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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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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
TasteMatch

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Current beers

This Pub serves 7 changing beers and 0 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Earl Soham - Albert Ale TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Earl Soham - Albert Ale
Earl Soham - Albert Ale Premium Bitter • 4.4% Spotted 9 times.
Earl Soham - Albert Ale
Earl Soham - Albert Ale

Spotted 9 times. recently. Last spotted 2 hours ago at Kings Head, Norwich.

ABV 4.4%
Style Premium Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Mr Winter's - Fusioneer TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Mr Winter's - Fusioneer
Mr Winter's - Fusioneer Mild • 3.6% Spotted 6 times.
Mr Winter's - Fusioneer
Mr Winter's - Fusioneer

Spotted 6 times. recently. Last spotted 2 days ago at Kings Head, Norwich.

ABV 3.6%
Style Mild
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Opa Hay's - Samuel Engels Meister Pils (SEMP) TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Opa Hay's - Samuel Engels Meister Pils (SEMP)
Opa Hay's - Samuel Engels Meister Pils (SEMP) Differently Produced Speciality Beers • 4.8% Spotted twice.
Opa Hay's - Samuel Engels Meister Pils (SEMP)
Opa Hay's - Samuel Engels Meister Pils (SEMP)

Spotted twice. recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Kings Head, Norwich.

ABV 4.8%
Style Differently Produced Speciality Beers
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Fat Cat - Norwich Bitter TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Fat Cat - Norwich Bitter
Fat Cat - Norwich Bitter Session Bitter • 3.8% Spotted once.
Fat Cat - Norwich Bitter
Fat Cat - Norwich Bitter

Spotted once. recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Kings Head, Norwich.

ABV 3.8%
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George
Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George Session Bitter • 4.2% Spotted 4 times.
Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George
Mighty Oak - Gorgeous George

Spotted 4 times. recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Kings Head, Norwich.

ABV 4.2%
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Fat Cat - Strictly Stout TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Fat Cat - Strictly Stout
Fat Cat - Strictly Stout Flavoured Speciality Beers • 4.6% Spotted twice.
Fat Cat - Strictly Stout
Fat Cat - Strictly Stout

Spotted twice. recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Kings Head, Norwich.

ABV 4.6%
Style Flavoured Speciality Beers
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No
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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award cup

Champion Beer Of Britain Award

The Champion Beer of Britain is one of the most prestigious beer competitions in the world. It is the ultimate honour for UK brewers and has helped put many into the national spotlight.

Nominations are now Open

Join CAMRA to choose Britain’s Champion Beer!

Become a member

Judging for the competition takes around a year, starting with individual nominations from CAMRA members and tasting panel nominations, leading to a series of rigorous regional heats adhering to a strict blind tasting policy.

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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