The Kings Arms, SE1

Rather nice rustic pub at the end of a terrace of London brick houses. Two rooms split at the front with snob screen & a longer back area fiven over to food. Wood floors & seating, all very nice with a trendy comfortable tired at the edges kind of feel. Fairly close to Waterloo station. 5 real ales

I've visited this pub many times over the years but for reason have never reviewed it. Anyway, it's little changed over the last 20 years or so since I first visited it. This remains a pub of two halves - at the front you have the public and saloon bars divided by a screen (but no longer divided by social standing of course) and having their own doors onto the street. At the very back you have the extension, or "overflow" room that has been added to the original pub. Whereas the two original bars are small and have just a bit of seating (normal tables and chairs - no room for sofas here), the majority of seating, including some that would accommodate larger groups, is in the back room. If there's only two or three of you the front bar's the best, not least because that's where the bar counters are sited, but if you're a slightly larger group the back bar's better. When I was in early Wednesday evening it was very busy with commuters snatching a no doubt well earned swift one on the way to Waterloo Station, as Roupell Street St is a popular pedestrian route to the station. Roupell St itself is something of an anachronism in London with its small terraced houses with doors leading straight onto the street, and is often used as a film/TV set when a poor, working class street needs to be depicted. But you can be sure that its occupants nowadays are not poor or working class! Anyway, it was too busy to see all the handpumps (there are some in both the saloon and public bars), but there were little blackboards on the counters saying what was available in the other bar - useful if you can get close enough to the bar to see them. Also, the back bar has a board on the wall detailing the available ales. The ales I did spot were three from Cornish brewery Firebrand; Darkstar Partridge; and something from Cronx Croydon brewery. There may have been on or two ther that I missed, but in any case is a much better selection than the last time I was in here a few years ago. This pub is definitely worth a visit, but in my opinion best avoided when the post work rush is in full flow.

Still retains 2 separate bars (there's a narrow passage behind the bar, if you don't fancy traipsing into the street), neither of which is huge, but contained the crowds ok on my recent visit. The space is supplemented by a bigger back room which they'll happily reserve for parties. Each bar offers 5 hand pumps, and a small blackboard on the bar shows you what's on in the other room. There's a really good, traditional, feel about the Kings Arms, and the ale's good too. I'd happily return.

Very busy little pub with 8 beers on.It may once have been a working class area but don't expect working class prices.Nice pub though and superb beer from Alchemy and Brains Craft.Will return.

This is an interesting traditional pub, tucked away down a quiet backstreet, but surprisingly close to Waterloo East station. The pub retains a two bar interior, with access through the front and side entrances taking you into the saloon bar which has bare floorboards and some standard chairs and low stools around small round tables. The servery curves nicely into the room with an interestingly designed overhead shelf for storing glasses. Both doors have heavy curtains behind them, which can be drawn round to retain the heat in colder months and there are lamps in the window sills and old paintings and drawings of the local area on the walls, which add to the traditional feel. There is a similar, perhaps somewhat narrower, bar on the other side of the servery, with plenty more low stool seating and its own bank of hand pumps. This looked like a cosy and quiet spot to relax over a few pints judging by my Sunday afternoon visit. To the rear of the pub there is a rather large dining room with a brick floor, larger tables, including some high tables down one side of the room, and a skylit roof. The room was nicely decorated and actually had something of a cosy, rural feel to it, I thought. Despite the efforts to maintain a traditional feel, the pub has managed to attract a varied customer base through a more modern approach to its food and drink. The menu for example, offers Thai food six days of the week, with tradition restored on Sunday’s when the good old-fashioned roast is available instead. On the ale front, nine hand pumps offer a range of interesting beers from established and up and coming British breweries. On my visit the saloon bar pumps offered Sharps Ale of Kings, Brains Rev James, Redemption Urban Dusk, Clarence and Frederick Smoked Red and Adnams Southwold Bitter. In the public bar, another Clarence and Frederick beer was available alongside Orkney Skullsplitter, Worthington’s Red Shield and a beer called St George’s, although I failed to note the brewery. I tried the Urban Dusk and it was in great condition. This is one of four pubs run by the Windmill Tavern group, each of which is themed very differently (food, sport, cocktails, traditional). I really like what they have done with this place and would be keen to try their interpretation on other pub styles. In an unusual role reversal, this place was recommended to me by my other half, who enjoyed the Thai food on a night out here. I would happily pass on the recommendation to anyone looking for a good pint in warm, comfortable surroundings.