Old King's Head, Old Street  fancyapint.com rated pub, rated1 pints - click for an explanation of our ratings

location:

Old Street

address:

28 Holywell Row, EC2A 4JB

phone:

0871 258 9636*
* calls cost 10p/minute, click here for more about 0871 numbers.

nearest stations:

Shoreditch High Street (opens 2010) London Overground station
(420m) - zone 2

Old Street railway stationLondon Underground station
(450m) - zone 1

Liverpool Street railway stationLondon Underground station
(600m) - zone 1

Moorgate railway stationLondon Underground station
(660m) - zone 1

Barbican railway stationLondon Underground station
(1Km) - zone 1

how to find it:

Leave Liverpool Street station at the Broadgate end (not Bishopsgate) and turn right at the large steel sculpture. Go up the steps past the ice rink and walk through to Sun Street. Cross Sun St. and walk through the pedestrianised area (now Crown Place) along Clifton St., across Worship St., through the tiny square where there is usually a load of bikes and scooter, and take the right fork down Holywell Row and the pub is at the other end at the junction with Scrutton St.

click here for a larger map

nearby attraction(s):

Bunhill Fields (420m)

Spitalfields Market (610m)

Brick Lane (830m)

picture of Old Kings Head
We won't dwell on the Old King's Head for too long - despite the fact this is quite a handsome old pub in trendy Shoreditch, it's not been gastrofied or barified or refurbed or anything else - it's steadfastly remained a locals' pub. A very noisy locals' pub. It wasn't particularly late on our last visit, but almost everyone in the place seemed somewhat worse for wear, there were small groups of men dotted about the pub shouting, laughing, larking about and generally trying to out-geezer each other. Yes, there are a couple of ales on the hand pumps and there's a typical range of lagers, beers and spirits available for consumption, but, on the basis of our last visit, we really can't recommend drinking here. The Old King's Head is what we'd imagine a youth club to be like if it served booze.

reviewed:
15/07/2009
reviewed by septic

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

TVs - click for explanationSky TV (big projector screen)
beer garden or outdoor seating available - click for explanationtables on the pavement

second opinion:

posted by qirky dave - Thursday 17th April, 2008, 12:26pm
forgot to add free sanies on a friday night if your early enough !!
posted by qirky dave - Thursday 17th April, 2008, 12:23pm
cant believe the change in this pub since a new lady took over in feb 08 shes redecorated it looks warm and inviting clean back to how it was 5 years ago and better great job girl !!!
posted by colbevvy - Wednesday 11th July, 2007, 10:28am
What a dump. Looks like a cross between an archaeological dig and a public toilet. A total rat pit.
3 comments on this pub - why not add your own?

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