Pubs & Clubs
Beers & Breweries
Pubs & Clubs
Beers & Breweries
Join Us

King Charles I, London


Directions

You want to visit - You have this in
Operator: Independent
55-57 Northdown Street, Pentonville, London, N1 9BL (View on Google Map)

Runner-Up in the North London Branch 2025 Pub of the Year competition it's a small, cosy wood-panelled single room pub in a Georgian building, with knick-knacks including African masks. A back-street local serving workers and residents, it is just far enough from King's Cross to avoid mass tourism.

In the Summer of 2015 it was subject to a community buyout of the 20 year lease of the pub with shareholders comprised of a collection of local residents and people with a strong connection with this pub.It was then listed as an Asset of Community Value in August 2021. Islington Council agreed the building is used to "further the social wellbeing and social interests of the local community".

It is "Proud to be LGBTQIA+ friendly." The menus of nearby restaurants are kept at the bar; you are welcome to order food to eat in the pub, as well as "lovely local cafe’s that’ll deliver your lunch right to your table". Completely free of tie it has 5 handpumps serving 4 rotating guest ales & 1 Cider.

Firmly established in the London music scene with blues, folk and indi music, there is frequently ac hoc jamming sessions. Outside seating is partly covered.

See Islington Tribune Article here.

Information for this venue is provided by the North London Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Islington
Last updated
26/03/2025
Last surveyed
19/02/2025
Leasehold owner
Ale Purveyors Ltd
Freehold owner
Taskdale Limited
Pub ID
NLD/5551
Asset of Community Value

Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest

Listed status: Not listed

A compact, neo-Georgian, back-street pub rebuilt in 1937 to the designs of A W Blomfield, chief architect for Watney Combe Reid.

The interior of the King Charles originally consisted of two small bar rooms separated by a narrow off-sales compartment, as is indicated by the three doors to Northdown Street. Although the two internal partition screens have long-since been removed, the original fielded panelling remains throughout, as does the central servery with its curved and banded bar counter (though the bulky gantry above is a later addition). These original bar fittings along with the banded, part-glazed doors – of a type favoured by architect Arthur Blomfield in most of his 1930s designs - give a strong sense of the character of a typical inter-war rebuilding by one of London’s leading breweries. The King Charles went up in the same year as the French House (originally the York Minster) on Dean Street in Soho, which has a similar compact arrangement and central servery. This was also the work of the ever-busy Blomfield and it is interesting to note the subtle variety in the fit-out of these two contemporary pubs for Watney Combe Reid, completed when their inter-war pub building in London was reaching its peak. The pub was taken over by the locals who became shareholders in 2015, following the lead of the Ivy House in Nunhead, which became the first community-owned London pub acquired through this model of ownership in 2013.

Community Run

20 year lease from Taskdale Limited in 2015 by Ale Purveyors Limited comprising local residents and people with a strong connection to the pub.

General information about community pubs
Premium Access Required

You must be a Digital Subscriber or CAMRA Member to be able to view specially curated GBG descriptions

Premium Access Required
Tuesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 11:00pm
Friday
Noon - Midnight
Saturday
Noon - 11:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 10:00pm
Monday
Noon - 11:00pm

Current beers

This Pub serves 4 changing beers and 0 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen
Portobello - APA
Portobello - APA

Premium Pale Ale

ABV: 5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No

Spotted once recently. Last spotted 6 days ago

Hammerton - N1
Hammerton - N1

Session Pale Ale

ABV: 4.1%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No

Spotted once recently. Last spotted 4 days ago

Changing

Changing beers typically include: By The Horns

Source: National


Your scores

Join CAMRA to access beer scoring and view scores for other pubs. Become a member.
Retrieving scores
You have no beer scores submitted.

Facilities
Live Music Live Music
Monday is folk night, and there are regular classical music and jazz nights as well as reggae Sundays.
Garden Garden
Seating on street to front. No drinking outside after 10pm.
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Events Events
Tuesday is quiz night
Real Fire Real Fire
Smoking Smoking
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Cider Real Cider
Feb 2025 available this time was Seacider on hand pump. In addition there may be a couple of ciders in the fridge.
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
Community Pub Community Pub
Transport
Close to bus routes (50m)
Nearby Station (300m)
London Kings Cross
Close to London Underground/Overground/DLR (350m)
King's Cross St Pancras

Help keep our information accurate!

Notice an error or missing details? Help us keep our pub & club information accurate by sharing any corrections or updates you spot.

Suggest an edit

Nearby

View All
Published on 23-04-2016
Open
Simmons Kings Cross
Simmons Pub, in London
REAL ALE not available
0.1 miles from you
Taken November 2013. Published on 23-03-2016
Open
Central Station
Independent Pub, in London
1 Regular Beer
0.1 miles from you
Taken March 2018. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 21-03-2018
Open
Millers
Independent Pub, in London
2 Regular Beers
0.1 miles from you
Taken August 2024. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 20-08-2024
Cross
Independent Pub, in London
REAL ALE not available
0.1 miles from you
(Pub, External, Key). Published on 21-03-2018
Open
Stores
The Brill UK LLP Pub, in London
REAL ALE not available
0.1 miles from you
Heritage Pub
(Pub, External, Key). Published on 29-04-2016
Open
Scottish Stores
The Brill UK LLP Pub, in London
4 Changing Beers
0.1 miles from you
  • CAMRA discount scheme
Taken March 2018. (Pub, External). Published on 22-03-2018
Open
Camino
Camino Pub, in London
REAL ALE not available
0.1 miles from you
Taken March 2018. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 21-03-2018
Open
Bar & Block
Whitbread Pub, in London
REAL ALE not available
0.1 miles from you
(Pub, External, Key). Published on 08-08-2023
Open
Lincoln Arms
Independent Pub, in London
2 Regular Beers
0.1 miles from you
Taken March 2018. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 21-03-2018
Open
Big Chill Kings Cross
Big Chill Pub, in London
REAL ALE not available
0.1 miles from you

Need accommodation?

 

 


Recently Viewed

Hopper's Hut - September 2023. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 11-09-2023
Open • Closes in 20 minutes
Hopper's Hut
Independent Pub, in Sidcup
2 Changing Beers
(Key). Published on 04-08-2021
Open • Closes in 20 minutes
Oak at Dewlish
Independent Pub, in Dewlish
2 Changing Beers
(Key). Published on 22-08-2014
Closed • Opens Sat at 12:00pm
Sun
Pub, in Frome
Beer
Hobnails Inn - Little Washborne. (Pub, External). Published on 01-03-2014
Closed • Opens Sat at 10:00am
Hobnails Inn
Quality Inns Pub, in Little Washbourne
4 Changing Beers
(Pub, Key). Published on 29-03-2015
Kings Head
Pub, in Nafferton
Permanently Closed
(Pub, External, Key). Published on 24-01-2025
Open • Closes in 20 minutes
Dario's
Independent Pub, in Owston
1 Regular Beer
(Pub, Key). Published on 21-07-2024
Closed • Opens Sat at 12:00pm
Tiny Tap
Little Brewing Company Pub, in Derby
3 Regular, 3 Changing Beers
Manor Hotel, Blakeney. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-09-2023
Open • Closes in 20 minutes
Manor Hotel
Blakeney Manor Hotel Limited Pub, in Blakeney
2 Changing Beers
Old Castle
Pub, in Abersychan
Permanently Closed
© Campaign for Real Ale 2023 - 2025 (ce-10)
Home