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Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Friday, 4th September 2026
With picture contributions to 13157 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (35 more images)
Detail Pages
Old Kings Head, SE1
SE1
SE1 1NA
Served areas
Reviews of Old Kings Head (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Old Boots left this review about Old Kings Head
Hiding up a narrow alley off Borough High St near the famous George, its a late Victorian pub, a bit of surface modernisation but underlying is a decent old pub. Inside is a single squarish room with the counter in the right rear corner. Four pulls, two on each face of the L shaped counter, Taylors Landlord, St Austell Tribute and Proper Job and an excellent Harveys Sussex Best. Carpeted and with traditional wooden furniture, tongue and groove, the front windows are rather excellent. Decor on one wall is two large murals one of old London bridge the other of the old pub in 1871. It has a number of large screens mostly on sport and silent but one was on a music channel on low sound. The toilets are through a door to the right side, passing along what appears to have been a side alley, there is also a door to an upstairs function room.
On 16th October 2026
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 4293 recommendations about 3953 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Old Kings Head
Can't believe I've never been here before. The Good Beer Guide pointed it out to me and in my last visit, the alley it hides down was packed with footie fans. Saved for a quieter day and after the madness of Borough Market, this 10:30am opener was just what was needed.
A single roomer with a central bar. Two real ales in front, but unless you want to risk missing out, a further two around the corner. I missed out of Harveys Sussex best with a Proper Job.
One wall with massive art works of the area in the C17th and of the original London Bridge.
Impressive etched glassworks.
Cricket was on a number of TVs - at a volume that you wouldnt expect from a sedate sport.
Interesting and worth a visit.
On 19th June 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1926 recommendations about 1886 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Old Kings Head
Being here by the mid-16th century is no surprise to me, given the history of the area and its pubs in general, the current incarnation dating from 1881.
It’s quite a large single room, carpeted with some stained glass; a mural of old London Bridge prior to the Great Fire of 1666 and a typical coaching inn’s alleyway covers the left-hand wall, where a modest TV hangs, showing the footie; for once people were actually watching it, which comes as no surprise as this is a very blokey pub – with not one woman – to the point that on entering, I wondered if it was a gay pub, but then gay men don’t dress like the blokes in here. Brimful of Asha on the 45 played at a reasonable level and there are some knickknacks about the place, with a traditional bar array, serving up Southwark’s Mayflower Session Ale, Doom, Sussex Best and Proper Job, at an unacceptable £3.00 a half, though good.
With a good vibe, this is quite a nice pub, certainly just about the last traditional boozer in the area, other pubs having all been trendified; I’d pop in here again if in the area, but the down-to-earth air of the place can in no way justify the high prices; the ‘fashionable’ pubs by Borough Market don’t charge this much.
On 31st October 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2351 recommendations about 2289 pubs]
View more reviews of Old Kings Head (20)
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- Official site of the Old Kings Head - www.theoldkingshead.uk.com
- Randomness Guide to London - Old Kings Head entry
- Facebook - The Old King's Head
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Old Kings Head - whatpub.com
London Bridge, 0.31 miles, 5 min walk (show)
London Cannon Street, 0.58 miles, 11 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 30 July 2013 by Moby Duck
- Darts : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 30 July 2013 by Moby Duck
- Function Room : Yes - From review - last updated 12 September 2013 by Dave McNally
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 30 July 2013 by Moby Duck
- Jukebox : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 30 September 2013 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 30 July 2013 by Moby Duck
- Real Cider : No last updated 31 October 2021 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 30 September 2013 by Quinno _
