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The Kings Arms, SE1
SE1
SE1 8TB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Kings Arms
The Kings Arms is a traditional London backstreet boozer that was rammed during a visit on Thursday evening a couple of weeks ago. The front of this corner pub houses a rounded central bar that was two deep with customers for almost the whole evening. Around the exterior walls are small tables, it can get very cosy. The bar supports standard and premium keg alongside four hand pumps down the left of the bar counter and five down the right. It was too busy to make notes, but I did have a few nice pints of Adnams Southwold. Unfortunately, I was unaware of the additional five hand pumps along the right until we were leaving. At the rear some steps lead down to an open plan seating area and Kanchana’s Kitchen, which is a Thai restaurant. There are also two function rooms available for hire. Even though busy, the service was polite and I will make a point of revisiting when I’m next in the area at a quieter time.
On 19th March 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Kings Arms
ORIGINAL REVIEW March 2015
Very little needs to be added to Rex's excellent review.The interior was certainly busy ,even afterwork on the Monday of my visit,so I went into the rear room looking for a seat.This space now splits into two functional areas with high tables and stool running down the far wall for drinkers,while diners occupy some normal sized wooden tables or share a very long refectory table down the middle of the room.There is a wood burner at the far end.Decoration includes photos of actors that have apperared at the Old Vic,maybe cast members pop in here after a performance.
The food is thai,at very reasonable prices with many dishes below £10 from a fairly short menu but including some popular dishes.Not haute cuisine,but a good place for a quick bite to eat.If you want a drink with your meal you have to buy it from the bar,the two operations seem seperate but share the premises.
On my trip there were 8 real ales to choose from including a MILD (Hobsons) and a stout (Wild Weather Mud Slinger,good nick) together with Brockley Brewers Red Ale,Thornbridge Jaipur IPA,Adnams Southwold Bitter,Southwark Bermondsey Best,Caledonian Flying Scotsman and Golden XPA. The eclectic choice of rotating ales with a good mix of styles would tempt me back for another visit to see what delights were on offer,full details up to date on their twitter feed.Rightly in the 2015 GBG,a proper ale house with several Locales.
A very charming pub retaining a lot of authenticity and a fine example of a London street corner pub ,shame that so few are left in as good state of this one.
UPDATE
Still very charming but let down by an unimaginative ale line up on my Friday afterwork visit.The choice was from Adnams Southwold,Sharps Cornish Coaster,Sambrooks Wandle ,something from Portobello,GK Abbot (why?),Milestone APA (NBSS 3),Goffs Lancer (best option ,NBSS 3.5) and Titanic Plum Porter which immediately ran out not to be replaced.Lots of very similar low ABV brews,little style range from mostly undistinguished brewers.It's in the GBG but maybe on the basis of quantity over quality.We pushed off to The Hole in the Wall somewhat disappointed.
On 25th February 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Kings Arms
Best ale range I found in London, with 9 pulls again on the go. Lovely unspoilt interior, in keeping with the unspoilt appearance of the street. Miserable service from one of the chaps behind the bar but the others were friendly enough. didn’t quite warm to it really, maybe next time.
On 27th September 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Kings Arms
Finding myself back in the area I decided to relook this one up again and was very pleased to find it in rude health on a Thursday late afternoon early evening. All nine ale pumps on the go and a very good selection available. On the four pumps in the right hand room were St Austell Tribute, Hancock HB, Titanic Iceberg and Island Brewery Nipper Bitter. Then in the left hand room alongside the pubs Kings Ale (a badged Sharps brew) there was Oakham Citra, Adnams Bitter, Heritage Brewing Co. Its Tremendous and Elephant School Brewing Company My Milk Stout brings all the Bulls to the Yard.
Between us we tried six of them and there weren’t a duff pint all night and as well as having the longest names seen on a pump clip the Elephant School stout was the pick of the bunch.
Very good service levels from the all female team working the jump who impressively handled the after work rush and by the time we left both the pub and the road outside were rammed.
Over the 13 years since I last uploaded a post about this pub it has never let me down. Time to make it one of my rare 9’s me thinks..
On 21st August 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Kings Arms
The first time I came here was about 20 years ago, though this is my first visit in around 10. The surrounding street is home to some of London’s oldest and best-preserved workers’ cottages, frequently used in period TV dramas, the pub itself being grade II-listed and entered on CAMRA’s inventory of pub interiors, this being of Regional Importance.
Brushing aside the crescental entrance curtains, the place hasn’t changed at all, as far as I can tell. What I’d not noticed before is the Saloon Bar and Lounge Bar wording to the entrance doors’ glass panes in Ind Coope lettering, probably dating back around 50 years. There’s also propaganda for Coope’s Treble Gold beer, orange backlit to the bar parapet’s bookends, though given the style of ‘Jazz Age’ lettering, it may date back as far as the ‘30s. There’s Thai food, prepared by a business not associated with pub, which can be a bit smelly. Customers are a mixed bunch, being locals of many shades and office workers. The pub was very full and it only gets worse on Fridays and Saturdays, staff being put under some pressure, though the place does seem to empty out quite quickly on weekdays, around 9.00 pm.
Both sides of the bar need to be checked for choice, as there are nine ales, including Doom, but also Titanic’s Raspberry Pale at £2.40 a half, which was very agreeable, but a little cold, though interesting once warmed up; it would probably make for a better summer beer.
This is a great little pub, regarded as one of the best boozers in SE1. Fortunately, the Wellington over the way keeps out those who aren’t in the know; more fool them.
On 23rd November 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Kings Arms
Tucked away in a residential back street close to Waterloo station, this is a good sized street corner pub consisting of a saloon and public bar arranged around a central servery, along with a restaurant area at the rear and although we did not inspect the menu, a sign outside said that Thai food was something of a speciality.
Décor wise it’s quite traditional with rough wooden boards on the floor and wood partitioning separating the two halves which also incorporated some stained glass in the top section. Seating was mostly small tables and chairs with the addition of some fitted wooden bench seating in places. A few old black and white photographs of the locale were dotted around the walls whilst the lighting was provided by “oil lamp” style fittings which at least makes a change from the ubiquitous exposed filament light bulbs that every other pub seems to have. The restaurant area at the rear looked to be somewhat more light and contemporary from a quick glance, with white wood panelling on the ceiling.
There was a good choice of beers on tap, with the two halves of the bar offer a differing selection so it may be wise to check both before making your selection. On this occasion, the range consisted of Sharp’s Ale of Kings, Adnams Southwold, Kent Apollo, Flying Monk Dark Lane Milk Stout, Watney’s IPA, Wooha Things Can Only Get Bitter, Exmoor Ale, Exmoor Antler, Wainwright’s Golden and Brain’s Rev James. After that lot, the cider choice was distinctly disappointing with Aspall’s being the only option. Other than that though, a decent pub and well worth checking out.
On 5th February 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Kings Arms
Well described by others, below, this wonderful oasis in a desert of hipster-led mediocrity was a joy to find and enter. Decent, sensible bar staff were friendly and helpful, the clientele were normal and the beer was excellent. Ales on were Worthington’s Cask Ale, Optic and English Bitter from Stardust, Watney’s Starlight, Titanic Plum Porter and Jurassic Dorset Knob. I had the last of these, which was in perfect condition. I should be delighted to come back here and enjoy a first class traditional English pub with its superb ambiance and excellent beer. A definite inclusion in a crawl of this area.
On 4th October 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Kings Arms
Well worth seeking out. The road itself is an oasis of calm from the hoardes milling around Waterloo Station. Lovely little terraced houses.
The pub is very traditional on the street corner. Inside, through a door marked Saloon, is all wood paneling and traditional pub furnture. A central bar has four real ales on each side and the only way to find out appears to be to ask - and this caused general panic and confusion with the bar worker. Of the 8 beers, I picked up on a familar XT 3 - which was in fine condition.
Around the back is a lovely conservatory set aside for Thai Dining.
Lovely pub - best in the area?
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2Mn8x00
On 13th August 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Kings Arms
Attractive backstreet pub hidden away in a curious area of small terraced houses surrounded on three sides by much taller buildings and the railway viaduct between London Bridge and Charing Cross on the other. Retains two small bars, both with plenty of character, plus a rear covered courtyard with much-needed additional seating. Ten handpumps, always offering a decent range of beer styles (many from less usual breweries) although we went for the festive Adnams Shingle Shells on this visit. Beers priced by strength, but all far from cheap though. Nevertheless, remains one of the best places for a pint within easy walking distance of Waterloo East station.
On 2nd January 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Kings Arms
Have been here many times since my original review, the last being last Sunday, It has never disappointed, despite not being cheap, its a proper pub , upgraded to 9/10.
Original review Aug 2012
Last pub of the day and well attended by the after work crowd,and deservedly so.A good honest pub in a great times gone by location,my pint of Crossbay sunset was very good,there was another pint of something to follow but this now escapes me,John Bonsers review of a couple of posts ago describes this pub perfectly,with the exception that now the beer range and the staffing have now improved , it just leaves me to say ,a must visit pub, very handy for Waterloo Station.
On 6th September 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]