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Kings Head, Norwich

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Opens in 27 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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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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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 9 changing beers and 0 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen
Crouch Vale - Beers - Amarillo - Cask Ale
Crouch Vale - Amarillo Premium Golden Ale • 5% Spotted once
Crouch Vale - Beers - Amarillo - Cask Ale
Gold Award
Crouch Vale - Amarillo

Premium Golden Ale

ABV: 5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 10 hours ago
Earl Soham - Albert Ale
Earl Soham - Albert Ale Premium Bitter • 4.4% Spotted 4 times
Earl Soham - Albert Ale
Earl Soham - Albert Ale

Premium Bitter

ABV: 4.4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 4 days ago
Grain - Lignum Vitae
Grain - Lignum Vitae New World IPA • 6.5% Spotted once
Grain - Lignum Vitae
Grain - Lignum Vitae

New World IPA

ABV: 6.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 3 days ago
Nethergate - Old Growler
Nethergate - Old Growler Strong Porter • 5% Spotted once
Nethergate - Old Growler
Nethergate - Old Growler

Strong Porter

ABV: 5%
Vegan: Yes
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 3 days ago
Mr Winter's - Fusioneer
Mr Winter's - Fusioneer Mild • 3.6% Spotted 5 times
Mr Winter's - Fusioneer
Mr Winter's - Fusioneer

Mild

ABV: 3.6%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 5 times recently. Last spotted 10 hours ago
Mr Winter's - Rorschach
Mr Winter's - Rorschach Session Stout • 4.5% Spotted once
Mr Winter's - Rorschach
Mr Winter's - Rorschach

Session Stout

ABV: 4.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 3 days ago
Humpty Dumpty - Reedham Gold
Humpty Dumpty - Reedham Gold Session Golden Ale • 3.6% Spotted once
Humpty Dumpty - Reedham Gold
Humpty Dumpty - Reedham Gold

Session Golden Ale

ABV: 3.6%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 10 hours ago
Colchester - Jack Spitty's Smuggler's Ale
Colchester - Jack Spitty's Smuggler's Ale Session Bitter • 4% Spotted once
Colchester - Jack Spitty's Smuggler's Ale
Colchester - Jack Spitty's Smuggler's Ale

Session Bitter

ABV: 4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 10 hours ago
Shortts - Two Tone
Shortts - Two Tone Mild • 3.8% Spotted 3 times
Shortts - Two Tone
Shortts - Two Tone

Mild

ABV: 3.8%
Vegan: Yes
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 3 times recently. Last spotted 10 hours ago
Humpty Dumpty - Black Mill
Humpty Dumpty - Black Mill Strong Stout • 5% Spotted 6 times
Humpty Dumpty - Black Mill
Humpty Dumpty - Black Mill

Strong Stout

ABV: 5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 6 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago
Barsham - Stout Robin
Barsham - Stout Robin Session Stout • 4.5% Spotted 5 times
Barsham - Stout Robin
Barsham - Stout Robin

Session Stout

ABV: 4.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 5 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago
Fat Cat - Tom Cat
Fat Cat - Tom Cat Session Golden Ale • 4.1% Spotted once
Fat Cat - Tom Cat
Fat Cat - Tom Cat

Session Golden Ale

ABV: 4.1%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: Yes
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 11 hours ago
Barsham - Pilgrims Ale
Barsham - Pilgrims Ale Session Blond Ale • 4% Spotted 4 times
Barsham - Pilgrims Ale
Barsham - Pilgrims Ale

Session Blond Ale

ABV: 4%
Vegan: Yes
Gluten Free: Yes
Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago
Mr Winter's - Peach Tea
Mr Winter's - Peach Tea Session Golden Ale • 4% Spotted once
Mr Winter's - Peach Tea
Mr Winter's - Peach Tea

Session Golden Ale

ABV: 4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 3 days ago
Mr Winter's - Caramel Mild
Mr Winter's - Caramel Mild Strong Mild • 4.3% Spotted 7 times
Mr Winter's - Caramel Mild
Mr Winter's - Caramel Mild

Strong Mild

ABV: 4.3%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 7 times 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
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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