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Detail Pages
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.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Kings Arms
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
On 25th November 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Kings Arms
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.
On 19th October 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Kings Arms
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.
On 23rd April 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Kings Arms
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.
On 1st March 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Kings Arms
Situated halfway down a timewarp backstreet close to Waterloo and the South Bank, this pub really does deserve the title of being a hidden gem. Two main rooms either side of a central bar, there is another interesting looking room to the rear but this was closed during my afternoon visit. Boarded floor, most likely original, lower panelled walls, curved possibly walnut bar counter and front, brown tiled fireplace, stacks of genuinely interesting B&W photographs of this hidden away area plus old newspaper clippings and front pages, a multitude of bank notes behind the bar. The two rooms are connected by a corridor beyond the bar where the facilities are however be aware that the handpumps and offerings are divided between rooms although a small chalkboard gives guidance.
My visit offered ELB Orchid, Brain's Rev James, Beerd Dark Hearths, Notting Hill Amber (£4.25!), Brain Craft Brewery Bragging Rights, Adnams Southwold Bitter, Dark Star Partridge and Sharp's Ale of Kings, a splendid line up if a bit pricey.
This is a superb example of a central London community pub, retaining so many features and located in what would have been a real working class community at one time, cleverly still alive thanks to an awareness of the local market including a superb beer range. Great pub despite the hefty prices.
On 8th June 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Kings Arms
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.
On 2nd March 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Kings Arms
Update - Feb 2011
Still essentially the same pub as that described below by me in May 2010, but the beer range seems to have improved considerably, based on 2 recent visits. Beers on have included Wooden Hand Brewery's Black Pearl ( a superb stout), Dark Star's Over the Moon, Jennings Cumberland Ale, Worthington White Shield, Adnams plus Marstons New Zealand IPA. The pub is part of the Windmill Taverns Group, a small group of London free houses which includes The Ring and The Windmill Tavern, both only a short walk away. I suspect this represents a change of ownership from my last visit. A poster in the window proudly announced that the pub had recently won the Best London Freehouse Award ( sponsored by Marstons )
Worth calling in - but it's inevitably busy in the early evening and a lunchtime visit is a much more enjoyable visit all round. I'm upgrading this from a 6 to a 7.
Visited in May 2010
Smallish, but traditional street corner pub situated in a residential side street of terraced houses close to Waterloo East train station. I'm told that the street featured in one of the Dr Who series involving the Daleks.
The pub is divided into 2 separate bars by an original wooden screen, although access between the two bars can be gained via a corridor at the back of the pub which also leads to a conservatory and Thai food restaurant.
The pub is popular with both workers from nearby offices and local residents, who spill out on to the pavement - no seats - in front of the pub in fine weather.
Despite some sensitive renovations over the years, it still resembles a reasonably traditional pub, sporting some interesting old photos of the area and some brewery mirrors. The pub sign outside reminds us that this was a former Taylor Walker pub.
The pub displays framed certificates awarded by a rival website - which I'm not going to name for obvious reasons - for Best London Pub in 2004 and also for the three years from 2006 to 2008.
On my recent early evening visit, beers on were Doom Bar, Adnams, Brakspears Bitter and Oxford Gold. The Brakspears was in acceptable form, disappointingly served by staff in chain - pub style black shirts. The pub has had CAMRA Good Beer Guide listings, but isn't in the 2010 Edition.
Staff seemed efficient and as welcoming and friendly as might be expected given how busy the pub was on my recent early evening visit.
Pubs close to railway stations are often not up to much, but this one is well worth seeking out.
On 17th February 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Johnstone left this review about The Kings Arms
A better bet than most nearby pubs but in an area virtually devoid of decent pubs you still wouldn't want to make it your local. My grandparents lived in this road so it gets a rose tinted 6/10 from me.
On 18th June 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 98 recommendations about 98 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about The Kings Arms
Thought this was a decent, perfectly acceptable pub but probably not worthy of the 7.1 average rating. Adnams Bitter, Doombar and Pride on, so not a great deal of choice, but clearly a very popular establishment as the pavement outside was packed even on a chilly October evening. Relatively convenient for Southwark or Waterloo tubes, and better than the pubs on The Cut.
On 17th October 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Kings Arms
Fantastically situated amongst some of the last remaining Victorian back to backs in London, to the east of Waterloo station, The Kings Arms is a very decent small two bar Victorian corner boozer which has benefited from a sympathetically done large extension out the back.
Has separate public and saloon sections divided by a half glass wooden screen . Both areas have a plain décor which is complemented by old pub mirrors and historic black & White photo’s of the local area.
This is a very good pub and if the beer choice was a bit more inspiring than the usual CW Bombardier, Green King IPA, London Pride and Adnams then it would be up there with the best in London.
On 16th May 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2125 recommendations about 2001 pubs]