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Detail Pages
Old Kings Head, SE1
SE1
SE1 1NA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Katie Dean left this review about The Old Kings Head
Beautiful interior. Great selection of ales and dog friendly!
On 15th December 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Old Kings Head
Hidden away down a narrow cobbled lane off Borough High Street is The Old Kings Head, a single room pub that claims to have been established in 1881.
The room is part carpeted, part wood floor and, whilst there is traditional style seating along the sides of the room, a few circular tables and bar stools in the centre of the room reflect the fact that it’s often standing room only.
The walls are decorated with old photos and prints of the area, including some interesting ones of pubs long gone such as The Talbot and The White Hart. A framed article tells us that Henry VIIII used this pub and that the original building on this site was destroyed in The Great Fire of London.
Of particular note are the large leaded decorative windows with regal motifs. These windows can be opened right out in the summer months to provide much needed air and light. Above the bar back is a model of an old fire engine and a London tram. Several “Old Kings Head” mirrors also decorate the walls.
A basic food menu is offered at lunchtimes and early evening ( eg – ham, egg and chips ) at competitive prices, reflecting the fact that this is an earthy, unpretentious pub with, rather like The Market Porter, a wide customer mix and something of a local feel.
On the real ale front, several recent early evening visits found the two banks of pumps on the L shaped bar counter serving Doom Bar, Butcombe Bitter, Bombardier, Harveys Best plus St Austells Tribute and Proper Job, which led me to wonder if the landlord is a West Country man, but there didn’t appear to be anybody obviously in charge to ask. Notably, and something that I wish more pubs would do, there’s a Happy Hour from 4-7 pm on Mondays to Thursdays when all real ales are £ 2.50p. This seems to be a pub that serves real ale rather than a real ale pub if you get my drift, but the seldom seen Proper Job was in good nick on both visits and, at £ 2.50p during happy hour, takes some beating.
You probably won’t want to stay here all evening, but it’s worth including in any crawl round the area’s many good pubs
On 17th January 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Old Kings Head
The pub is easily missed, tucked away down the narrow cobbled Old King's Yard. Inside the L-shaped room is carpeted, with mostly traditional style seating. There are attractive leaded windows with Royal motifs, bottles on high shelves and models of an old fire engine, a tram and a trader's bicycle set above the bar. Half height wood panelling, framed prints of the locality complete the scene. One standard TV in a corner plus a drop down screen in the opposite one where showing SSN football plus live rugby on Saturday.
There are six handpumps in two banks, I'd advise walking around to check the full picture although some were double clipped. Butcombe Bitter, St Austell Tribute, Sharp's Doom Bar plus the superior Proper Job, Harvey's Sussex Best and Bombardier.
Plenty of old clips and mats around the bar area suggesting a decent guest policy. A good spot and with a local feel despite the busy area.
On 7th November 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Old Kings Head
There were a handful of real ales on – I noted Courage Best; Harvey’s Best; St Austell Tribute and Proper Job. This is a small one-room pub tucked away down a small passageway off Borough High Street. Inside there are a few normal tables and chairs, but a visitor should note the superb leaded light windows and the rather nice “Old Kings Head” mirror in the corner. This is one of a number of excellent pubs in this part of the world, and is definitely worth dropping in for a pint if you’re in the area.
On 30th October 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about The Old Kings Head
A nice single roomed pub with a reasonable range of ales served. Well worth visiting and far more relaxing and less busy than the George Inn round the corner. Still fills up in the evening though.
On 18th August 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about The Old Kings Head
If you don't have your wits about you, you'll miss this place, hidden down an alleyway off the congested, thronging Borough High Street. I had intended to visit The George to see if the reports of it becoming a NT tourist trap had come true, but in the end was glad I missed out because I thought this place was great. I caught it during 'happy hour' which meant a pint of Tribute was £2.40, and jolly good it was too. Harveys Best, Bombardier, London Pride and more were on besides. A sure-fire pub I'll revisit in an area full of good ones.
On 25th September 2009
- rating: 8
[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 Old Kings Head
The Old Kings Head is squeezed down a narrow side street off Borough High Street.
It's no frills, slightly worn bar gives an excellent, lived-in feel. Usually a good atmosphere with a mixture of earthy locals, seasoned drinkers and tourists (although these usually stick to the cobbled street outside.)
Good choice of and well kept ales are usually on offer. Six hand pumps on Thursday night, which included Woodforde's Wherry, London Pride, St Austells Tribute and CW Bombadier and the Wherry was particularily good.
Has a large projection screen and then a small Plazma for the sport, but the sound is never turned up loud enough to interrupt peoples drinking.
On 21st June 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2129 recommendations about 2004 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Old Kings Head
This is a pleasant enough old school boozer with 6X, Pride, Bombardier, Courage best, Harveys Best and Tribute all available along with standard and premium lagers. The governor wasn't the most cheerful chap I'd ever met, but then I was pretty lashed when I walked in so I'll let him off.
The plasma screen was a bit fuzzy, but it was the only pub I found in the area that was showing the PDC darts – Well done The Old Kings Head!!!
My Tribute was excellent and I love no frills pubs so I'll make a point of revisiting this place next time I'm on the wrong side of the river.
On 7th January 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5268 recommendations about 5236 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Old Kings Head
A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pub down a narrow side road near Borough market. The interior is fairly basic, a big room with a few tables and bare floors which looks to have been refitted sometime in the mid 1970s though the leaded stained-glass windows are nice. The main pull here are the ales – a maximum of six – with some decent choices (Tribute, Harveys, London Pride, GK IPA and a couple of others). It’s quite sport-oriented, three screens showing whatever’s on. A decent stop and worth seeking out if you’re in the vicinity.
On 22nd November 2008
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5108 recommendations about 5091 pubs]