The Kings Head, Islington - pub details
Address: 115, Upper St, London, N1 1QN [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 5231)
Angel (0.5 miles), Highbury and Islington (0.6 miles), Canonbury (0.9 miles)
Essex Road (0.4 miles), Highbury & Islington (0.6 miles), Caledonian Road & Barnsbury (0.6 miles)
Pub facilities/features:
- Live music
- Real ale
Pub suggested by James Monk on 3 Nov 2003
NB: Information may be incomplete or out of date as this pub is not currently registered.
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> Current user rating: 6.2/10 (rated by 39 users)
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> Local guide: London pub guide
other pubs nearby:
Matt and Matt Bar, Islington (0.0 miles), Bull, Islington (0.1 miles), Keston Lodge, Islington (0.1 miles), Hogshead, Islington (0.1 miles), Kings Head, Islington (0.1 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the Kings Head, Islington
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 36 shown - see all reviews
| It may have 'character', a good choice of beer and be a welcome retreat in a sea of anoydne chain pubs, but this place is rank. Toilet cubicles with long-broken locks, no soap and no toilet paper (and no signs that any had been provided that day) is unacceptable, particularly when you're raking in money from a capacity crowd (paying £25 each plus booking fee) at the in-pub theatre. ChickenRonnie - 14 Dec 2011 09:13 |
| good selection of beer very nice. beerman44 - 7 Dec 2011 15:54 |
| London's original Pub Theatre. I've had some great nights in the King's Head, it rarely fails to disappoint. Average beer selection, but TT Landlord is always a positive. One of the few genuinely enjoyable venues on Upper Street. Misk. - 24 Jan 2011 18:28 |
| Quiet on my Saturday afternoon visit but there were one or two absurdly dressed acting types knocking around the place. The walls are a treasure trove of theatrical memorabilia but I found the seating and general decor of the place pretty shabby and unappealing. Rather like the Old Blue Last in Hoxton it has ransacked an old theatre for some of its seating. Ale selection was Adnams, Youngs Ordinary, Bombardier and Landlord. I had the last of these and it was in good order. The pub obviously has some historical noteworthiness but I wouldn't make a special effort to visit. murgatroyd - 1 Nov 2010 08:34 |
| Not to be confused with the Kings Head in nearby Essex Road, there has been a Kings Head here since the mid 16th century although the current Victorian pub’s main claim to fame came in 1970 when it opened Britain’s first Pub Theatre in a small room to the rear. Today the Theatre’s Patrons and Presidents make an impressive role call; Joana Lumley, Tom Stoppard, Maureen Lipman and Victoria Wood to name just a few. Whether any of them can be seen regularly knocking back the Guinness’s on a Saturday night is debatable but as far as the pub side of things go, it is quite a bustling, lively and interesting little joint. Furnishings appear quite Spartan and with its dark polished bare floor it comes across s a bit dim and dingy but there are many interesting features such as the marble fireplace (with laden coal scuttles ready and waiting), double bay window frontage and working gas lights. As one would expect, there is a strong Theatre theme to the pub with walls plastered with thespian pictures (many of whom have appeared in the pub), old theatre seats running down each side, posters and selection of stage lights hanging from the high ceiling. Note also the old photo from the 1900’s taken inside the pub of the (presumably) land lord and wife. At the rear to ne side is a dart board and in one corner, a small stage where live bands play at weekends. Things can be noisy and music at high volume when the DJ’s are at full pelt so it isn’t a place fir a quiet evening out. The beers are a bit pricey but it is worth paying the extra just to soak up the ambience of the place. 4 Ales available on my recent visit; Youngs, Adnams, Abbott and 6X. One useless fact about the place is that a previous owner was against the introduction of decimal currency and the prices were all shown in shillings and pence until the early ‘90’s. The pub won’t appeal to everyone (how many do?) but it is certainly an interesting and historic part of London’s pub circuit and for that alone, worth paying a visit. RogerB - 30 Oct 2009 16:22 |
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