Picture of King's Head, SW5 0QT

Historical version 2 of King's Head, SW5 0QT (view current version)

Faucet Inns pub near Earl's Court Station, in the Good Beer Guide.

Tucked away at one end of the pedestrian-only Hogarth Alley (though there is vehicle access from Kenway Road), this corner pub is more spacious inside than is obvious from the exterior.

The floor and tables are pale wood, and the paintwork is in subtle shades of grey and blue. A banquette area is tucked to one side of the bar and a line of tall square tables runs parallel to the bar, flanked on both sides by tall backless bar stools. The rest of the seating is divided between various-sized tables with upright chairs, and sofas with coffee tables and lower stools.

A skylit alcove at one end, centred on a fireplace, displays original paintings for sale. Square floor tiles of various abstract designs surround the fireplace, echoed by more of the same tiles around the bar.

On our September 2013 visit, the handpumps were clipped for Westerham 1965 and Adnams Lighthouse. They also had several interesting lagers including Bohemian Rhapsody Pilsner, Estaminet Pils, Steenbrugge Wit-Blanche, Warsteiner, and Krušovice, as well as Kingstone Press cider. A pint of lime and soda was £1.

Kake visited on a Wednesday afternoon in September 2013. There were four or five other customers when I arrived a little after 3pm. Service was very friendly and welcoming. Music was playing quietly, peaceful and unobtrusive. They offer free wireless via Walkin WiFi, but I couldn't get it to work (the login page wouldn't load).

According to their website as of September 2013, food is served all day from various menus (brunch menu photo, lunch menu, lunch specials photo, bar menu, dinner menu photo, etc).

According to a board outside in September 2013 photo, quiz night is Monday from 8pm.

Kake's verdict: Of the nineteen pubs I visited for RGL's 2014 Good Beer Guide update, this one was probably my favourite. I'd certainly come back again in the daytime, and would like to see what it's like in the evening too.

Accessibility: A step at both entrances; the one in the side alley is a little less high but still more than kerb-height. Once you're in, there's level access to the bar, seating, and toilets. The sink in the ladies' is quite high up.

See also:

Last visited by Kake, September 2013. Opening hours taken from the Kings Head website, September 2013.
OS X co-ord: 525568 OS Y co-ord: 178679 (Latitude: 51.492609 Longitude: -0.191047)
This is version 2 (as of 2013-11-17 19:51:04). View current version. List all versions.