The Kings Head, Leicester

One of two Black Country Ales pubs in Leicester, the Kings Head is the one I have visited most, as it's fairly close to the railway station. It is located on King Street, but you can also enter from a passageway to the rear off the pedestrianised New Walk, which is a much more pleasant tree-lined approach to the pub. A rooftop patio can also be accessed from steps at the rear of the building. The interior is a split-level single room that is carpeted and similar to most other BCA pubs, it is fairly plain. The long bar has a good selection of real ales, which are also listed on an electronic screen at one end of the bar. However, as we found out, the screen is not always up-to-date, especially when new beers have just come on. 4 Black Country Ales are regularly on - BFG, Fireside, Chain Ale & Pig on the Wall. Guest beers on our visit were Sharp's Atlantic, Milestone Honey Porter, AJ's Duke's Delight & Bewdley Sunshine & Worcestershire Sway. The real cider was Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon. Pub snacks are also available in a heated cabinet at the end of the bar. It contained samosas that were very good value. I think there were also various pies on offer. Still one of Leicester's best and most consistent pubs.

The Kings Head is a thin L-shaped pub with a banquette seating in the front windows either side of the entrance and a bar counter that runs up the right facing seating either side of a fireplace on the left wall. Steps towards the rear lead up to a raised seating area and the rear entrance. Football was on the television, half of the student age customers were watching this and the other half were practising quiz questions. On the bar the keg range is limited to just Carling, Staropramen, Madri and Guinness. Not a problem though as I think most come for the ale selection. Available during a recent midweek evening visit were Lenton Lane Brewery’s Cloudburst, Sharp’s Atlantic, Fixed Wheel Brewery’s Through and Off, Gwynt y Ddraig’s Black Dragon, Four offerings from Black Country Ales and a very nice Beowolf FHP Porter. The presence of hot and cold food containers on the bar mean that this will be my preferred lunchtime stop next time I’m in Leicester.

This is a narrow split level pub that is carpeted throughout. There is a patio at the rear of the upper level. The bar has stools along it but as it wasn't too busy on my early Thursday evening visit so the bar wasn't getting blocked. Ten beers were available with the usual three from Black Country, Broughs Springfield, Downton Gauls Of Fire, Severn Vale Nibley, Great Central Peak, Corvedale Norman's Pride, RCH PG Steam and Moorhouse Pride Of Pendle. All 7 of the guests were listed on the board as being Golden or Blonde bitters at around the 4% ABV mark, hardly an inspired selection and certainly not what I've seen in other Black Country pubs. I went for their own Fireside which was in good enough nick. This has been voted the local CAMRA pub of the year for two consecutive years but to be honest I found it pretty ordinary.

This was probably my favourite pub visited in Leicester but by no means the best for beer. The pub has been well reviewed already and I'll only add that it's location on New Walk is convenient and on our Friday evening visit the large log fire was lit making it a very comfortable and atmospheric place for a beer. The service was efficient and friendly although when asked for an ale recommendation, the young barmaid suggested one which didn't go down well. As a Black Country boozer there's clearly a slant towards their beers: Fireside, BFG and Pig on the Wall were available on our visit alongside 4T's Master, Lincoln Green Tuck and Thomas Guest Cobblers along with two kegs - Beaver Town Gamma Ray and Shiny Craft Bank Vault. Our experience was mixed with the Tuck and Master going down well but the Cobblers, as recommended, not being appreciated. It later transpired that Black Country also brew under the Thomas Guest name. Unlike some of their other establishments, perhaps BC are not stocking sufficient well selected guests here. Were The Kings Head to have some of the ale selections available elsewhere in Leicester, it would be the go to pub in the city. As it is, it's a very nice pub to visit but care needs to be taken when selecting your beer of choice.

I didn't know Black Country Ales had spread this far with their pubs but they continue to impress with taking pubs in untrendy areas or slightly out of the way and turning them into something very good! Ok, its not mega trndy, posh or arty venue for the city centre but its been given a big hug and tlc to make this a comfortable but with quality product. There is a roof terrace (albeit overlooking the adjoining car park). Good product, good service, fine place

Traditional, old fashioned (in a good way) pub run by Black Country Ales. Comfortable, split-level interior with a compact 'L'-shaped bar. Friendly atmosphere. Good choice from ten handpumps, including a nice pint of Coastal Merry Maidens Mild (£3.00). Well worth a visit.

A very different type of pub to the Pub just behind it across New Walk. However another great range of ales (although no where near as many as The Pub) mainly from The Black Country Brewery including there Winter ale. A proper traditional pub feel inside with mainly locals keeping the pub busy but not crowded late on a Saturday night, so enough room for us to find somewhere to sit.

Neat, traditional small pub that struggled to fit the 15 or so PuG crawlers in comfortably alongside a few regulars due to its size. The service was quick and efficient and the beer range was very good. My pint of Coastal Hop Monster was as good as it was when my local, The Baum, had it on. Praise indeed from me as The Baum is CAMRA's National Pub Of The Year 2012. We were made very welcome by all and some froendly banter was exchanged. I really liked this pub and I will definitely visit again next time I'm in Leicester.

Kings Head pages at the Black Country Ales site - www.blackcountryales.co.uk