Historical version 1 of King's Head, NW6 7JR (view current version)
- 020 7372 7123
- 311 Kilburn High Road, NW6 7JR (streetmap) (osm) (gmap) (bingmap) (streetview)
- thekingsheadbar.com
- 5pm-late Mon-Sun
A self-proclaimed "dive bar and music joint" underneath [the Luminaire]? music venue in Kilburn, not too far from Brondesbury Station.
From outside, it looks pretty intimidating, with little light getting through the darkened and shuttered windows. Inside, the space itself is fairly atmospheric (not dodgy at all) and quite small, comprising the bar and about three leather banquette booths, with some other seating near the front, and a few high stools along the back wall. Decor heavily stresses an Americana theme, including a jukebox, though the mirrors behind the bar make clear the bar's Irish predecessors in an area once known for its Irish immigrant population.
The beer selection is a little disappointing (there's no ale, except bottled Deuchars IPA), though there is Amstel and Guinness on draught along with a few other basics. House wine is perfectly drinkable, and they have a wine list which splits all their wines into three price categories ("cheap", "decent" and "good", if Ewan recalls correctly).
On the night Ewan visited, there was a pub quiz (mostly music-based), which is held on the last Wednesday of every month (starting 8pm, £1 per person, maximum six per team, cash prize). However, the place gets busy pretty quickly and you need to be there by about 6pm to get a seat.