The Kings Arms, SE1

Finding myself back in the area I decided to relook this one up again and was very pleased to find it in rude health on a Thursday late afternoon early evening. All nine ale pumps on the go and a very good selection available. On the four pumps in the right hand room were St Austell Tribute, Hancock HB, Titanic Iceberg and Island Brewery Nipper Bitter. Then in the left hand room alongside the pubs Kings Ale (a badged Sharps brew) there was Oakham Citra, Adnams Bitter, Heritage Brewing Co. Its Tremendous and Elephant School Brewing Company My Milk Stout brings all the Bulls to the Yard. Between us we tried six of them and there weren’t a duff pint all night and as well as having the longest names seen on a pump clip the Elephant School stout was the pick of the bunch. Very good service levels from the all female team working the jump who impressively handled the after work rush and by the time we left both the pub and the road outside were rammed. Over the 13 years since I last uploaded a post about this pub it has never let me down. Time to make it one of my rare 9’s me thinks..

The first time I came here was about 20 years ago, though this is my first visit in around 10. The surrounding street is home to some of London’s oldest and best-preserved workers’ cottages, frequently used in period TV dramas, the pub itself being grade II-listed and entered on CAMRA’s inventory of pub interiors, this being of Regional Importance. Brushing aside the crescental entrance curtains, the place hasn’t changed at all, as far as I can tell. What I’d not noticed before is the Saloon Bar and Lounge Bar wording to the entrance doors’ glass panes in Ind Coope lettering, probably dating back around 50 years. There’s also propaganda for Coope’s Treble Gold beer, orange backlit to the bar parapet’s bookends, though given the style of ‘Jazz Age’ lettering, it may date back as far as the ‘30s. There’s Thai food, prepared by a business not associated with pub, which can be a bit smelly. Customers are a mixed bunch, being locals of many shades and office workers. The pub was very full and it only gets worse on Fridays and Saturdays, staff being put under some pressure, though the place does seem to empty out quite quickly on weekdays, around 9.00 pm. Both sides of the bar need to be checked for choice, as there are nine ales, including Doom, but also Titanic’s Raspberry Pale at £2.40 a half, which was very agreeable, but a little cold, though interesting once warmed up; it would probably make for a better summer beer. This is a great little pub, regarded as one of the best boozers in SE1. Fortunately, the Wellington over the way keeps out those who aren’t in the know; more fool them.

Official site of The Kings Arms - www.thekingsarmslondon.co.uk

Official site of The Kings Arms - www.thekingsarmslondon.co.uk

Tucked away in a residential back street close to Waterloo station, this is a good sized street corner pub consisting of a saloon and public bar arranged around a central servery, along with a restaurant area at the rear and although we did not inspect the menu, a sign outside said that Thai food was something of a speciality. Décor wise it’s quite traditional with rough wooden boards on the floor and wood partitioning separating the two halves which also incorporated some stained glass in the top section. Seating was mostly small tables and chairs with the addition of some fitted wooden bench seating in places. A few old black and white photographs of the locale were dotted around the walls whilst the lighting was provided by “oil lamp” style fittings which at least makes a change from the ubiquitous exposed filament light bulbs that every other pub seems to have. The restaurant area at the rear looked to be somewhat more light and contemporary from a quick glance, with white wood panelling on the ceiling. There was a good choice of beers on tap, with the two halves of the bar offer a differing selection so it may be wise to check both before making your selection. On this occasion, the range consisted of Sharp’s Ale of Kings, Adnams Southwold, Kent Apollo, Flying Monk Dark Lane Milk Stout, Watney’s IPA, Wooha Things Can Only Get Bitter, Exmoor Ale, Exmoor Antler, Wainwright’s Golden and Brain’s Rev James. After that lot, the cider choice was distinctly disappointing with Aspall’s being the only option. Other than that though, a decent pub and well worth checking out.