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Detail Pages
The William, Kensal Green, NW10
NW10
NW10 5JX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The William
Visited 08/04/25
Surprise, surprise some cask finally on this second pass of NW10 with two hand pumps offering Gold from Purity and the black cherry Sea Cider. Keg offering of a couple from Forest Road, the Duke Dunkel and the House Lager, then Guinness, Pravha, Madri, Aspall cider, the House Pale and Arctic Sky from Harbour, Boogie Van IPA from Hackney, Alpacalypse and the Panama from Hammerton.
This is a large venue (which the lettering above the main entrance reveals this was once the William IV) with an imposing marble topped bar counter inside the entrance in a bare boarded venue with a lot of dark green wood panelling on the walls in the bar area. There are some brown studded leather banquettes in the front serving regular tables, the spin off seating area to the right of the entrance having some regular tables and chairs. The area to the left of the entrance and on the way to the outside space also had regular tables and chairs but which felt like a dining area. The outside space at the back accessed to the left of the bar counter was pleasant with some interesting areas with some sheltered parts and some nice lighting. This place felt like it was for diners but with almost no diners. I thought it was an interesting venue and did at least have some cask beer so an extra point for that! Probably the best option for cask fans if compelled to be in NW10.
The venue is one of only three offering cask beer on my multi-day crawl of NW10, the other two being the Chamberlayne and the Island. Mask of shame to the Grand Junction Arms that should have been the fourth having all of its Original dispensing hand pumps non-operational on my visit. Slim pickings around here for cask beer fans.
On 18th July 2025
- rating: 5
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 774 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about William IV
All the details you need in Tris C's review below. I would not have had it down as an interior of Regional Importance on my visit.
Looks like a pub that used to be something. Imposing outside. Spacious inside. Nice garden.
Very much gastro orientated now - meals encouraged. No cask on - two pumps were clip-less.
Interesting Japanese Lager on Keg. £6.
Nothing to make me want to revisit.
On 20th September 2022
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1659 recommendations about 1636 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about William IV
Situated opposite Kensal Green Cemetery, this dates from 1837, rebuilt in the 1930s and listed on CAMRA’s inventory of pubs with historic interiors, this registering of Regional Importance on the CAMRA scale. No longer is this mainly a hotel, it’s open seven days a week for public consumption.
The interior is best appreciated on their heritage website and my photo, but otherwise it’s a large opened out space with great 1930s’ fireplaces and slightly Gothic arches, with black wood panelling, giving a slightly baronial feel. The bar array is quite ornate and may be original. Furniture is eclectic, with décor comprising sundry knickknacks along with a skeleton grandfather clock, upright piano and pot plants. The interior has clearly had some reordering done, as the gent’s cubicle was once a shower, the head outlet pipe capped and an activator button at waist height; it was also missing a lock too.
Customers were moderate in number on a mid-Thursday evening, but were all young and probably local professionals.
The ale front was sadly predictable, with two unused pumps, me plumping for a half of Purity’s Longhorn IPA at a surprising £2.85.
This place is ok and would be a lot better with a good selection of real ale and upgraded lavatory facilities. However, it makes for a good heritage triple header with the Mason’s Arms and Paradise thing round the corner.
On 29th January 2022
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2267 recommendations about 2219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about William IV
Somewhat faded glory, but this still impressive building is now open as a pub again as well as being a hotel. Partly opened-out as to form a large 'L'-shaped bar with slightly eclectic furniture and decor, whilst the smaller side room seems be used for a café. Also has a covered oriental area at the back and some patio furniture out front. No real ale, and just a limited number of keg offerings, so I just had a quick Guinness (£2.50, half).
On 28th January 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8813 recommendations about 8813 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about William IV
Reopened, but mainly as a hotel. Only open to the public on Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
On 8th May 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3308 recommendations about 3218 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about William IV
The King William IV is a handsome and imposing Victorian boozer with bay trees flanking the main door and renovated interior. Sadly, it wasn't open when we visited on Thursday lunchtime but a peep through the window revealed a handpump displaying a Doom Bar pumpclip.
On 16th December 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 688 recommendations about 687 pubs]