The King’s Head Theatre Pub

Address: 115 Upper Street, N1 1QN

Nearest Station: Angel

Welcome: Good; Service: Good (SIT); Beer: Good; Toilets: Basic

Cost of two pints and a double vodka lemonade: £14.50 (Young’s Bitter)

Guest: Jim; Word: Jaunty; Person: Michael Caine

Rating: 8/10

The first thing I wrote down on entering The Kings Head was “theatre pub”, and to be honest, although it’s not one of my more profound statements, it probably tells you pretty much everything you need to know.  Behind the bar is The Kings Head Theatre (the box office is in the right hand corner of the pub), and the tavern itself is the first theatre pub since Shakespearean times.  The decoration matches: on the cerulean walls hang pictures of Maureen Lipman, Joanna Lumley and others; while to one side drinkers can rest their weary legs in old theatre seats.  Upcoming and past performances are advertised by framed posters.  Meanwhile, the feel is that of a drawing room, provided by wooden flooring and lilies on the bar, as well as the respectful, demure clientele.

On the evening we visited, the atmosphere was somewhat dominated by the football (Colombia vs. Ivory Coast, if you’re interested) which appeared on two TVs opposite the long, thin central bar.  The punditry, however, was drowned out by piped jazz music.  Service was good and friendly and – it being a Young’s pub – we claimed two pints of Young’s Bitter.  A single, thin black pillar stood next to our table, leading up to the black ceilings which oversaw the range of men and women, old and young, by themselves or in couples, enjoying their drinks.  Jim consequently picked ‘jaunty’ as his word, and Michael Caine as his person: a solid, English actor with character.

There’s not much else to say, except that the beer was good and the atmosphere was pleasant.  What more could you really want?  The theatre might be quite fun too.

Date of Visit: 20 June 2014

Website: http://www.youngs.co.uk/pubs/kings-head-theatre