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Disappointment of the week with Bucking Fastard
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Detail Pages
King Charles I, Kings Cross, N1
N1
N1 9BL
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about King Charles I
If there was ever a reason to promote the good beer guide - this would be it. I would never have considered it, if there wasnt the recommendation. And hour on a Saturday afternoon and I consider it one of my favourite pubs.
Loved the interior - small, wood panelled, interesting nick nacks and a although not a fan of signs banning things, I can make an exception for "No racists, sexists or fascists".
The beer was interesting - with four for five casks not previously seen. I tried a couple - the pick, Southwark Brewery Vista - an American Pale Ale. Prices the cheapest of three pubs visited today.
But it the people that make pubs and this is a real locals pub. Included in three conversations in my visit - one that was eye watering.
Entered as a stranger. Left as a friend :-) I should work in marketing.
A great pub.
On 22nd August 2023
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about King Charles I
A pub I've been to a couple of times in the past but omitted to leave a review for some unknown reason,well documented below with several recent reviews to which I concur. A great proper boozer with decent beer, my latest visit three weeks ago saw a lineup of Southwark LPA, Twickenham Daisy Cutter, Siren Memento and an excellent Park Field Haze, the fifth handle was dispensing Seacider. An easy 8/10 pub and a must visit when in the area. Oh and the jukebox is pretty good as well.
On 10th July 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Graham Coombs left this review about King Charles I
An excellent traditional and basic boozer in a side street, with a good range of ales and lots of old wood panelling. Quite amusing that they seem to have simulated an old nicotine-stained ceiling, which of course is not something you find nowadays! On handpump were Neptune Abyss and White Horses, Kent Maia, Siren Memento and Seacider. A good pub worth visiting.
On 27th May 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about King Charles I
Lovely little off the beaten track pub filled with interesting objects and tat.Busy on my quiz night visit..3 cask beers and not the usual suspects.I particularly liked the Elvis Presley leaded light.Toilets are minging .Great atmosphere on my two visits.
On 14th January 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about King Charles I
Dating from the mid-19th century, this looks like a 1930s’ rebuild, which for a brief period was known as the Craic House, before reverting to the original name; this would probably explain the high mounted Guinness sign and emerald green fascia. This is no longer an Irish pub, which has an interior listed by CAMRA as being of Some Regional Importance. It has been community-owned since 2015, is very LBGTQIA+ friendly and has a ‘…strict no-wankers policy’.
I came here once before in May 2016 and didn’t fully appreciate the place. Well described below, the interior is mainly wood panelled, with a multitude of knickknacks and brewery regalia, all visible on the pub’s website. The crowd here is mixed, with some people perhaps waiting for a gig at the Scala, office workers and probably students, given the close proximity to the two, large student accommodation blocks nearby on Pentonville Road.
There were two ales on: Southwark Brewing’s Routemaster Red and Twisted Wheel’s Technicolour Beat and forgetting that I really don’t like TW’s offerings, foolishly plumped for this horrible ‘juicy’ pale ale at £2.25 a half, served by a very friendly old-school landlady, who was assiduously watching out for short measures.
This is a very nice pub, one of the best in close proximity to King’s Cross; however, it does get very busy later in the week, so time your visit wisely.
On 17th November 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about King Charles I
Haven’t been in this one for a fair few years, so thought I’d look it up again last Saturday evening and great to find it in rude health. Yes it’s only a small one roomed affair internally and it was Saturday evening, but still good to find all internal seating and the external benches being fully utilised. But we were fortunate to be blessed with an unseasonably warm evening so perfectly happy to stand outside with an excellent pint of Hophurst Brewery Sonnet Pale Ale. Hophurst Brewery APA and Hammerton N7 were on the other two ale pumps with the fourth pump double clipped with ciders (Ascension Mothership from the pump and Seacider Blood Orange from a Polypin in the fridge).
Friendly pub with lots of conversation and amazingly (given the space available) a couple of local musicians were setting themselves inside at the far end up to provide a live music set. I’m a great fan of local musicians demonstrating their art in a pub on a Saturday night, but I do understand there are philistines who are not. Sadly we had another engagement to get to and couldn’t stay long enough to find out if they were any good.
On 1st November 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about King Charles I
The King Charles I is tucked away on a side street just off the Caledonian Road. Looking for a swift pint before taking a train from King's Cross, I noticed that I'd scored the pub a 7/10 on my last visit in 2011. So, I thought we should give it another try.
Thinking back, I vaguely recall being here before and indeed, I will still score it a 7/10. It's a lovely traditional boozer which has a single bar with lots of wood panelling. A couple of customers were stood at the bar, but most others were sat outside the front.
Three real ales were on - Greene King Abbot, Park Killcat & One Mile End Salvation. The cider was Pulp Apple Craft Cider.
I catch trains often enough from King's Cross to come here more often. So, I must make more of an effort!
On 1st September 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about King Charles I
This is a really nice, compact back street pub with barely room to swing a cat. There is some nice wood panelling and some well-worn furniture. Some seats and tables have been placed on the pavement in front, but I didn't see a notice saying how late in the evening this would be allowed. There are four hand pumps on the bar counter, with a cider and three real ales, from Twisted Wheel, Siren and Hammerton. The barman mentioned how good the Siren Memento was, and I surprised him by commenting that it was good to see modern brewers having a go at traditional beer styles. And it was indeed a very good beer, well kept and served. I amused myself while enjoying my drink by observing a number of animal heads around the walls: it's all a set up, of course, with the punch line being a mock up of the head of King Charles I, looking suitably affronted. This pub is a reasonable walk from Kings Cross station and an excellent option for a pre- or post-train beer.
On 13th May 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about King Charles I
Just off the Caledonian Road,this is a proper old school boozer.There are benches outside,while the tap room has the wooden clad bar directly infront of the entrance door.To either side there are pews around the periphery with lots of traditional furniture,good wood panelling and pub ephemera.There is a brick fireplace at one end ,an upright piano at the other end ,a mixing desk and substantial speakers for live music.However on my lunchtime visit there was no extraneous noise,just the gentle hum of conversation.There is no flatscreen or other modern distractions.
The welcome was friendly and the 4 handpumps were offering a real cider,GK Abbot,Southwark Bermondsey Best and a very good Kent Prohibition.(NBSS 4,£4.60).
I really liked it in here and will most certainly return.It's not far from the mainline terminus but a world away from the bustle and tourist trap bars.
On 18th March 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about King Charles I
A pub I have attempted to visit on several occasions but always foundered by finding it closed. Hours are now regularised, generally opening at 12 from Monday to Saturday. I'm glad I got in, liked it a lot, a small single room with a curved walnut looking bar on the back wall, boarded floor, nicotine yellow ceiling and beams and a piano in one corner with an amp above plus a wall mounted guitar. Flyers suggest they have live music events. Antelope heads plus a pair of antlers over a fireplace, a musket sits above the door to the gents. Decent stained wood panelling and doors and various mirrors including a Guinness version give a timeless and traditional feel. Seating is at pews, benches and regular chairs, no pretentious nonsense in here, a top rate pub with a convivial atmosphere.
On 12th March 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]