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Picture of King's Head
Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Saturday, 21st September 2019
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King's Head, N1

115 Upper Street
N1
N1 1QN
Correct details

Served areas

Tweets by King's Head
King'sHeadTheatrePub King'sHeadTheatrePub Tasty ✅ Perfect for the summer ✅ Alcoholic beverage ✅ We think you’ll love our spritz marmalade mule! Come in tod… https://t.co/bOD3fRHAGy 6:11 PM Jun 5th from Twitter for iPhone
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Reviews of King's Head (Average Rating: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Pub SignMan left this review about King's Head

Compact theatre pub on the busy Upper Street, which was packed when I arrived and still remained busy when the evening’s performance began in the back room. The pub has a U-shaped layout which wraps around a centrally positioned servery. Nice old dark floorboards, half panelled walls with plain painted uppers and an anaglypta ceiling with a large skylight to the rear, help to give the pub a traditional feel, despite the modern, opened out layout. Tables and chairs with a few low stools run around the perimeter, supplemented by some decent tub chairs over to the right. The servery has a chunky dark wood counter and partially retained bar back that incorporates some smart etched glass panes along the top, another in the access door and a partially obscured etched glass mirror. The bar extends to a white tiled rear space which houses the coffee and tea making station. The walls have been decorated with loads of photos and posters relating to the theatre, plus a few mirrors and an unused TV screen, whilst cool old soul tunes played quietly in the background. The theatre seemed to be very popular, and I liked the fact that only half the crowd vanished when the production began, suggesting that this pub is more than just a holding area for theatregoers.
Just two cask ales on the go when I arrived – Youngs Ordinary and St Austell Proper Job. I took a pint of the latter from a fairly friendly barmaid, which set me back £5.60 and was in reasonable condition. A few, relatively mainstream cask options were also available, and I enjoyed watching a group of young French men taking a chance on a few of them and deeply regretting their decisions!
I’m usually not much of a fan of theatre bars, but this place came across as a pub first and foremost, which just so happens to have a theatre attached to it. Whilst the ale range wasn’t the most thrilling, I nevertheless enjoyed my brief visit here and would consider using it again if in need of refreshment in this part of town.

On 20th September 2023 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3093 recommendations about 3093 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about King's Head

A single roomed Theatre pub with all the regalia that goes with it, busy when I got there but almost emptied out shortly after when the doors to the theatre entrance opened.The four pump handles were occupied by Youngs Ordinary doubled up, a Youngs jubilee beer All Ale The Queen (see what they did there) and St Austel Proper Job. Can't really say this pub managed to float my boat.

On 12th June 2022 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1853 recommendations about 1827 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about King's Head

Dating from 1543, the pub was rebuilt as this commanding terraced edifice in 1864, home to a theatre since 1970, supposedly the first theatre pub revival since the time of Shakespeare. It’s also listed on CAMRA’s inventory of pubs with historic interiors, this being of Some Regional Importance, which I’ve been visiting since the 1980s, fancying a visit last night.
It's quite a large single roomed Young’s pub, with a high ceiling and central rear bar, with some attractive cut glass panelling. There's a central column, with ornate capital. Walls are half wainscoted painted black, with walls above painted a pea green colour, covered with framed theatre flyers of yesteryear, as well as prints of famous actors of stage and screen, who it assumes, have appeared here, albeit at the dawn of their careers. The floor is bare boarded and now tidied up somewhat, the furniture is fairly conventional as is the lighting, which is Victorian in style. Most attractive of all, are the two opposing white marble fireplaces, both home to real coal fires which add to the ambience. Furniture is conventional and customers tend to be a mixed bunch.
A friendly barman presided over: Original, Special and Proper Job at a stiff £5.35 a pint and in great nick.
Upper Street is supposed to have more bars, pubs and restaurants along its length than any other UK street; this is the best of them and is a must-visit if in the borough of Islington.

On 19th February 2022 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1943 recommendations about 1910 pubs]


View more reviews of King's Head (13)
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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by hondo .
Essex Road, 0.41 miles, 7 min walk (show)
Highbury & Islington, 0.62 miles, 11 min walk (show)
Highbury & Islington, 0.62 miles, 11 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for King's Head, N1
20th Sep 2023, 19:02
Review submitted by Pub SignMan
 
12th Jun 2022, 19:14
Review submitted by Moby Duck

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Beer Garden : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Car Park : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Darts : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Function Room : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Hot Food : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Jukebox : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Karaoke : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Live Music : Yes last updated 20 September 2023 by Pub SignMan
  • Live TV Sports : No - Selective e.g. Six Nations. - last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Micropub : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Pinball : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Pool Table : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Real Ale : Yes - Young's. - last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Real Cider : No last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • Wheelchair Access : Yes - Disabled WC. - last updated 26 February 2022 by Tris C
  • WiFi : Yes last updated 19 March 2014 by hondo .
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