The Kings Head, Bexley

Official site of The Kings Head - www.thekingsheadbexley.com

Official site of The Kings Head - www.thekingsheadbexley.com

Historic weatherboarded pub with its age indicated by a low wood-beamed ceiling all around the central servery. It must have been remodelled at some stage, with an opened-out room further back to the right and additional seating area (with a rear dining room beyond) on the other side, but all still appears very traditional. Patio area out front. Greene King IPA, Abbot and Old Golden Hen (£3.70) available from the two banks of three handpumps on opposite sides of the bar.

This seems to be a destination pub, although it can't be for the beer. Inside it's got all the attributes of a traditional country pub, including a dangerously low ceiling, black ceiling beams adorned with horse brasses, black beams on the bar counter front and walls, massive wooden posts, rough plastered walls, and a massive brick built fireplace at the back of the main room on the right. Even the door between the kitchen and the main room is a massive iron-studded affair. Furnishings are mainly settles, small round stools, normal tables and chairs, and with a couple of large sofas in front of the large fireplace. The country pub look seems to me to be the real deal, but if not then someone has done a great job of making it look that way. The pub stretches back to the left of the servery into more drinking areas, and with a couple more fireplaces. When you think you've reached the end of the pub you can push open the glazed and unsigned door to enter another comfortable lounge with its own bar counter. It looks like the sort of room that would be used for private functions. There's a Greene King sign outside tucked away to the left of the pub, so it's no surprise that the ales on were GK IPA, Old Speckled Hen, and Abbot. They were doing a good trade in lunches when I was in on Saturday afternoon. Sarnies cost between £4.50 and £5.50. I had a roast beef sarny for a fiver, which was good quality and came with some salad, coleslaw and a few crisps. The more substantial stuff costs a bit more - e.g. 3 x Cumberland sausages, mash and gravy is £7. That all seems quite reasonable to me. This is a cracking little pub, although I certainly wouldn't recommend it for the beer alone. I would give it a higher rating if it did something other than Greene King ales, but if you're a fan of GK ales then I reckon you will love this place.