BITE user comments - Shani
Comments by Shani
Cracking pub. Great atmosphere and superb beers. Quite small and dinky, but has the kind of 'real pub' mojo that only a few pubs ever really achieve. As such it is worth searching this place out.
5 Mar 2011 16:48
When it gets busy this place is a nightmare - but once you have a beer in hand, this is a fantastic place on a warm summer evening. During quieter periods this is a brilliant place to drink at any time of the year.
The beer terrace and the conservatory are great areas. The main bar how ever can get a bit smokey.
The range of booze is phenomenal and the whole package adds up to the best pub in Sheffield!
17 Sep 2006 18:13
I was recently in Norwich - a favourite city of mine with its medieval architecture, pavement cafes, parks and its numerous real ale pubs!
I got chatting to a cabbie and hearing that I was a fan of real ale, he advised me of a pub that had recently reopened called the King's Head down on Magdellen Street.
A banner over the front door proclaimed the news of a CAMRA award - Norwich Pub of the Year 2006 - and on settling down with a pint of KHB I could see why.
There are two bars, one smoking (at the front) and one non-smoking (a large room to the rear). The decor is 'traditional' with wood flooring throughout and large windows give it quite a light feel. The no-smoking policy and the lack of carpet give it quite a fresh atmosphere underpinned by the faint but sweet aroma of quality beers. The pub sits on a busy main street, but on entry, one steps in to a little oasis of peace.
I was there on a Saturday afternoon and the pub was reasonably full with a fair cross section of society. Families resting after a day in the shops, a few couples en route to the football, bookish types sitting quietly on their own - deep in literature and one or two others poring over newspapers. There is no music or TV in this pub. It has a peaceful atmosphere permeated my the organic sound of conversation, the turning of a page or footsteps along the wood floor.
There were several real ales on offer (I only had time to sample a few), and Jon (the Landlord), advised that they change them on a regular basis. Interestingly he said they had been open less than a year when awards started coming his way and I can see why. Jon is an enthusiast of beer and when I questioned the wisdom of his 'no food or music' policy he simply expressed his confidence in the quality of what he was selling - 'build it and they will come'. Not for him the gimmicks of Satellite TV or the thud of dance music.
In Sheffield I am spoilt for choice for good pubs (The Fat Cat and the Sheaf View being good examples). Norwich is also rich ground for the real beer enthusiast - so why this post? Well, Norwich is a CAMRA stronghold with numerous good pubs. Yet in the face of strong competition one man has opened a pub with a simple philosophy and with it has created something greater than the sum of its parts. I was surprised that this pub was so 'little known' although I understand that it will be in the next "Good Beer Guide". This means that before the hordes discover this little place (as sure they will) - and you end up ten deep at the bar, now is a good time to get there and sample what I think is one of the best pubs in East Anglia.
17 Sep 2006 18:07
The Kings Head, Norwich
I recently returned to this place and am glad to see that both time and success have not tainted the winning formula of low tech (no TVs or plasma screens, nor jukebox) - just newspapers and traditional bar games...in addition to conversation and alcohol.
It sometimes takes luck to be successful, but it takes skill to continue success. The guys that run this place have that skill. They know their beer and they know what makes a good pub.
Looking forwards to my next visit!
5 Mar 2011 16:53