please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
You have to visit this place now if you havent been before. yes landlords have been there for a while, but they bought it from scratch and is a nice independantly owned pub - not a brewery managed or crappy chain pub.
Owners and staff are very friendly and prices reasonable (for the area) Student friendly, football friendly, pub quiz and live bands as well as themed nights. Excellent local which is all round chilled and great for an evening away from Kingston
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I don't smoke cigars! I think you'll find that the phrase used is a colloquialism and not literal. Nice place but it seems a bit too quiet of late. It would be good to see the ales changing regularly too: Landlord has been in residence for ages!
anonymous - 21 Feb 2007 13:32 |
I think you will find that the colour scheme is dark blue(not purple!) and yellow. The person below must be colour blind! Nothing like a cocktail bar!
As a freehold pub the owners have a done a good job to the inside, might not be to everyones liking, but every pub is different and this pub has a friendly warm atmosphere to it. They have a good range of beers and the live music on saturday nights seems to pull in a good crowd.
Foodwise, have only tried their sunday roasts which are awesome.
Def be going back to this 'unique' pub, agree with 'twiceaweek'
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Ghastly decor (purple ceiling, anyone?) & a poor selection of ales for a so-called free-house. A bit too much like one of those cocktail bars that opened in the early 80's & thankfully had all closed down a few years later. On the plus side, bar staff all seemed very friendly & a good live music venue.
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Great place!
anonymous - 27 Dec 2006 13:22 |
If you like Timothy Taylor Landlord and home cooked curry then this is the place for you! Resonable prices as well. Note that they do have live bands playing some nights, so not a place for a quiet chat.
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I was trying to ask why it's very quiet there on a weekend night when you'd expect most pubs on busy roads to be busy! The pub's opposite a university halls of residence and on the edge of Hampton Wick, a village with five drinking places. It's also on the route into Kingston but the place is quite dead on nights you'd expect it to be relatively steady.
That said, a good (if expensive) pint can be had and the live music standard is qutie high. Closer than it was but still no cigar, Boris!
anonymous - 10 Nov 2006 17:37 |
On walking in here, I at first thought "Oh no, no real ales!". But then I spotted the solitary hand-pump, and an excellent pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord was enjoyed.
From the outside, this looks like a good old-fashioned boozer. But sadly, the inside looks like a brightly-painted gastro-pub. Sign of the times, I suppose. Looks like it used to be made up of two or three rooms, now knocked through into one less-than-cosy large room. Shame.
A weird comment from 'anonymous' below. Being packed and two deep at the bar is not the 'acid test' for a pub. On the contrary, surely most people who are looking for a good pint and a chat with some friends in a cosy pub would avoid a pub that is so busy? I know I would.
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Acid test for any pub: is it busy at ten o'clock on either a Friday or Saturday night? Are people two deep at the bar hoping to get served?
If any pub you visit at that time isn't, ask yourself why. I've been in the OKH at that time recently and it's been deadly: no atmos, a few people just lazing about, bored-looking staff and generally not a lot going on to keep you there after the first pint.
Granted they now do more in the way of live music - some of which has an admission cost of a fiver - but to be a successful pub will take a good deal more effort as the public are not exactly packing the place to the doors of a weekend. Close but no cigar.
anonymous - 26 Sep 2006 14:28 |
They have a lovely courtyard at the back. Didn't know it was there actually, but they have done it out very nicely and it is a nice place to escape. Erdinger on tap is refreshing and goes well with their amazing sunday roasts. Well worth every penny. Will be coming back to try out there evening food soon. Great pub, defintely worth a visit.
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Nice little pub for a quiet drink. Sometimes too much smoke, but that won't be a problem soon! The Erdinger is brilliant and worth the visit for this alone.
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Came here for a live band dedicated to ' THE DOORS' and it was absolutely awesome. It was completely packed out. In fact they had actually sold out of tickets for the night. The chap or miss below is tatally missing the point. This place is doing really well in catering for a wide range of people. They have a Full Live Band dedicated to the Beatles next Month and more to come. It's fantastic inside and to be honest the prices where no more and infact less than nearby pubs. My favaourite tipple (Guinness) was cheaper by 30 pence than round the corner. Better than any pub in Kingston by a mile. Kingston has gone really down hill - so look around the outskirts. I think the person below should stick to drinking in Weatherspoons because thats all their good for. I feel sorry for you.
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Went there last week with some friends. Decor is nice but I have to agree with what others have said - its pretty pricey! Was a bit dead too, not much atmosphere, which is a shame as it would be ok if it was in a better location. Should def lower prices to make it worth going back.
anonymous - 2 May 2006 14:16 |
I am playing there tonight with Donut - live acoustic duo - we play just to the left of the doors as you walk in - the full bands play down the end where the pool table is.
This is worth coming to as the bar has been decorated very very nicely and the owners are a top couple.
anonymous - 15 Apr 2006 14:41 |
A bit like someone's living room only with Timothy Taylor's Landlord on tap. Has live music but I don't know where they'd fit the band in.
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It seems to me someone is having a dig at this pub. I would say that their curry is thier signature dish actually. I have never had to wait 50 minutes for food and their food is great. Also Fosters is only �2.90, i think they may have some imported beers so maybe they may cost more. A JD and coke is actually quite cheap. I have always had a good night in this pub and think they are doing really well for a newcomer to the village. Give them some support and stop telling porkies about them! I welcome the Old Kings Head.
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Went there recently. Really friendly staff, good atmosphere and good selection of beers. Decorated really well and toilets are spotless. Not as expensive as others have said compared to across the river and nearby pubs. Will check out the live music on saturday nights. Thumbs up for this boozer!
anonymous - 4 Apr 2006 22:27 |
Went here on thursday and it was pretty dead, could be because its on the wrong side of the river though? Bit pricey too.
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Very quiet, apparently it was closed for ten years.. Nicely done out, but very expensive. Staff friendly enough, but to be honest, i expect change from buying 3 pints with a tenner. No atmosphere when I've been there. Wont go there again.
anonymous - 3 Apr 2006 23:08 |
Looking at last comment i would like to say that i find most pubs quiet on Mondays, and i went to the Old Kings Head a couple of fridays ago and it was packed. A really nice atmosphere and good music. A good selection of specialist beers.
They have something on every saturday night now and the live music has always been good.
i have also been to a couple of tribute nights there which they have once a month and have had a really good night out. I think they are having a Blondie one soon, so get down and check it out. Hampton Wick has at last woken up. This pub is a little treasure. Will be gong a lot more often.
tania - 24 Mar 2006 12:47 |
I was in here on Monday evening and there were only two of us, plus the barman, for an hour or more.
What a shame, because the Timothy Taylor's was excellent, and the place feels very welcoming apart from all the empty space!
The owner must have invested quite a bit to bring it up to this standard, so come on folks - let's give him a bit more support, or I fear the pub will be out of action again.
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Really cool funky pub. great music beer and food. has live music acts too, worth checking out.
Im happy I've found this little treasure!!
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Excellent pub - decor inside is fantastic and I have to agree with the comments about the toilets, they are better than The Ivy toilets and I am not joking!!!
Live music in here at weekends. Friendly bar staff and owners, fast service and a really happy atmosphere. Well worth a visit. Just off the roundabout from the Kingston Bridge.
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Good for german Beers and Efficient staff. I don't recommend drinking too much Erdinger if you don't want to look a fool on the pool table. Place looks good - especially the loo's. Was recommended the Curry so I'll be back to try another day. I'll keep you posted.
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Really Nice Pub,Serves Good Homecooked Food and Beer,and has a Nice Garden To sit In The Summer.
anonymous - 20 Nov 2005 14:16 |
This place doesn't look that inviting from the outside, but you'll be pleasantly surprised. The interior has been very tastefully refurbished.
There is a pool table at the back but unusually this doesn't make the place feel threatening at all. Drinks are a tad expensive but I guess they have to pay for the smart decor somehow. Very clean and tidy, even the toilets are well kept.
Definitely worth trying if nearby.
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A cracking little boozer. Decor and furnishings very smart and comfortable. I particularly like the giant game of jenga on the bar propping up the ceiling. I know that's not what it is, but that's what it looks like.
Was there on 11/06 for re-re-opening and it was a top night. Shame about the weather and the hogroast though.
One criticism: Pacman and Frogger on extremely difficult setting. Or maybe I was arseholed.
jossv - 13 Jun 2005 17:06 |
Good pub. Quite modern but some old fixtures still there - I'd say a good mix of old and new. The staff were friendly and the atmosphere was relaxing. Wasn't to busy when I went in but could see how it could become overcrowded. The music was quite loud, so if you looking to have a chat and a catch up with friends it could be difficult.
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A beautiful surprise when you walk in. The interior has been well thought about. Very frendly staff and owners. The homemade curry is excellent. Nice to see homecooked food in a pub. Very cosy and relaxed atmosphere. Definitely be going on a reugular basis. Hope it does well.
SH - 28 Oct 2004 18:49 |
I went in on a Saturday night with a group of friends. It was to busy, the music was to loud and it wasn't welcoming at all - it was full of pretentious people. A great shame to see tradition trashed by modern fixtures and fitting.
SB - 14 Oct 2004 14:30 |
Lovely to see the old kings head open it has just won pub of The Month,when it was closed for Ten years it was a private art gallery.
Jim - 3 Oct 2004 12:41 |
A great surprise, we'd been put off by the blue lights on the bar visible outside making it look like a disco. The welcome is friendly, beer very good, excellent TT Landlord, food too, they just need to sort out food serving times. This place deserves support
alan - 27 Sep 2004 18:02 |
Paid a visit last night - impressed with the new layout and friendly staff.
Question: What was this pub used for when it was closed?
PJB - 27 Aug 2004 11:26 |
Great new interior -sympathetic yet modern. Very Friendly new owners and they seem to be attracting a reasonable crowd. Bitburger is a bonus and great to see Timothy Taylors Landlord (well looked after, too) as the guest replacing the Old Speckled Hen. We spent as much on the coffee table retro arcade game than on the beer!
L - 26 Aug 2004 11:32 |
Oh no, back to the old days of confusion with the King's Arms! - I know it seems obvious but if confusion is possible, it becomes inevitable.
It's great to see a pub (re)opening these days. Good luck.
DeviousDave - 23 Aug 2004 11:09 |
Well! Too early to comment really - still smells of new paint and hasn't found it's feet yet. Looks smart and modern (bar too small though) but could well be a very nice pub with the right crowd drinking in it. Lets hope the students in Kingston House can't afford it (tee hee)!
Wazzer - 11 Aug 2004 00:03 |
A Lovely and Friendly Pub,Well worth going too,very glad it has Re-opened after all these years.
Tom - 9 Aug 2004 11:45 |
Well, it's gone a bit modern but not painfully so. There's a sofa, anyway. Drink selection seems fairly standard although draught Bitburger is something a bit different. Real ale is available but the choice looked fairly uninspired, it was Pride or Old Speckled Hen I think. Beer garden is fairly small but nice enough. No sign of a menu as such but there was a hog roast for the opening on Saturday so that might become a regular thing (in the summer at least), who knows. The bar is too small in my opinion, but with decent enough staff that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
In summary: it didn't get me too excited, but it's definitely a welcome addition to the area, and somewhere I'd be happy to go again. Will be interesting to see what sort of regulars it ends up attracting.
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GRAND RE-OPENING ON SATURDAY THE 7TH AUGUST AT 12:00 PM
T - 1 Aug 2004 10:49 |
What's happening in Hampton Wick these days?
The Rose & Crown is now shut; rumours are the Forresters is also going to close & be demolised for flats; the Railway had Mafia connections & now the Old King's Head is reopening.
Used to go here in late 80s - nice venue - just hope it doesnt go TOO modern. Report back once its re-opened.
PJB - 12 Jul 2004 13:35 |
Re opening after seven long years next month
T - 11 Jul 2004 14:17 |
Former Great Public House Re-Opening in the Next Month
Paul - 4 Jul 2004 20:28 |
Lovely Pub next that backs on to home park
Roger Demons - 11 Jun 2004 07:47 |
