Kensington Arms, Cothamback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A few years ago this was a dingy back street boozer with sticky carpets. It was then rescued and given a full gastro makeover and now seems to be very popular with both diners and drinkers. It�s one of those places that probably has different clientele at different times of the day and with it�s free wi-fi, selection of papers and a brunch menu is no doubt popular with the local mum�s during the day. It�s an attractive pub with plenty of colourful hanging baskets, and there is a small patio area with heaters around the side which seems a popular spot.
The front bar is the main drinking part of the pub, and this consists of a L-shape room around the bar counter with wood flooring, pale blue paintwork on the walls and a burgundy ceiling. There is some stained glass above the windows and some gilded mirrors on the walls. A large number of wine glasses hung from a rack above the bar. There was a plasma on the side wall but this was not in use. The rear room is more geared up for dining as I recall with a view in to the open kitchen although I didn�t investigate it on this occasion. When we have eaten here previously we found that the number of punters and harsh acoustics made for a somewhat noisy atmosphere, and that together with the rather large tables meant you had to shout to make yourself heard.
Food wise the menu is very much of the gastro variety with main courses starting at �12.95 and going up to almost �20 for a whole crab, and that�s before you�ve added any side orders such as chips or a salad (another �3 each). There was a very small menu of bar snacks according to a board at the end of the bar and whilst these were more conventional pub grub, they were still at the top end of the pub food price range with Fish & Chips being �12 and a Burger and Triple Cooked Chips coming in at �10.
After so much consideration and thought being given to the food, it was somewhat disappointing to find that all the beers on offer were from Greene King with their IPA, IPA Gold, Old Speckled Hen and Morland Original. Ciders were Stowford Press and Thatcher�s Gold. A couple of boards next to the bar offered a good choice of wines by the glass.
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Friendly, courteous staff, good if expensive beer - food looks good to these curious eyes, but if I wanted to pay those prices I would dine in a restaurant. Each to their own.
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didn't encounter the same problem as luke per prices , but appreciate where he was coming from , having said lets concentrate on THIS pub , this is a lovely pub , which just about gets the balance right between pub ,and, 3 real ales on , which usally isn't enough 4 me , but having said that 3 good ones, morland best bitter , ruddles best , and sun dance . a nice afternoon
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Gastrotastic. the local rag gave it 4/5 for value when it was charging 3.30 for speckled hen, i beleive. there were many letters of astonishment in the paper the next week.
LukeD - 14 Dec 2008 15:43 |
Refurbished with a lot of oak, wonderful smells coming from the kitchen and several top notch ales. Popular with students and yuppies.
ed007 - 26 Oct 2008 15:35 |
I have been drinking in this pub since 1988, and seen it go from a fantastic local with pinball tournaments and a great landlord (hello Ian!) to a sport/karaoke bar to its latest incarnation as a gastropub. The patio heaters and decked front area have made it more pleasant to sit outside, but you will be lucky to get a seat indoors as they get reserved for the foodies. Food is good but portions tiny. Main meals are �12-16ish, which I think is taking the p***
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went there last week for the last rites in the pub i drank in for twenty odd years. We had a sing song for old times sake saw Ian . Last night is sep 23-25 possibly
percy - 14 Sep 2006 21:06 |
Can somebody let me know when the beach party is on
I drank in the Kenny between 1978 and 1999
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...but roadworks have closed Stanley Rd/Kensington Rd outside the pub, so access may be difficult for a while.
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Despite rumours to the contrary, not to mention the massive Closing Down Party 3 weeks ago, the Kenny is still open. At least for the next 6-8 weeks, before being Cliftonized by the owners of the Albion, Boyces Avenue. So it'll be puffins' eggs, grilled rabbits' kidneys, and lallo rosso in the new restaurant upstairs, and beer at �3.50 a pint in the bar, until the receivers are called in. Good news is the two youngsters who ran the place for their own amusement have gone, and Ian's back, keeping the beer nicely. He's talking about a Beach Party for when it actually does close...
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quality pub. my local.. quality service, and gotta love the two lads who come in every night drinking fosters!
Millington - 27 Oct 2004 23:55 |
Great local, good beers, legendary Tuesday night quiz
Dave G - 22 Jan 2004 15:17 |
great pub, great staff, always good for a laugh. and there will always be one old guy at the bar whos ready for a whinge - just like there should be. genius.
Ian H - 16 Jul 2003 19:03 |
Great pub with a really wide range of intresting customers. Always a intresting place to have a quite drink during the day, or a great and lively place to hang out with friends in the evening.
M .Hope - 21 Feb 2003 14:20 |
Lovely local atmosphere, sport on the TV, quiz on a Tuesday, occasional bands, karaoke and other special events (including free beer sometimes)
Bridget - 19 Nov 2002 15:58 |
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