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Kings Head, Norwich

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Opens in 29 minutes
Operator: Norwich Taverns
42 Magdalen Street, Norwich, NR3 1JE (View on Google Map)
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Awards

Won 1 award

This venue won an award in 2022.

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A traditional two-bar city pub which has been a mandatory stop on the Norwich cask ale trail since 2005, serving up to eight beers, mostly from Norfolk breweries, plus a few selected guests such as Mauldons, Mighty Oak, Green Jack, and Derby Brewing, always including a dark beer or two. There are also two local ciders (one occasionally replaced by a perry), plus a large range of bottled European beers, but no keg beers at all.

Five times CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year, there's no food except snacks and pork pies, but there are plenty of local takeaways, and plates and cutlery can be provided. The pub also supports three teams in the local bar billiards league.

Owned since 2013 by Stephen and Lesley George, also owners of the Humpty Dumpty Brewery, the range of beers remains eclectic, and only rarely includes more than a couple of their beers. Previously owned for nine years by Jon Smith and Roland Coomber, who converted it from a bikers' pub into the destination real-ale pub it remains today.

The 'main' bar is at the back of the pub, accessed via a side entrance in the courtyard. The large table opposite the main bar is a communal table for sharing, and the pub is open on Christmas Day from 12-2pm.

Closing time refers to last entry - drinks are served until midnight on Sunday, and later Monday to Saturday.

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Information for this venue is provided by the Norwich & District Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Last updated
27/08/2025
Last surveyed
11/02/2025
Leasehold owner
Norwich Taverns
Freehold owner
Colston Trustees
Pub ID
NOR/813
Asset of Community Value
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Monday
Noon - Midnight
Tuesday
Noon - Midnight
Wednesday
Noon - Midnight
Thursday
Noon - Midnight
Friday
Noon - Midnight
Saturday
Noon - Midnight
Sunday
Noon - Midnight

Current beers

This Pub serves 7 changing beers and 0 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen
Derby - Hop Till You Drop
Derby - Hop Till You Drop Session Blond Ale • 3.9% Spotted twice
Derby - Hop Till You Drop
Derby - Hop Till You Drop

Session Blond Ale

ABV: 3.9%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 1 week ago
Derby - Quintessential
Derby - Quintessential Premium Golden Ale • 5.8% Spotted 4 times
Derby - Quintessential
Derby - Quintessential

Premium Golden Ale

ABV: 5.8%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago
Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best Bitter
Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best Bitter Premium Bitter • 4.6% Spotted twice
Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best Bitter
Green Jack - Trawlerboys Best Bitter

Premium Bitter

ABV: 4.6%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 1 day ago
Humpty Dumpty - Little Sharpie
Humpty Dumpty - Little Sharpie Session Pale Ale • 3.8% Spotted 3 times
Humpty Dumpty - Little Sharpie
Humpty Dumpty - Little Sharpie

Session Pale Ale

ABV: 3.8%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 3 times recently. Last spotted 1 day ago
Tindall - Mild
Tindall - Mild Mild • 3.7% Spotted once
Tindall - Mild
Tindall - Mild

Mild

ABV: 3.7%
Vegan: Yes
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 2 days ago
Mr Winter's - Rorschach
Mr Winter's - Rorschach Session Stout • 4.5% Spotted 3 times
Mr Winter's - Rorschach
Mr Winter's - Rorschach

Session Stout

ABV: 4.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 3 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago
Mighty Oak - Kings
Mighty Oak - Kings Session Golden Ale • 4.2% Spotted 5 times
Mighty Oak - Kings
Mighty Oak - Kings

Session Golden Ale

ABV: 4.2%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 5 times recently. Last spotted 2 days ago
Barsham - Stout Robin
Barsham - Stout Robin Session Stout • 4.5% Spotted 6 times
Barsham - Stout Robin
Barsham - Stout Robin

Session Stout

ABV: 4.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 6 times recently. Last spotted 2 days ago
Green Jack - LGM1
Green Jack - LGM1 Session Pale Ale • 4.2% Spotted twice
Green Jack - LGM1
Green Jack - LGM1

Session Pale Ale

ABV: 4.2%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 3 days ago
Humpty Dumpty - Black Treacle Porter
Humpty Dumpty - Black Treacle Porter Session Porter • 3.9% Spotted once
Humpty Dumpty - Black Treacle Porter
Humpty Dumpty - Black Treacle Porter

Session Porter

ABV: 3.9%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 1 week ago
Changing

Mostly a mix of local beers and East Anglian micros, but also including specials from favoured breweries from outside the area, such as Mighty Oak and Derby Brewery.

Changing beers typically include: Elmtree (varies) , Moon Gazer (varies) , Mr Winter's (varies) , Shortts (varies) , Tindall (varies)

The venue's range of changing beers regularly includes the following rare beer styles: Stout , Porter , Mild

Source: Regional

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Facilities
Garden Garden
Cobbled area under the old coaching inn archway, no seating
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Games Games
Bar Billards
Lined Glasses Lined Glasses
Newspapers Newspapers
Separate Bar Separate Bar
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
Real Cider Real Cider
Two local ciders (or occasionally a cider and a perry) served cooled on gravity
LocAle LocAle
Quiet Quiet
Transport
Close to bus routes (150m)
Various: (Anglia Square)
All northbound services from the city centre at Anglia Sq
Closest station (1500m)
Norwich

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