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Kings Arms Hotel, Hampton Court, East Molesey
East Molesey
KT8 9DD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Kings Arms Hotel
Backing onto the gardens of Hampton Court Palace and opposite the Lion Gate entrance to Bushy Park, this old pub and hotel is in an ideal location to pick up the tourist dollar. The frontage is asymmetrical with a double curved bay but then running along another block and then expanding into what was clearly once a separate building. I'd say the unequal end is an add on and therefore later than the date of 1709 displayed on the frontage. You enter to the main bar which is an impressive space, there is a large area of mosaic flooring with the pub name picked out in lettering, the remaining area is boarded. Lots of old dark stained wood panelling, some exposed brickwork and a large brick fireplace with kettles and pots on the hearth. There are all sorts of tables and seating, none of the high type, one huge table with studs on top would suit a large group.
A smaller room to the front through the bar has some more good quality panelling, some of it curved and with an intricate circular mirror of note. Beyond there is an area seemingly designated for dining. Outdoor seating to the frontage.
Fairly foody as you may expect in this location but it looked good quality, child and dog friendly, doggy biscuits and water available.
Hall and Woodhouse beers, I find them inoffensive but unexciting, at least twelve handpumps in two banks but just two on, First Call and Daring Diver. Plenty unclipped. My pint needed a serious top up.
A very nice and interesting building but with a transient customer base and indifferent service. I did however enjoy a quiet pint after a stroll around the park.
On 3rd April 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Kings Arms Hotel
The Kings Arms Hotel is a fine 17th Century building with some excellent internal features as well described by the previous reviewers. The internal space is subdivided into four distinct areas but the most interesting are definitely the bar areas with its comfy red leather sofas , dark wood panelling, tiled floors and Henry VIII related features well described by John below.
As previously mentioned several hand pumps greet you on entering but nearly all are doubled up. But there were still four Hall and Woodhouse beers on for my visit and the Badger First Gold and Tanglefoot were well served and in good condition.
The food menu looked decent but a bit on the pricey side, but we decided not to eat here and subsequently looking at other restaurant related review sites today, that may have been a good move.
Also this is a fully functioning hotel with the reception up the bar, and there was a steady stream of people checking in after attending the HC flower show. But again a perusal of Trip Advisor may be pertinent before deciding to do the same.
So I’ll leave the food and accommodation up to others to comment on other sites, but if what you are after is a decent, well kept pint of ale and an interesting pub to enjoy it in after exhausting yourself around Hampton Court, then I can thoroughly recommend the Kings Arms for this purpose.
On 10th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Kings Arms Hotel
Fine old inn, dating from 1709 and looks the part for the tourists beside the Lion Gate entrance to Hampton Court' gardens. Traditional bar located through the main entrance - with a nice mosaic tiled floor - and a lounge area - and its impressive fireplace - to one side. There is another counter in the passageway leading to the public bar (which is also extended through to another room beyond). Reasonable amout of outside seating, albeit with slightly incongruous concrete bases, in the patio beer garden out front. About 11 handpumps in total, but with a number disused and others showing duplicate clips the choice was three Hall & Woodhouse beers - Badger, Tanglefoot and the seasonal Firkin Fox (£3.50) served in the right glass (but rather cloudy, so perhaps I was just unlucky).
On 30th May 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about Kings Arms Hotel
Occupying a prominent main road position next to the Lion Gate entrance to Hampton Court and opposite an entrance to Bushy Park on the other side of the road is The Kings Arms, a large imposing building that describes itself as a “traditional 18th Century English Inn” which, so we’re told, dates back to 1709.
An impressive main entrance – note the two small lion statues standing guard outside the doorway and the large lamp above – leads into the main bar area which features much wood panelling, a fine fireplace and large traditional tables bedecked with candlesticks. Note also the impressive floor mosaic bearing the pub name.
The bar counter extends into a room on the right, the highlight of which is three stained glass panels over the bar gantry. We learn that these probably date back to between 1910-1913 and depict The Kaiser of Germany, The King Emperor of Britain and The Tsar of Russia respectively. Underneath these panels, on the bar front, are panels depicting the 6 wives of King Henry VIII. Legend has it that the establishment was formerly a house of ill repute used by him.
Further seating areas on the right are of less interest and have something of an Olde Tea Shoppe feel to them, but have distinctly unattractive yellowish painted walls.
It’s proximity to Hampton Court Palace evidently makes this a popular pub for tourists and, on my recent lunchtime visit, most of the outside tables on the large pavement area outside the front of the pub had been taken by around 12.30 pm. A standard food menu is offered. It opens early for breakfast and there’s 9 en suite rooms for overnight stays.
It’s a Hall and Woodhouse pub and the Badger Bitter - £ 3.20p – was in good form. Notably, staff seemed quite keen and enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the Badger range of beers.
Despite the tourist emphasis, you should try and make time to call in if you’re visiting Hampton Court
On 28th April 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
M Reeve left this review about Kings Arms Hotel
The food is excellent, it's a shame it was spoilt by a rude waitress and jumbled order, the starter arrived with one of the mains. When we asked if a new main would be cooked while we had the starter, we were told the one served would be kept warm. Disappointing for such a lovely place.
On 3rd January 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Kings Arms Hotel
This is now a Hall & Woodhouse pub with the usual ales on offer. The Badger Bitter I had was excellent. Being right by Hampton Court Palace it inevitably attracts a lot of tourists, but it seems to have avoided becoming a tourist trap. The front of the building declares it to have been established in 1709 – if the current building is anything near that old it’s done very well indeed, but I suspect it is the result of a later rebuild. As you enter through the main (Lounge Bar) entrance you see the mosaic flooring featuring the inlaid name of the pub/hotel. This is the main bar area; to the left is a small lounge area with sofas and a fireplace; to the right is a small interconnecting room with a sofa and a couple of armchairs; this leads to the restaurant area. The small lounge has a fair bit of exposed brickwork, coupled with russet painted walls, and the main bar area and interconnecting snug room features some ancient looking wood panelling. I didn’t venture into the dining room, contenting myself with a pretty good ham sarny and salad (for a fairly reasonable £4.95) sitting at the bar. There were numerous prints and the like on the walls. Where I was sitting there was a framed page from The Times of 16 July 1849, including an advertisement for The Kings Arms Hotel. There is some outside seating at the front.
This pub reeks of history, standing, as it does, right outside one the country’s most iconic palaces. I imagine that it is exactly the sort of pub that tourists will expect to find in a place like this. I enjoyed my visit, but it was at one of the more quiet times – at the height of the tourist season or at weekends it might be very different. But this is still the best pub in the Hampton Court area, in my opinion, and definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.
On 25th April 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]