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Kings Head, Bayswater

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user reviews of the Kings Head, Bayswater

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

I have been visiting London for years and know this area pretty well. There have never been any amazing pubs in this neighborhood because it's mostly tourists that frequent places like this. As a result, they don't have to try very hard and this place is a prime example. We stopped in one night recently on a crawl. Place was not super busy but the b**** behind the counter kept us waiting to place orders for fifteen minutes while she flapped her gums to someone in the corner. She had her "duty manager" pin on, which means it's her duty to exercize indifference to paying customers when she has an important conversation going on. She was abrupt, rude and should find some other hole to crawl into so she can stop wasting peoples' time. Don't bother wih this one, walk across Queensway to the Lord Alfred or further on to the Porchester on Westbourne Grove.
fr21555 - 17 Feb 2013 14:56
A very nice and pleasant pub. I have visited it for the last 3 years whenever I�m in London. Nice food and always a nice selection of beer. In their guestpumps they have had classics like Moorhouse witches brew and Old Theakston. The beautiful ladies working there recognizes me even if there is a year between my visits. Very clean and pleasant pub and by far the best in Bayswater. By the way I am Swedish.
BennyH - 29 Mar 2012 09:07
Best of the Bayswater Taylor Walker pubs - 2 guest ales (Exmoor Ale and Beartown Ginger Beer). No Sky Sports anymore. More of a locals pub than most in this area.
oftenscore6 - 10 May 2011 00:18
The last pub on a 10 pub crawl, so memory a bit hazy but what i can remember was all good. Beer was definitely OK I do remember that.
TheHorsesMouth - 28 Feb 2011 14:25
Called for a quick one the other evening before returning home on the train. Good atmosphere with plenty of custom and preparations were underway for what looked like an office Christmas party. There was a good selection of ales available, include Daleside porter, but I settled for a pint of Youngs which was well kept and enjoyable.
Stamfordian - 16 Dec 2010 11:26
Obviously the hard working manager has moved on and there is a new guvnor in town. The head bar lady still works her socks off, there was a good selection of ales on but when I asked for one it was served surprisingly quickly with half a pull on the pump.
Obviously I got the slops glass topped up, but in his defence, when it was pointed out I got a fresh one (as paid for).
Not good skills and I certainly will not be going back there any time soon, which is a shame as the last guvnor was one of the good guys.
Things like this are completely needless and just greed coming to the fore.
Thank you Spirit Group!
harrythebastard - 21 Oct 2009 22:33
Several real ales on � Timothy Taylor Landlord; Theakston�s Old Peculiar; Adnam�s Broadside; Young�s Kew Gold; and a sign on a further clip announced that the London Pride was still conditioning. I had the Kew Gold, which was in good nick, at a pretty average price of circa �3 a pint. This is so obviously a Spirit Group pub, but by no means the worst I have been in. They had quite a few high stools and tables in the window area and in the centre of the room, but with sufficient normal tables and chairs and banquette seating round the sides. All the usual modern features were present � cash machine, one-armed bandit, and a large flat screen TV on the back wall. The TV was, as so often, showing Sky Sports, but muted � and, unusually and tastefully, enclosed in a gilded picture frame. The usual mundane pop music was being played. D�cor nothing special. In fact that about sums this pub up. Clean and comfortable and OK for a pint if you�re passing as it does do some decent ale, but nothing special.
RexRattus - 21 Sep 2009 09:53
Other reviewers get this spot on: this is a pubco pub, but well above average and clearly well run. Four or five real ales on when I visited, although I had a softie. I also noted the good service: a landlady-type figure was behind the bar and working very hard, serving customers promptly and being very solicitous to a rather demanding group of American students sat near the bar. Top service, and good to see when so many pubs can't get service right any more.
grecian - 26 May 2009 12:01
Another good traditional pub, a range of real ales including one from Bath Ales (or as they style themselves, bath ales) and also food - beware the steak and kidney pie was huge - I couldn't finish mine but only because there was so much of it. The guvnor does as stated seem to be working very hard and could do with some barstaff on a Saturday lunchtime!
rainlight - 3 Jan 2009 15:49
Brilliant pub, understaffed like all chain efforts but the manager is obviously on the ball, and seems to work his socks off. Excellent real ales, good drinks range, food a bit on the dull side, but love the bar snacks and nibbles!! Great customer service, and excellent manners. Much better than the pubs either side!
linnibeth - 18 Sep 2008 16:44
Recently re-openend following a fire. The interior is lighter and better than before, although it follows the current trend for the annoying (in this reviewer's opinion) high tables that feature in every pub refurbishment.

The range of beers is excellent. They range from Deuchars IPA, through London Pride to Theakstons Old Peculiar (one of the few pubs in London to sell it), there are several European lagers and the usual selection of British brewed cooking lagers. The ales have so far been in tip-top condition with a minimum of four available.

The menu is typical 'pub-company' grub, reliable but lacking imagination.

The staff are friendly and helpful. The clientele a mixture of local residents, local workers and a few tourists.

There are televisions but no Sky Sports.

If you are a real ale lover this place is superb. If you fancy a quiet drink this place is superb. If you are a tourist then this a great example of a British pub, despite not having the historical credentials of some of London's best. If you a lager drinker looking for somewhere to watch the big match, look elsewhere.
Carpe_Beer - 9 Aug 2008 01:30
lovely pub (pre fire)
Used to drink here whilst working at Tower Records in Whiteleys.
Small gents (toliet, not customers)

JohnnyCrow - 14 May 2008 17:11
Currently closed following last weeks fire. Legendary Landlord Paul Robson left about a month ago, so we will have to wait and see when it re-opens...
Graylob - 26 Apr 2008 03:29
A nice traditional pub only a few minutes walk from the Queensway underground station. I think there was about 5 beers available on hand pump yesterday but a pretty safe selection all amber and under 5%. Young's Bitter, Bombardier, GK IPA, Fullers London Pride and Adnams Broadside were available yesterday. How about introducing a nice dark seasonal ale?
The gents toilet was rather small and cramped if more than one person was in there with you. The toilet was however very clean and had some little friendly pointers on the black boards facing you.

Love_good_ale - 23 Dec 2007 12:48
This pubs unique selling point used to be chess ! They re were always people playing and they even had pro competitions. (Mid70s till at least early 90s.)
Glasgowboy - 3 Oct 2007 12:53
Immuculatly clean,however very very dark interior.Professional staff but very unfriendly.Reminded me of robots.Manager could improve the place by smiling once in a while.Had an dogdy pint.In no rush to get back
kate_astophy - 20 Sep 2007 16:50
This place is an oasis in a desert of unpleasant tourist traps. The management are lovely and welcoming and despite a member of staff who doesn't know what "wine list" means in English, the service is great.

Non-pretentious, just busy enough and not too expensive.
hyperskip - 19 Apr 2007 17:42
I thought this was a pretty good pub. Decent range of ales and better than average pub grub. Non-smoking area too which is nice when you want to have food.
NorthernSoul68 - 30 Jan 2007 17:34
Standard pub for this part of London, but very friendly and an interesting Scottish micro beer was very good - certainly well worth a quick stop.
mtaylor40 - 29 Oct 2006 18:13
This is my favourite pub in London by miles. This is the place to go to if you would like an evening with great professional staff and manager, great food with a nice and homely feeling. I have had many great evenings after work here and it is turning into a bit of a local. Great place to unwind after a stressful day at work
Land_Lady - 18 Apr 2006 13:38
Very nice pub. nice atmosphere and friendly staff. good food. nice pie with steak and ale, good mash. was there fridays at 6ish, bit quiet but around 7 the pub got filled but not overcrowded.
its how a pub should be!
paulcoret - 27 Jan 2006 11:47
Nice, very clean pub! Friendly staff serve good food and great beer! Good place to chill after shopping in Bayswater!
anonymous - 13 Jun 2005 18:19
Good quality beer with several guest ales. Friendly staff. A selection of board games are available at the bar.
Graylob - 15 Apr 2005 02:40
Nice traditional pub with good food and beer. Top place to relax.
Graeme - 12 Aug 2004 19:26

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