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Kings Head, Bristol

60 Victoria Street
Bristol
BS1 6DE

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about Kings Head

An interior you really must visit,so authentic and well preserved.The tram car snug at the rear off the wood panelled corridor is magnificent with bell pushes still in place and it's own small bar access.Even the gents and ladies WC's are charming.The backdoor opens onto a coutyard and snicket between the main roads.
The only let down for me was the mundane real ale selection of Butcombe Gold,Courage Best,Otter Amber and Sharp's Doom Bar but in a strange way maybe these choices are also a throw back to times gone by before brewing standards in this country really took off again.Still worth the price of a pint to see the interior and drink in the atmosphere.

On 15th November 2014 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about Kings Head

This historic pub has a superbly preserved mid Victorian interior, with lots of lovingly polished dark wood, the merchandise of the day listed above the bar back along its length in gold, and of course the quirky tramcar snug towards the rear. The bar is along the side wall on entering, a narrow area here with just room for a few stools but there is a front window bench with cushions too. The pub is carpeted throughout. A splendid mirror sits central in the bar back advertising Burton Ales and Dublin Stout. Along the corridor hang multiple old photographs of Bristol in bygone times, then its on into "The Tramcar", set out to replicate an old luxury tram carriage, and separated from the corridor by high backed benches. There is a small bar access point off here. The toilets warrant a mention as they consist of a single WC each, hence the "Ladies Only" sign on one door. Various jugs, pots and a yard of ale hang from the low beamed ceiling.
The beer selection is not as exciting as in the Cornubia and Seven Stars nearby, being at the time Butcombe Gold, Doom Bar, Skinners Betty Stogs and Hogs Back TEA, but this pub is certainly worthy of inclusion in a crawl with the other two, particularly for the interior. 5 mins from Temple Meads station.

On 22nd February 2012 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


John Bonser left this review about Kings Head

Conveniently situated on the main road into the City Centre from Temple Meads station, The Kings Head is a small attractive pub that features in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. The pub is reputed to date back to around 1660 and really is a splendid survivor in an area of much office development over the years.
Bearing something of a resemblance to an antique shop externally, a narrow passageway with the bar counter on the right as you enter leads down to a wider enclosed screened drinking area – The Tramcar Snug – so called because of its resemblance to a tram carriage. The corridor walls are dark wood panelled and feature many interesting pictures of old Bristol, including a number of photographs of the pub in earlier days as an Ashton Gate Brewery house and later as a Georges Bristol Brewery house. The existence of a Courage mirror reminds us that Georges fell into the hands of Courage many moons ago. Low ceilings and the absence of any music, fruit machines etc contribute towards a splendid atmosphere where drinking and conversation rule.
The architectural highlight of the pub is the ornate bar back with brass plaques advertising Cigars, Brandy, Whiskey etc which runs all the way down into the Tramcar Snug. Apart from this snug, the narrowness of the bar area means that seating is restricted to bar stools along the length of the bar counter and several tables under the front window.
4 handpumps were offering Wadworths 6X, Butcombe Gold plus Sharps Doom Bar and Cornish Coaster, all of which appear to be regular offerings. Both the Wadworths and the Butcombe – each at £ 3.20p per pint – were in excellent condition. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular.
There are pubs not too far away that offer a much wider selection of real ales but, taking the experience as a whole, this is still my favourite Bristol pub by a considerable margin. If you only have time to visit one Bristol pub, make it this one.

On 22nd November 2010 - rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about Kings Head

As well reported below this is a fantastic old time traditional pub that has an air of timelessness about it, due to its unique interior which does indeed put it in the Camra heritage pubs inventory list (the only one in Bristol).
As well as the ornate Victorian bar back and the tram car snug, the walls are covered in lots of old B&W pictures of Bristol in former days and the shelves are festooned with memorabilia, old bottles and advertising for long lost drink brands.
All this in such a small pub, and four well kept ales, which were the same as reported by Andy below with the one he could not remember being Butcombe Gold.
And I totally agree with Andy’s last sentiment in that if you are on an ale crawl around Bristol then it’s a must visit.

On 1st September 2010 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Andy Ven left this review about Kings Head

A cracking little place. What the other reviews haven't picked up is that the seating area is a tram carriage. Given the size of it, it's a wonder they manage to turn over 4 cask ales: Sharp's Doom Bar and Cornish Coaster, Wadworth 6X and one other that I can't remember. If you're crawling around Bristol it's a must visit

On 14th June 2010 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 244 recommendations about 240 pubs]


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Clive Thompson left this review about Kings Head

I believe this pub is on the National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors, largely due I imagine to the snug bar at the back with a serving hatch through to the main bar. Other than that it is largely one long corridor and therefore a standing drinkers pub. Very decorative throughout with glass panelling and old advertising. Friendly service and decent beer makes this a must visit pub.

On 14th February 2010 - rating: 9
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]


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train man left this review about Kings Head

Doombar, Butcombe Gold, Cornish Coaster, 6X. Beautiful low-ceilinged dark wood pub, fabulous bar-back with high brass plaques proclaiming fayre in old style ‘Whisky', ‘Cigars', ‘Brandy', ‘Claret'. Narrowish entrance with bar to the right, some bar stools then a partition announcing ‘Tramcar Bar' beyond which is an earlier, preferable era – an enclosed snug mirroring a comfortable first class tram carriage, this area also has a short bar counter. Nice old photos around the walls, hanging jugs, nibbles on bar Sun lunch. Rear door leads straight to Temple church, appallingly abutted by some ugly 60/70s flats. Having just missed closing time Sat nt, we queued with another group for Sun opening, feeling very rough; thank goodness the first sharpener was in excellent shape. Hello to the Scots boys on their way home from the Wales friendly (ouch!), incl Derek from Kelburn Brewery.

On 22nd November 2009 - rating: 7
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]


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john mcgraw left this review about Kings Head

Long narrow single bar pub with features plenty of wood and glass. Which has a very good range of real ales.

On 22nd October 2007 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]


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Steve Thorpe left this review about Kings Head

Superb little pub (even smaller toilets!) with a good range of real ales available

On 24th May 2007 - rating: 8
[User has posted 130 recommendations about 126 pubs]

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