The Kings Arms, Soho, W1

The pub’s licence dates back to 1706 and The Ancient Order of Druids was revived in here on 28 November 1781, though I suspect the place was rebuilt in the 19th century. This has also been an officially recognised gay pub since 1981, making it the oldest in Soho; it’s also a speciality hangout for so-called ‘gay bears’. With the name in etched mirrors to a fairly traditional bar back, it’s as described below; the interior’s quite simple, with some grey and white paint, then more interesting dark wood field panelling to the right-hand wall, which possibly dates from the ‘30s; on high, there are dark exposed rafters, with white Anaglypta infill. What little furniture here is traditional, with décor amounting to eclectic prints and tedious Halloween crap, nearly three weeks early. Entertainment came from fairly loud music and a games machine flashed. Customers were seemingly mostly gay, with a couple of older ‘bears’ sitting alone, nursing a pint, looking into the distance through the leaded windows. Ales amounted to Pride (obviously), clip reversed, then Doom, swerved in favour of a half of Kronenbourg at £2.65, predictable and served by a friendly barman. This place is harmless enough, far from being the most in-your-face of the area’s gay haunts, possibly because it’s outside the ‘gay village’, but it’s bordering on the dull, offering up little more than the bear necessities.

I had a decidedly average half of Doom Bar for £2.30, and another pump had a reversed London Pride clip on it. There was no sign of food early doors on a Wednesday. This is a very simple gay bar. There are a couple of tall tables and tall stools, some normal tables and chairs, including in a small area at the back past the counter. There's some fielded panelling on the walls, as well as on the bar counter front, but nothing of real heritage interest. I doubt whether I'll return. There are better pubs in Soho.

Official site of The Kings Arms - www.kingsarms-soho.co.uk

Official site of The Kings Arms - www.kingsarms-soho.co.uk

One of the many gay bars in and around Soho, but during the day it probably gets a fair amount of general passing trade until it livens-up later on. Anyway, the bar area has the usual dark-wood interior to be found in most semi-traditional London pubs, with only a low stage by the front windows hinting at the entertainment. Just London Pride (£4.45) available from one of a pair of handpumps, with a reversed Doom Bar clip on the other.

Scruffy sort of pub that suffer from lack of daylight.Decent Sharps -atlantic and hobgoblin on cask.

As with the previous review, a group of four of us unknowingly wandered into the Kings Arms in search of a decent pint on New years Day, after declaring that we should try a pub that we had never been in before. It wasn't until we were half way down our pints of Sharps Atlantic that my wife declared that she was the only woman in the pub. Sure enough, the place was heavily populated by larger gents with beards, who seemed to be settled in pairs around the place. On researching the pub after we had left, we were not surprised to find that the place specializes in entertaining "Bears" hence the clientele. Gay pubs don't bother me and neither did this one. Decent beer, reasonable décor and friendly staff did nothing to put me off finishing my pint, neither did the abundance of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. Probably won't call again, not really my scene.