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Kings Head, Norwich

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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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Finalist, CAMRA National Pub of the Year 2022 - one of the top 4 pubs in the country!

A traditional two-bar city pub which has been a mandatory stop on the Norwich real ale trail since 2005, serving up to a dozen beers, mostly from Norfolk breweries, plus a few selected guests such as 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.

Four times CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year, there's no food provided except snacks and (very good) 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
12/03/2025
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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Saturday
Noon - Midnight
Sunday
Noon - Midnight
Monday
Noon - Midnight
Tuesday
Noon - Midnight
Wednesday
Noon - Midnight
Thursday
Noon - Midnight
Friday
Noon - Midnight

Current beers

This Pub serves 9 changing beers and 0 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen
Green Jack - Gone Fishing ESB
Green Jack - Gone Fishing ESB Premium Bitter • 5.5% Spotted once
Green Jack - Gone Fishing ESB
Green Jack - Gone Fishing ESB

Premium Bitter

ABV: 5.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 2 days ago
Green Jack - Lurcher Stout
Green Jack - Lurcher Stout Session Stout • 4.8% Spotted once
Green Jack - Lurcher Stout
Green Jack - Lurcher Stout

Session Stout

ABV: 4.8%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 2 days ago
Humpty Dumpty - Swallowtail
Humpty Dumpty - Swallowtail Session Pale Ale • 4% Spotted 3 times
Humpty Dumpty - Swallowtail
Humpty Dumpty - Swallowtail

Session Pale Ale

ABV: 4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 3 times recently. Last spotted 2 days ago
Crouch Vale - Beers - Essex Boys Best Bitter - Cask Ale
Crouch Vale - Essex Boys Best Bitter Session Bitter • 3.8% Spotted 4 times
Crouch Vale - Beers - Essex Boys Best Bitter - Cask Ale
Crouch Vale - Essex Boys Best Bitter

Session Bitter

ABV: 3.8%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 3 days ago
Shortts - The Cure
Shortts - The Cure Session Bitter • 3.6% Spotted twice
Shortts - The Cure
Shortts - The Cure

Session Bitter

ABV: 3.6%
Vegan: Yes
Gluten Free: No
Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 3 days ago
Mighty Oak - Jake The Snake
Mighty Oak - Jake The Snake Session Pale Ale • 4% Spotted once
Mighty Oak - Jake The Snake
Mighty Oak - Jake The Snake

Session Pale Ale

ABV: 4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 2 days 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
Real Ale Real 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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