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The Kings Arms, Dorking
Dorking
RH4 1BU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Kings Arms
Dorking's oldest pub on the main congested A25 one-way system through the town. It's a Shepherd Neame pub, but look beyond that and you will find a nice traditional pub with low beams and several different sections including a narrow front bar and slightly larger room at the rear, all suitable for both drinking and dining.
4 Shepherd Neame ales were on. Spitfire is a regular. Also on were Master Brew, Whitstable Bay & a seasonal beer called It's Coming Home. I tried the latter, which was drinkable. Although my tastebuds were still affected by the strong zesty nature of the beer I had had in Cobbett's just up the road.
Another dog friendly pub. I'm not sure I've done a crawl before where I've found dogs in the majority of pubs!
On 7th December 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2454 recommendations about 2453 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Kings Arms
Another old pub on West Street, complete with creaky floorboards,low white ceiling with black stained timber beams, a long horseshoe shaped central bar which the main room wraps itself around with a couple of offshoot nook and cranny areas along the way.There is a courtyard beer garden.Five pumps on the bar with four in action,all Sheps beers, Master Brew, Spitfire,Whitstable Bay and Bishops Finger. A very nice pub, though a couple of guest ales wouldn't go amiss.
On 28th August 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Kings Arms
A Sheps pub retaining a good deal of the historic interior (on speaking to the friendly manager I found out that parts of the building are at least 300 years old and the evidently historic right hand room was formerly a militia recruitment office!). A rambling multi area’d, dark varnished wood interior with cross-hatch leaded windows and chunky furnishings. Enter to the main bar with a raised area to the right - note the impressive dark wood panelling, especially the I RM roundel (1st Royal Militia). Five pumps, four ales on from Sheps; Spitfire, Master Brew, Bishops Finger and Late Red (good though a bit cold). Beware that one of the two rear patios (by the dining room) is non-smoking. Worth dropping in to soak up some history.
On 30th October 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Kings Arms
In Dorking’s town centre in a street dominated by antiques shops is The Kings Arms, a characterful 15th century building with, notably, no hanging pub sign or sandwich boards outside to advertise its presence.
The interior features much wood panelling, oak beams and frosted leaded windows. There’s a number of adjoining areas full of nooks and crannies, all of which helps create a cosy and warm ambience. The floor is part carpeted, part quarry tiled. Of particular note is an inscription IRM on some wood panelling at the far end of the pub which denotes the Ist Royal Militia who used the pub as a recruiting base. King Charles II is reputed to have stayed here. At the back is a separate, somewhat brighter, dedicated dining area.
Against this background, somewhat surprisingly, I didn’t recall seeing a single framed photo or print anywhere inside relating to either the pub or the town of Dorking itself. Commenting to a fellow customer on this and that I could therefore be anywhere, I received the Trigger – like response, without any hint of irony or sarcasm at all, that “you’re in the Kings Arms in Dorking, mate”.
It’s a Shepherd Neame pub with 6 pumps serving on my visit 3 Sheps beers plus, most notably, Dark Star Original as a guest. A blackboard told us that other Dark Star beers were coming soon, as was a beer from Tillingbourne Brewery. The Dark Star beer was pretty good and, perhaps partly because it was only £ 2.95p a pint, seemed to be outselling all the 3 Sheps beers taken together, which were rather more expensive.
If you’ve only time to visit one pub in Dorking, I reckon this is probably the one to go for.
On 30th November 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 Kings Arms
Believed to be the oldest building in Dorking, The Kings Arms dates in part from the 1400s and was apparently visited by King Charles II. A rambling warren-like place full of nooks and crannies, there is a very low beamed ceiling, attractive leaded windows, and of interest, to the right of the bar a raised area has some wood panelling and an inscription I RM (see photo). I was told by the barman that this represents the 1st Royal Militia and that conscripts came here to join the army several hundred years ago.
The bar area has a quarry tiled floor but elsewhere there is a rather dubious tartan patterned carpet that does little to enhance the character of this old building as does the fruit machine. There is a fold down screen and projector, I assume for sporting events.
A rear room looks to be a formal dining area, and can be booked for private functions. There are two separate outdoor courtyards with flowering tubs.
Shepherd Neame ales here, but with a rarity in Shep's houses of a guest ale, the local Surrey Hills Shere Drop. The brewery beers were Master Brew, Kent's Best, Spitfire and the unimaginatively titled Royal Wedding Ale.
I received a friendly welcome here both from the chatty barmaid and the informative barman, and my pint of Shere Drop was first rate.
On 1st May 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about The Kings Arms
Very dissappointed with our recent visit to this lovely looking pub this Summer. Only one Shephard Neame ale on and the place felt as though it was no longer cared for. A shame considering what it used to be like. The pub was not busy on thjis particular Saturday afternoon of oour visit.
On 18th August 2010
- rating: 3
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 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
Old-fashioned, un-modernised sort of pub - a surprising survival for a town-centre location. Six real ale handpumps (four on when I last visited, including the Whitstable IPA and two more beers to come from that brewery). Opted for a pint from a small Sussex brewery that I never heard of - a distinctive flavour, but a decent pint in a proper (if a bit 'rough and ready') pub.
On 10th February 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Kings Arms
Very nice pub. Sells real ale, 5 pumps. Has food all day. Old beams in the ceiling & walls look original. well worth a visit.
On 14th April 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]