The Kings Arms, Bexleyheath

This is a fairly large, traditional town centre pub situated at one end of Bexleyheath’s pedestrianised High Street. The pub has been opened out to a degree, but still retains the feel of having a series of separate rooms. You enter through the corner door into a carpeted main bar with the servery running in an L shape around the front and left side of the room. The bar has an angular dark wood counter and a nice stained glass canopy. The front part of the pub is fairly spacious and offers standard seating under the front windows, making it an ideal spot to watch the shoppers go about their business outside. A plasma screen TV was turned off here and I noticed a dartboard as well, but most customers were sat down the left side of the pub where a row of standard tables and chairs can be found alongside a juke box and another TV screen, this time showing live rugby union with fairly loud music replacing the commentary. A good number of people had broken off from their Christmas shopping to stop in for a bite to eat, although I didn’t see any menus on any of the tables. The room extends into what looks like a relatively new part of the pub – a much plainer space which has been set up as a dining area of sorts, with minimal décor and basic table and chair arrangements. Meanwhile, an area to the right of the pub, behind the servery, had rather imaginatively been converted into a Christmas grotto of sorts, which I thought was a decent effort to encourage families to spend a bit of time in the pub over the festive period. There are three handpulls here, but only one was in action on my late November visit, dispensing Caledonian 80- for £3.40 a pint. I tried a half and thought it was probably a bit past its best, but it was served up by a friendly enough barman. I thought this was a fairly functional pub that probably struggles to attract High Street trade given that it is sandwiched roughly equidistant between two Wetherspoons pubs. I found it fine for a quick drink in passing and a decent enough counterpoint to the aforementioned chain pubs.

The Kings Arms is a purpose built pub dating from 1843 but has undergone major alterations in 1935 and 1984 that have removed much of whatever original charm it may have once had. The carpeted interior is quite bland and unremarkable with standard pub fittings and furnishings. There are some interesting pictures of old Dartford and Bexleyheath on display that may be of note to nostalgic locals. The rear has been expanded and appears to me used more by lunchtime diners. 4 flat screen TV’s are dispersed throughout the pub and a dartboard can be found to the right of the bar in the front section. There is also a jukebox. Not much on the beer front with 3 hand pumps but just Courage Best available which at £3 is reasonable enough and quality has always been OK on my visits. The place appears to play little more than a functional role for daytime shoppers looking to take the weight of their feet or for a crafty pint whilst the Mrs steers herself around poundland. Whilst it has always been welcoming and friendly enough, I have yet to be in the place in an evening when it has been anything more than deserted. Given that it is prominently placed in the heart of the shopping area, it could, with a bit of effort and imagination, be much more appealing to a wider range of potential customers. As it is, the place is distinctly average.

popped in after shopping on sat afternoon, had some good quality food at very reasonable prices, staff were very courteous & friendly. cut a long story short, live music/d.j. started at 8pm-12pm had a great time, recommend a visit, have been quite a few times since & have had a good experience every time. thanks to sue & paul for making the pub a friendly welcoming expeience. regards paul

Randomness Guide to London - Kings Arms entry

Randomness Guide to London - Kings Arms entry