Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW

Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat on the Pub Forum

Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Tuesday, 11^th September 2018
With picture contributions to 5437 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (27 more images)

Only members may add pictures, click to receive free membership

Detail Pages

Pub map
Pub reviews (11)
Pub pictures (28)
Page updates

The Kings Arms, Bethnal Green, E2

11a Buckfast Street
E2
E2 6EY

Phone: 02077292627

Correct details

Served areas

Bethnal Green

Tweets by The Kings Arms

The Kings Arms 4:04 PM May 31st 2023 from Twitter for Android

View the full twitter feed for The Kings Arms

Reviews of The Kings Arms (Average Rating: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Tris C left this review about The Kings Arms

A first in here the other night, this pub dates back to at least 1835, but I suspect that it was rebuilt sometime later in the 19th century. As mentioned, it has recently been done up with various extensions and although the old Courage sign bracket remains, sadly the old illuminated red 'cockerel' box sign above the door has been removed.
Unsurprisingly it hasn't changed since the review below. A fairly stark interior with t 'n' g panelling painted dark green. The floor's bare boarded and there's glazed white tiling to the central bar area. Lighting is somewhat industrial, with flexes, shallow metal shades and filament bulbs in wire enclosures, looking like inspection lamps; the overall lighting effect is somewhat gloomy. Décor isn't a high priority here, save for some framed lepidoptera. Furniture comprises some basic wooden bench seating to the periphery along with some plain wood and metal chairs; there are some drinking ledges with tall stools as well as stools to the bar so that barholes can block it. There was a decent soundtrack playing over the gramophone to a young crowd, though more genteel than the hordes at the Well & Bucket; a couple sat in silence, working on their laptops.
The barman was courteous and efficient, presiding over 13 keg taps, just three real ales (one unused pump) and two ciders, their names, ABV and price displayed on a board: Northern Monk's Eternal, Five Points' Pale and Marble's Manchester Bitter at a reasonable £2.20 a half and very gorgeous it was too, despite being served in a wineglass.
It's hard to rate this place - my drink was lovely, but just three ales from four pumps in a specialist beer outlet is a bit lame, or it is for someone who prefers not to drink keg stuff. The lack of creature comforts is a bit of a tired affectation and the gloomy lighting doesn't help, but I'd be happy to pop in if in the area, which holds few attractions.

On 16^th August 2019 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2207 recommendations about 2164 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Quinno _ left this review about The Kings Arms

A drop-by here with Retriedmartin en route to see the mighty Prolapse. Almost no discernible changes to report. A number of cask on and our Redemption Big Chief was in great shape. Beer menus at the tables, freshly printed as they included the cask offerings by name. Prices were very reasonable for London, so fair play – my Big Chief was £3.80pp and the most expensive beer was £4.20. A few people in so it looks like it’s holding it own (maybe that influx I predicted happened…?). A worthy place to seek out and enjoy a pint or two, though it does lack that bit of intrinsic warmth to make it a true stand-out in London; as noted below, ‘comfort is not a high priority here’. 7.5

February 2014
One of the new wave of craft pubs that are springing up round London. This one is located in an area where I imagine isn’t quite ready for it (judging by the ethnicity of most of the locals we walked past on the way who I imagine answer the call to prayer rather than the call to bar), but I suspect the owners are planning ahead for the inevitable influx of those with a disposable income priced out of whatever the current hot areas of the capital are. At the bar: six ale pumps, 14 keg (with a good number of overseas imports). All taps unlabelled, look to the right hand wall for black and white signage listing the beers and prepare to take a sharp intake of breath if you aren’t acquainted with craft bar prices. An inevitably eclectic selection, I plumped for the Anarchy Rum and Raisin which was really rather tasty and in good shape. Obligatory hipster barman who was pretty good at his job, to be fair. An island bar (with a nice metro-tiled sort-of bar back) allows for a variety of seating areas. Interior décor a bit stark, consisting of dark green tongue-and-groove panelling and basic wooden seating. Framed and mounted insect and butterfly/moth specimens were of interest. Flowers also present on the tables. I wouldn’t be averse to a revisit here. Rated 7

On 30^th August 2018 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

hondo . left this review about The Kings Arms

Nice old style exterior with a bare boarded interior. Central island bar was serving 13 keg,3 cask,3 ciders( listed on the right hand wall) and an extensive bottle selection

On 26^th September 2017 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2933 recommendations about 2866 pubs]

View more reviews of The Kings Arms (11)

External web links for The Kings Arms

Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.