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Detail Pages
Old Kings Head, SE1
SE1
SE1 1NA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about Old Kings Head
Can't believe I've never been here before. The Good Beer Guide pointed it out to me and in my last visit, the alley it hides down was packed with footie fans. Saved for a quieter day and after the madness of Borough Market, this 10:30am opener was just what was needed.
A single roomer with a central bar. Two real ales in front, but unless you want to risk missing out, a further two around the corner. I missed out of Harveys Sussex best with a Proper Job.
One wall with massive art works of the area in the C17th and of the original London Bridge.
Impressive etched glassworks.
Cricket was on a number of TVs - at a volume that you wouldnt expect from a sedate sport.
Interesting and worth a visit.
On 19th June 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Old Kings Head
Being here by the mid-16th century is no surprise to me, given the history of the area and its pubs in general, the current incarnation dating from 1881.
It’s quite a large single room, carpeted with some stained glass; a mural of old London Bridge prior to the Great Fire of 1666 and a typical coaching inn’s alleyway covers the left-hand wall, where a modest TV hangs, showing the footie; for once people were actually watching it, which comes as no surprise as this is a very blokey pub – with not one woman – to the point that on entering, I wondered if it was a gay pub, but then gay men don’t dress like the blokes in here. Brimful of Asha on the 45 played at a reasonable level and there are some knickknacks about the place, with a traditional bar array, serving up Southwark’s Mayflower Session Ale, Doom, Sussex Best and Proper Job, at an unacceptable £3.00 a half, though good.
With a good vibe, this is quite a nice pub, certainly just about the last traditional boozer in the area, other pubs having all been trendified; I’d pop in here again if in the area, but the down-to-earth air of the place can in no way justify the high prices; the ‘fashionable’ pubs by Borough Market don’t charge this much.
On 31st October 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about Old Kings Head
Another decent little pub tucked away from the main road. A good pint of Adnams Ghost Ship. I would happily call in again.
On 11th October 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Old Kings Head
Easily missed as you wander down Borough High Street,the yard entrance does have a pub sign above.The yard is currently very scruffy and is clearly used an an alfresco lav late a night.The pub itself is modest,and has a horrible neon "Open" sign which being illuminated sped our entrance.The interior is very basic,although the frontage has good stained glass .One of the window panels opens in good weather.There is a wallpaper mural of the area years ago along another wall,but the furniture was very functional,mainly high tables and the flatscreens and muzak did nothing to improve the ambiance.
The six handpumps were offering national brands as you might expect from a pubco owned premises.That mean on my trip Doom Bar,Adnams Ghost Ship,Black Sheep Bitter ,Harvey's Best,St Austell Tribute and Proper Job (in great nick).It's in the 2018 GBG and that seems fully justified,but it's a basic pub with not much else to warrant another visit.
On 15th November 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Old Kings Head
An attractive looking pub down an alleyway just off Borough High Street, it certainly looks the part with it’s hanging basket and etched glass windows, so it was then a bit of a disappointment to get inside and find a rather utilitarian feel with nothing in the way of any charm or cosiness.
It’s all one open plan room internally, with pale blue paint on the upper part of the walls and dark blue wood panelling lower down. There was old carpet on the floor and a large mural covering much of one wall depicts the alleyway as it used to be in years gone by. A few further old photos of the locale were hung on the walls. A small fire-place was at the rear, but this did not appear to be in use, whilst several large TV screens were showing a sports channel. A large gilded mirror with the pub’s name on suggests that it only in fact dates from 1979.
There was a good choice of beers on tap with Harvey’s IPA, Timothy Taylor Boltmaker, Tribute, Harvey’s Best, Doom Bar and Proper Job. Cider’s meanwhile were Symond’s Founders Reserve and Strongbow.
On 3rd April 2017
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1949 recommendations about 1862 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Old Kings Head
Accessed down an alley near tube station, although not large, the space inside does seem bigger than you would expect from the outside. A couple of large lovely pictures of the pub/olde London on the walls.
The high ceiling means the space is not as comfortable or at least homely as it could be. Corner bar, 3 real ales
On 31st May 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Old Kings Head
Old-fashioned single-room town pub, making a pleasant change from the overdone theme bars nearby. Not a lot of seating, but there again it is standing room only after work so they need to pack people in. One very large screen for the football, plus a smaller showing another match. Efficient bar staff, despite the numbers. Good selection of real ales - Sussex and IPA (£3.00) from Harveys, plus Landlord, Tribute and Proper Job on my latest visit. Worth seeking out (and you do need to look carefully down the narrow yard leading from Borough High Street) if you have a long wait at London Bridge station or are trying out the many other good pubs in this area.
On 5th August 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Old Kings Head
This is a cracking little traditional boozer, hidden away down a narrow alleyway off the busy Borough High Street. The pub has a simple, single room interior with the servery occupying one corner, leaving an L shaped layout, mostly filled with seating. You enter through a lovely stained glass door with similarly decorated windows showing images of a rose, a coat of arms and the eponymous king’s head. The room has been carpeted throughout, with some low wood panelling on the walls, offset by floral wallpaper and a dark wood servery. The bar back displays a couple of large model fire engines and another of an old tram, whilst some miniaturised pump clips run along a shelf below. There are high tables and stools in a row through the middle of the room, whilst regular tables and chairs skirt the perimeter. The place has been decorated with a collection of interesting black and white photos and drawings of the local area and in one corner of the room there is a lovely tiled fireplace with a pub mirror above, which dates itself to March 1978. A similar mirror with the word ‘Saloon’ etched into it, hangs further along the wall. For all of these characterful features, the main distraction for a decent post-lunchtime crowd, was provided by a TV and large projector screen, both showing a rugby fixture between South Africa and New Zealand, with the commentary audible, but not excessively loud. An additional TV near the front door was showing Soccer Saturday and I enjoyed sitting anonymously between a load of Millwall fans as news of their team getting a good thumping by my beloved AFC Bournemouth filtered through during the afternoon. The pub does seem to be predominantly wet-led, but there is a hearty pub grub menu available, with all main meals coming in under a tenner.
There are six handpulls which seem to always offer a selection of tried and tested, if not always thrilling, ale options. On my visit, the options were St Austell Proper Job and Tribute, Harveys Best and IPA, Taylor Landlord and Sharp’s Doom Bar. I decided to test the Proper Job’s credentials as an APA and thought it was a very refreshing pint in excellent condition.
I’ve walked past this place hundreds of times, but never got round to going in, thanks to the plentiful supply of excellent pubs in the vicinity. Having now visited, I’ll be sure to include this down to earth boozer as a regular stop-off when in the London Bridge area.
On 7th November 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Old Kings Head
A one room Victorian high street pub convenient for London Bridge Station. The single bar is half carpeted, half boarded. There is also a function room, but this was closed, and they put chairs in the alley when the weather allows. The otherwise calm atmosphere is disrupted by the awful noise from the stereo. There are gaming machines,but these were muted. There is what looks an original fireplace in teh corner. The landlord was fantastically grumpy and a proper character. Free wifi is available. Six ales on, I had a pint of Harvey's IPS which was in perfect condition. I would like to have stayed longer, but sadly had a train to catch.
On 12th September 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Old Kings Head
Have been back in on quite a few evenings for a pint since my inaugural review back in 2009, but visited again yesterday at lunchtime for the first time in search of a decent pint and hopefully some pub scoff, as I had ignored to see if they did food on my previous visits.
And as others have mentioned there is a basic pub food menu at a very very reasonable price point. A large chilli Jacket potato at a price point below what a pint of ale will cost you north of the river and a no-frills Ham , Egg and chips like your mum used to cook you.
The six ales on were St Austell’s Tribute and Proper Job, Sharps Doombar, Bombadier, Harveys Best and TT Landlord and the Harveys and Timothy Taylors were absolutely superb pints.
Yes, you will find more non-mainstream ale offerings in other local hostelries, but the more I visit this place the more I feel this pub fits me like a well-worn comfortable pair of shoes, and we could have stayed here all afternoon if it wasn’t for the fact that we had timed tickets to go up the Shard.
And now that I know they do cheap decent grub as well, time to increase my rating.
On 16th April 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]