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Chat about:
Yet another list with Pangolin
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Moby Duck
Submitted on Wednesday, 26th June 2019
With picture contributions to 1143 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (18 more images)
Detail Pages
The Fighting Cocks, Kingston Upon Thames
Kingston Upon Thames
KT2 6QA
Served areas
Reviews of The Fighting Cocks (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Fighting Cocks
This is a small pub on one of the main roads into Kingston, which is best known for its roster of live music. The pub has a small main bar, with a staple-shaped layout, with limited seating options, mainly in the cramped front part of the pub, and down the left-hand wall, opposite the bar. The servery runs most of the length of the right-hand wall and has a simple counter and a distinctive leopard print bar back dominated by a large central mirror with a winged skull image on it. Decor includes a few decorated skateboards nailed to the walls, some gig posters and various bits of promotional material. The room extends a short way to the right at the rear, but this extra space has been given over to a pool table, so fails to ease the lack of seating issue. A door to the rear left gives access to a narrow courtyard to the side of the pub, which does provide some extra seating under ample shelter. Heading back past the pool table, you pass the toilets to enter the gig venue - a small, sweaty room with a low stage, walls plastered with stickers for various bands that have played here down the years, and a second servery in the rear corner.
There’s no cask ale here unfortunately, and on my visit, their two Siren keg beers had gone off, leaving some mainstream options plus a house Lager and IPA. The latter of these was actually pretty good and kept me ‘hydrated’ through an insanely hot and sweaty gig on one of the warmest days of the summer. The staff are pretty efficient and kept queuing to a minimum when the crowd surged in between acts.
This is a cracking little gig venue that I’ve now seen a couple of great shows at, but as a pub in its own right, it’s not likely to win too many people over. The lack of seating means you can’t really get comfortable and the absence of cask ale will alienate purists. I’ll be on the lookout for more gigs here, but my pre-gig drinking will mainly be done elsewhere.
On 6th November 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3252 recommendations about 3252 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Fighting Cocks
This is one pub where they didn't have to make any special decorative efforts in the run up to Hallowe'en. It's black and gothic everywhere all the time. It looks ghastly in my opinion, but I'm sure it's the look they are trying for. I was in at early doors on a Wednesday, when there was an overpowering smell of cleaning fluid, and there was raucus heavy metal music being played. There's a pool table and I saw a quiz night advertised.
They did have a couple of real ales on - Doom Bar and Robinson's Trooper (obviously). The Trooper was £4.15 a pint and £2.50 a half. This is a too wide disparity between pint and half prices in my opinion. I'm sure this place appeals to certain type of customer, but having had three of my senses assaulted, as well as my pocket, I left never to return.
On 7th November 2018
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Fighting Cocks
A long-established student alt/rock pub which also hosts occasional live music and comedy nights. The interior is dark, in places black, and fairly stripped back with various monochrome band pictures, US number plates, a bat wing ceiling fan, a skull and crossbones on the mirrored bar back and the telly was showing HORROR+1. Obligatory copy of the Graun (appeared unread). Two ales, Robinsons Trooper (inevitably) and Dark Start Hophead, for which I fleeced £2.15 for a half (at least it was in decent nick). I guess it works well enough as there were a few people in but ultimately the high prices and my long-past-student-age means I'll pass next time.
On 1st December 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5462 recommendations about 5444 pubs]
View more reviews of The Fighting Cocks (5)
No known official website for this pub.
- Twitter - The Fighting Cocks
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Fighting Cocks - whatpub.com
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 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes - until 6.30 - last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : No last updated 06 November 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Live Music : Yes last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 06 November 2022 by Pub SignMan
- WiFi : Yes last updated 07 January 2017 by Quinno _
