User name:

Password:

Login


Sign in with Facebook


Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW


Chat about:
New pub visits 2024 with Brainypool on the Pub Forum

The Kings Head, Earls Court, SW5

17 Hogarth Place
SW5
SW5 0QT
Phone: 02073735239

Return to pub summary

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


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Kings Head

This is an 18th century pub, rebuilt in 1937 with a sign depicting the visage of George V.
The interior has been modernised to a certain extent, but I think some of the divisions with metal frames are original. The wood panelled rear snug appears original and fine with fawn-coloured banquettes, but the multicoloured lighting above, with Luxcrete ceiling on high, isn’t.
Being a Fuller’s pub, the ales need little in the way of introduction, with two settling, then just Pride, ESB and a fantastic find in the shape of Siren’s Project Barista (hazelnut flavoured) and absolutely gorgeous, even at £6.00 a pint.
This is a decent locals’ pub, probably the best in the area, as transients and tourists won’t know to look for it.

On 2nd December 2021 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Kings Head

This pub seems to be unchanged since the previous reviewer's visit. It was obviously once an old backstreet local, but there aren't many of them left in this part of the world. It's totally modernised inside with the usual mix of tall tables/tall stools, normal tables and chairs, and armchairs. All fairly comfortable if you like that kind of thing, but it struck me as a bit clinical.

Being a Fuller's pub, it had on Oliver's Island, HSB, London Pride and London Beer Factory Chelsea Blond. The latter guest ale came as a pleasant surprise, but pints of the Chelsea Blond and Pride came to £9.10, so I guess one was £4.50 and the other £4.60. Top of the range prices even for this area. I didn't see a printed menu, but a blackboard on one of the walls advertised the chef's signature dishes - pan-fried salmon is £16; and duck breast with dauphinoise potatoes, red wine & cinnamon sauce is £17. That looks to be consistent with the beer prices.

But having said all that it still strikes me as a pub instead of a restaurant pretending to be a pub. The Chelsea blond was in decent condition as well. I don't imagine that I would seek this one out for a re-visit, but I would have no objection to visiting again.

On 14th February 2017 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Kings Head

Recently taken over by Fuller's, but not yet branded as such, and little seems to have changed since my previous visit a couple of years ago. Substantially refurbished, this gastro-type pub is rather more upmarket than most of the surrounding premises on the east side of Earls Court Road. The seating is of three distinct types - low sofas near the front door, annoying high furniture in the main section in front of the bar, and conventional dining tables at the end with the fireplace in the curious large alcove / small side room. Semi-modern decor including some bright tiling around the bar counter. Background music. Choice of four real ales on handpump: London Pride and ESB, Sambrook's Pumphouse Pale and London Beer Factory Paxton Pale (£4.35). Overall, a pleasant place to stop for a pint, and only a couple of minutes walk from the tube station.

On 28th November 2015 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about The Kings Head

Backstreet upscale gastroboozer, which looks to have been the victim of an over-zealous refurb a few years ago. Staple shaped, with adjunct blue alcove. Wood panelling and crap art for sale. Quiz and music nights advertised. Decent selection on the pumps, Portobello Star & Porter, Hanlons Snowstorm (past its best) and London Beer co Chelsea Blonde (much better). Interesting little bolt-hole if in the area. Anyone know which king it is on the pub sign?

On 17th February 2015 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5050 recommendations about 5033 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Kings Head

This is a reasonably large, single room pub just off the busy Earls Court Road, down a side street opposite Earls Court station. The pub has a bit of a gastro feel to it with bare floorboards and a rather dull colour scheme with very little in the way of interesting décor except some interesting light fittings and a bright rear section livened up with a selection of modern art prints which all seemed to be for sale. The servery is economically positioned along one wall and has a modern counter and bar back, with the latter adorned with a series of small, framed mirrors. The bar area has some pretty, patterned tiles on the floor space around it, which is arguably the pub's most striking and interesting feature. High tables and stools have been set out opposite the bar, with more high stools along a drinking ledge to the left. A cosy looking space near one of the entrances has a nice fireplace with a TV screen above (turned off on this visit) and some sofa seating in front. On the other side of this entrance, you'll find a small, cosy seating area which was notable for a bird cage filled with candles. The rear of the pub has mostly standard tables and chairs, with an extra sofa thrown in for good measure, again in front of a fireplace with a large TV screen in attendance. Music played quietly throughout my stay and a number of people appeared to be enjoying food, although I didn't manage to see the menu, having been unable to get a table, such was the pub's post-work popularity.
Unfortunately, my arrival appears to have been poorly timed, as there was just the one ale available - Westerham Tripel Jump (£4.20) - with two more pumps having reversed clips and one more bearing a clip which informed me that there is a 'drought' at the moment and that new beer will be on soon. To be fair, the staff did seem to be doing their best to pull the lines through whilst serving a very busy bar. Fortunately, the Tripel Jump was pretty good and the keg range, should I have needed to resort to it, contained the likes of Warsteiner, Palm and Krusovice, with posters advertising an upcoming Oktoberfest beer festival. I spotted a few interesting bottled beers in the fridges as well. The barmaid who served me was very friendly and the team were doing a decent job making sure everyone was promptly served.
This pub may lack a bit of character, but its popularity makes up for this by helping to generate a lively atmosphere. Couple this to the friendly service and potentially interesting beer range and you have a perfectly serviceable pub that is probably the pick of the bunch in the immediate vicinity of Earls Court station.

On 19th October 2014 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


john gray left this review about The Kings Head

Totally surprised to find a pub that I didn't know about in this area.Hidden away but a rather good pub.Lots of high tables and stools for the mostly drinkers on my visit.Nice wood panelling and a blue painted nook with sofas.Four beers on inc Adnams-ghostship, Portobello -apa and a superb Westerham -double stout for me. Liked this pub a lot.

On 13th March 2014 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about The Kings Head

Tucked away off the main earls court drag. Beers from adnams,camden town brewery and young's.Food served.

On 4th October 2011 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


John Bonser left this review about The Kings Head

Describing itself on its website as “Earls Court best kept secret, and situated in a quiet conservation area just off the busy Earls Court Road, The Kings Head is a pub that, with its black painted exterior, screams “gastro pub” at you as you approach.
Inside the pub, paper menus, wooden seats and tables continue this concept, but several sofas and settees contribute to a loungey feel also. There’s little of specific note apart from a fine fireplace.
A good selection of board games and posters advertising the Monday night quiz indicate that it’s trying to be a local too, but, on my recent Saturday lunchtime visit, it had that rather anonymous impersonal London pub feel.
Beers on were Thwaites Original and Adnams Spiced Winter Beer. Halfway through my visit, the third pump started serving Meantime Pale Ale. The Thwaites Original - £ 3.40p – was reasonable. The pub proudly displays Cask Marque accreditation, but I didn’t detect any real ale emphasis.
I’d probably call in again if passing, but this is not a pub worth going out of your way to get to.

On 21st December 2010 - rating: 6
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]