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PuG Reviews - Appreciation Thread with Tris39
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Detail Pages
The Star of Kings, Kings Cross, N1
N1
N1 0AX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Star of Kings
Stood slightly away from the canal behind Kings Cross station, this is a surprisingly attractive two bar pub that’s been given a bit of a trendy makeover to fit in with the area’s redevelopment. You enter to a small front bar with dark floorboards, dark painted lintels and a very unusual wallpaper that is also quite dark but seemed to have patches that gave off a kind of golden glow. The bar is opposite the entrance, although there is a large open standing area in between, and has a leather panel counter front and a rather limited bar back dominated by a blackboard listing the various draught beer options. High table and stool seating runs around much of the room’s perimeter and there’s a nice tiled fireplace in one corner with an unused TV screen above. Fancy light shades help provide some atmospheric muted lighting and the walls are decorated with a few arty pictures and various promotional posters. To the left of the bar, you can move through to a much larger rear room, in use for a private function on my visit, which has a row of tables and chairs down the left wall and the servery down the right side. Some very nice floor to ceiling panels give the room a bit of a traditional feel whilst the bar has an exposed brick (or at least an exposed brick effect) bar back and a similar counter to the front room. I also spotted a pinball machine in this room – a very rare sight in London pubs these days. Stairs in the front room lead down to a basement bar which is used for live music, comedy and the like.
There was no cask ale on the bar – in fact, the lone handpull in the front bar was being used as a kitchen roll holder – but there are extensive keg options from the likes of Goose Island, Camden, Tiny Rebel, Magic Rock, Two Tribes and others. I tried a pint of the Five Points Jupa, which set me back £6.00 – a whole £1.50 more than I paid for a similar strength beer in the far superior Beer & Burger, just over the road. The staff were quite efficient at the bar but could best be described as a touch grumpy.
This pleasant traditional pub is now nothing more than a glorified craft beer bar, serving up slightly more mainstream products at vastly higher prices than the much nicer bar across the street. If you value a proper pub environment over a modern bar, then this might be worth a look, but with a far better venue within touching distance, I can’t see me coming back here in a hurry.
On 24th January 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Star of Kings
Two bars, a smaller one at the front and a larger 'J'-shaped rear room with tables now mostly laid up for dining rather than set aside as a live music space (although the basement still seems to be used as a venue), both having had a 'distressed' refurbishment a few years ago. Small front patio area screened from the road. Just Hammerton N1 pale ale (£4.60) available from the three handpumps divided between the two counters. Craft beers from the likes of Camden, Goose, Orbit and Birra del Borgo.
On 21st September 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Star of Kings
A lot better than I was expecting,there was a friendly welcome and a quirky interior.The front section has dark furnishings ,deep blue velour curtains and a wide drinking shelf running around the walls with high metal chairs to pertch on,leaving a large central space for vertical drinking.There was a real fireplace unlit below a chalkboard advertising the various meal deals,quiz ,DJ and live music offerings and a flatscreen on one wall was turned off.The larger rear section has a long red seating bench,more tables and chairs,a pinball machine and a small stage at the rear,used no doubt on music nights.This area also has a large servery.The muzak was techno but at a very sensible volume during my mid afternon visit.
At the bar there are three handpumps serving Hammerton N1 and Reunion Talwar (good nick,£2.40 the half)
while 6 keg taps were drawing produce from Hammerton and Meantime among others.
Burgers and hot dogs seemed to be the food offering and with the pub situated close to the Regents Canal,I can see this being popular with a slightly alternative crowd typical of those that live onboard.There is a card scheme for locals,which might defray the high cost of the real ale.
I liked it at a quiet time but clearly the vibe might change at more popular times.I was offered beer tasters ,so clearly this place cares and I thought it well worth taking the chance in an area where modern bars greatly outnumber traditional pubs buildings.
On 2nd February 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Star of Kings
A first time in what was originally The City of York Tavern and expectations weren't high.
The interior is of a more distressed nature with games machines. Music to the rear was very loud but slightly quieter to the front where there are high tables littered with sauces and condiments and mixed chairs, some being tubular steel and others single column stools. Lighting styles are eclectic. The crowd in here is young and studenty and there's a live music venue/club in the basement, indeed the place felt more like a club than pub. The lavs were inadequate with two hideous lime green oval plastic urinals which looked like something James Stirling might have designed in the '70s; you can hardly reach the wash basin.
Ales: two from the East London Brewery, both clips reversed. I opted for a half of Meantime's Yakima Red which blew a £2.70 hole in my wallet - so prices are more club than pub too.
This isn't my type of thing at all so I'll not be back.
On 11th April 2016
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Backpacker
CLOSED and boarded.(02/05/07)
On 3rd May 2007
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]