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 Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Kings Head, Richmond
Postal town: Richmond
DL11 6LD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Old Boots left this review about Kings Head
Small stone built pub in a small stone built village. Inside pretty much how you’d like a Dales pub to be; stone floors, plain wood fittings, wood burner, traditional furnishings and countryside prints for decoration, there are even walking sticks for sale (£90 a time). The right hand side is less traditional and laid out for dining, a later remodelling of an original room. The counter is straight ahead as you enter the taproom in the left hand section. Four pulls here with 3 local beers from Black Sheep and Wensleydale, my Semer Water was in fine condition. Although visiting over the Easter weekend it was a calm, relaxing bit of piece from the assorted cyclists, walkers, motorists and motorbikers enjoying Swaledale.
On 1st April 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
. Wittenden left this review about Kings Head
A small stonebuilt single room pub in the centre of this popular village in the Yorkshire Dales. Solid bar at one end,open fire t’other. Flagstones, low ceiling and beams. We’ve visited this pub several times over the years,back to the days when it was the home of Swaled’ales:now the beer choice seems less egregious-on my October visit I enjoyed a couple of pints of Blacksheep Progress(by the standards of Blacksheep, fairly hoppy.) I did notice, however, pump clips relating to the innovative Yorkshire Dales Brewery from Askrigg.
The new landlady seems very friendly, and the menu looked interesting, though we haven’t eaten there. In the season I would suggest that the Kings gets pretty crowded, but on my visit it was the epitome of a quiet, cosy dog friendly pub.
Update 19/10/2014
After a long period of dereliction and major structural repairs the King’s Head reopened on the 17th.October 2014.Superficially, the main alteration seems to be that the bar now faces the front door, allowing the formation of discrete public areas. However the pub was so busy we had difficulty getting inside on a balmily warm October evening. On the bar, alongside the usual fizzy offerings were three handpumps offering Black Sheep Best, Golden Sheep, and the more unusual Riggwelter. The Rigg and the Best were in fine condition. Menus displayed indicated that the food would be reasonably priced by Dales standards.
Update 31/10/21
After another prolonged period of closure,the King's Head was acquired by a consortium of villagers during the Pandemic and is now being run by a tenant and his family.On our most recent visit,on a mirksome October Sunday evening, a number of folk were enjoying meals,while preparations were underway for the first post Covid pub quiz.
A first for me, I sat in a rocking chair by the wood burning stove,enjoying a couple of beers from my favoured Yorkshire Dales Brewery.
On 31st October 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 283 recommendations about 282 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Kings Head
Attractive Swaledale village pub, with a simple stone-flagged bar and a larger dining area to one side. Built sideways on to the road, there is also room for a few wooden benches at the front away from what little passing traffic there is. Four real ales on handpump: Black Sheep, a pair from Yorkshire Dales - Swale Trail Pale and Butter Tubs - and Old Peculier. The Bobby Horn's cider from Black Sheep was also noted on the keg taps, along with a 'house' Pilsner (from Cameron's, apparently).
On 20th August 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Kings Head
This pub turned out to be my consolation for having to reroute my cycle ride because of snow and ice on the moors around Swaledale. It was still cold in Swaledale, but at least not dangerous, and the presence of a fire in the hearth was very welcome. Also a welcome sight was two Black Sheep hand pumps on the bar - I could have had the Pale but went for my favourite, the Best Bitter. This was in really excellent condition, with that superb dry and bitter finish that makes this beer one of the best in the country, in my opinion. I had a very pleasant stop, as this is a very nice pub and the welcome from the woman serving was not limited to just a greeting: she was happy to engage with her customers about walking and cycling, and possibly even dogs, for all I know, though none entered while I was here. This is one that I'll look forward to revisiting.
On 5th March 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3746 recommendations about 3483 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Kings Head
First stop on day 3 of the Inn Way. Nice pub with Askrigg Ales on (we had a gold). An awful lot of signs telling you what you can and cant do. "To avoid further damage, dont touch the fire"
All pleasant enough and perfect for our needs.
Photos at my walking blog - http://bit.ly/1SRduGp
On 19th April 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about The Kings Head
A small, traditional stone built pub, at the heart of the village, next to Gunnerside beck. The open-plan interior is cosily low ceilinged and retains the original beams. There is also a fabulous fireplace, with a lovely old range and plenty of pictures and photos on the rough plastered/ artexed walls.
It does appear a little tired e.g pink painted walls, with more than a hint of the seventies about it, but a little freshening up is all it needs.
Calling several times over a week, the beer was always in excellent nick. Black Sheep Bitter looked to be a permanent fixture, plus a rotating guest beer. We particularly enjoyed The Yorkshire Dales Brewery’s ‘Askrigg Ale’.
Food is available and although we didn’t try it, it looked to be good value. There seemed to be a traditional fare/ gastro-pub mix, as ‘egg and chips’ was being served up alongside such dishes as feta and beetroot salad.
Staff were friendly and welcoming during our visits. A rumour that the pub is being run as a village co-operative is not true. The couple currently running the King’s Head are tenants, arriving in late August. (They arrived three days before August bank holiday weekend into total chaos, as the previous landlord had allegedly taken all the fittings with him, including the extractor fan!) The fact that the place seems a going concern again after only a few weeks is a credit to them. Mind you, when they strolled into the bar early one evening, in their walking gear, I took that to be a very good sign.
I loved the atmosphere of this pub and came away thinking it was a proper community local where villagers mix with the inevitable tourists. It’s the sort of place where you can open out your map and plan tomorrow’s walk, whilst rubbing a finger of spittle onto grazed knees, or gaze into the fire, whilst cradling a pint and enjoy a reverie or two. Long may it continue.
On 29th December 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 582 recommendations about 564 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Kings Head
Like many Dales pubs, the Kings Head is a typically attractive stone building sitting in a small village on a main road between nowhere and somewhere else. It is one of those places that you aren’t necessarily looking for but it would be shame to drive past. It was originally built as a Blacksmiths but fortunately for us, the brewing aspect, that was initially little more than a side hobby, led to the place becoming a Coaching Inn in the 18th Century.
The interior is a pair of rooms knocked through although retaining with a slight divide. The main feature is the huge brick fireplace that dominates one end although the electric fire present in front of it on my visit rather diminished the effect. A collection of jugs and urns includes mementos of the Swaledale Marathon which goes through the village and for the less energetic, a dart board hangs to one side of the bar. Outside is a small cobbled courtyard with a few benches although the Dales weather generally dictates its usuage.
There were 2 ales available, the ubiquitous Black Sheep Best and the more endearing Dent Porter with prices being quite reasonable and quality very good. I didn’t note any details regarding food but they were preparing for a curry night when we arrived (which we unfortunately couldn’t hang around for).
There is no doubting that the pub has plenty of character and it was certainly very welcoming although the small beer selection knocks it back a little. The pub has fallen on hard times in recent years but its future seems to be far more secure under the current ownership which is all the more reason to drop in if you find yourself passing by.
On 6th December 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]