the doors marked Saloon and Public Bar hint at a former layout,these days it's open plan but with a raised section opposite the bar,and a lower ceiling section at the rear with a bench seat.The interior is dark with lots of wood panelling,drapes and slats covering the top half of the large windows which partially obscures some good stained glass.The glazed tiled fireplace looks operational.The overall feel is traditional,even plush in parts.The flatscreens were playing BBC News on mute while the muzak was a touch too loud.
It's in the 2020 GBG and has three handpumps offering Three Sods Session IPA,GK Old Golden Hen and St Austell Proper Job (£3.75 ,NBSS 3.5).The food offering is very reasonable for the area with small plates,wraps and baguettes £6,mains £9-£12.
If you are waiting for a train at St Pancras,this pub may well work.Good for a quick one but maybe not the ale range for a long session.
On 6th October 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Skinners Arms
Good Beer Guide 2019 entry.
Would expect the bar staff to know a bit more about the offerings - rather than answering the question "what is the Sambrooks Lavender Hill like" with "Its an Ale, innitt".
It was a very good ale.
High seating overlooking a traditional wooden bar with "Skinners arms" in the detail.
Mistakenly, I sat outside. The last time I was hassled by gentlemen of the street this much was outside the Bree Louise.
On 7th July 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Skinners Arms
Easily the busiest of the pubs I visited in my brief crawl of the Kings Cross area, which is not surprising as it's very close to Euston Road and the stations there. The fact that a number of people were eating, or had recently finished doing so, meant that there was quite a strong smell of chips and the inevitable salt and vinegar, which I find rather off-putting when I'm out for a beer. Nevertheless I approached the bar counter where I saw six hand pumps with five beers available. I went for the Reunion Opening Gambit, which was well kept and to my taste, so the most enjoyable beer of my little jaunt around Kings Cross. I might give this another try, but if the problem of chip smells persists, I would be inclined to give it a miss.
On 6th March 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3724 recommendations about 3461 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Skinners Arms
A fairly traditionally laid out London pub,It did seem a little Nicholsons like to me but this is a Greene King pub that thankfully has a reasonable guest policy.The pub has been well visited recently so no need to repeat the discription here apart from the beers on, across the six hand pumps were two from GK, IPA and Abbot, St Austell Liquid Sunshine and Oakham JHB,two pumps were vacant on my visit,an Ok selection and indeed an Ok pub and I would look in again if passing but it didn't set my pulse racing.
On 15th July 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Skinners Arms
Spent a very enjoyable evening in this traditional back street Kings Cross pub. The ornate decor with leaded stained glass and dark wood panelling has been well described already and it seemed to be catering well to the after work eating and drinking crowd. As previously reported there is quite a lot of Green King branding but fortunately none of the evil brews were on for our visit. There is in fact six hand pumps in two banks of three and what initially confused us was that the three available beers are spread over both. So on initially walking up to one set and thinking there was only one beer on we fortunately glanced two more available at the other end.
This seemed to be a cunning plan as during the several hours we were there new beers appeared on the spare pumps as the others went off.
We started with Kings Heritage Brighton Best, Oakham Scarlet Macaw and Sambrooks Junction and as these ended, Oakham Citra and Inferno and Redemption Pale Ale replaced them.
Will certainly search this one out again when in the KK area.
On 23rd June 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2109 recommendations about 1991 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Skinners Arms
Largely as described below, quite an ornate pub with leaded stained glass, dark wood panelling, carpeted with traditional furniture and Pugin-esque wallpaper. There's also a real log fire which sadly wasn't in use, despite the inclement weather. There's a mixed crowd here with families, locals and some tourists. Music was muted and a TV, off, was spotted. Food is more along the lines of chicken and ham pie and sausages, so certainly not a gastropub then. I too spotted an old bloke on crutches being helped by the staff and the landlord took a great deal of time and care when taking a food order from a group whose English wasn't great.
On the down side, the ale choice is limited. I spotted only three pumps, one not in use and the other two dispensing St. Austell's Tribute and Greene King IPA at a reasonable (for the area) £2.00 a half and OK.
This is a good pub and is certainly worth a visit if in the area, but it's let down by the limited ale choice.
On 30th April 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1982 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Skinners Arms
A Greene King branded place but no sign of their wares inside, Young's Bitter, Adnam's Southwold, St Austell Tribute and Moor So Hop were on, one unclipped, on reversed which actually may have been GK IPA. This is a nice proper pub, carpeted, slightly raised area in front of the bar, the bar back is attractive and has the pub name inscribed above. A fireplace with nice looking tiling had a proper blaze on the go, stained glass over the entrance doors with "Bar" and "Saloon" still showing, stacks of framed stuff of interest to read and look at, all the stuff that tends to appeal to me. The main room extends back and tapers towards the rear. Nice friendly service and pleasing to see when a bloke struggling on crutches entered that the barman gestured him to sit down and served him at the table.
On 1st February 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]