The Kings Stores, E1

I thought that this pub was a little disappointing as it is rather bland and not what one would expect to find down an old London backstreet. Three of the four hand pumps were off leaving only Old Speckled Hen alongside the standard draught selection, Leffe and Peroni. Food is served all day and there is a function room upstairs that is available for hire. I spotted no Sky Sports Advertisements, but there is a projector screen in the front bar area and a plasma screen on the wall by the bar. There is also some more seating at the rear of the pub past the ladies and gents. There are far better pubs in this area.

The Kings Stores is tucked behind Bishopsgate at the end of Widegate Street in the small back streets on the way to Spitalfields. It takes its name from being situated on the location of a munitions storage depot for the English armies during the reign of Henry VIII. The present building is from 1902 with a decent looking Victorian exterior but inside has succumbed to a GK modern makeover with wooden flooring and seating and brightly painted walls and lighting. It’s a corner pub with an open area downstairs and a function room upstairs. Gets packed and very noisy when busy with city workers and quiet outside of these times. Has only ever had GK IPA and Abbot on during my visits and I usually only stay for one as the Williams round the corner has the same beers in a much more traditional setting than the fairly bland bright interior of the Kings Stores.