CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale logo
Pubs & Clubs
Beers & Breweries
Pubs & Clubs
Beers & Breweries
CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale logo
Join Us

Kings Head, Norwich

You have visited this venue
View all visits
Directions
You want to visit - You have this in
Open
Operator: Norwich Taverns
42 Magdalen Street, Norwich, NR3 1JE (View on Google Map)
None
Website
X (Twitter)
Facebook

Awards

Won 1 award

This venue won an award in 2022.

CAMRA’s prestigious awards are given to recognise the very best in pubs, clubs, beer and cider. See current champions, learn more about what our awards mean and see how to make nominations.

Find out more

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.

Follow the Kings Head on Instagram

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
Premium Access Required

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

Premium Access Required
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 - Albion Mild 1898
Green Jack - Albion Mild 1898 Mild • 3.8% Spotted twice
Green Jack - Albion Mild 1898
Green Jack - Albion Mild 1898

Mild

ABV: 3.8%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 1 week ago
Elmtree - Mad Maudie
Elmtree - Mad Maudie Premium Bitter • 4.5% Spotted once
Elmtree - Mad Maudie
Elmtree - Mad Maudie

Premium Bitter

ABV: 4.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 1 week ago
Green Jack - Red Herring
Green Jack - Red Herring Differently Produced Speciality Beers • 5% Spotted once
Green Jack - Red Herring
Green Jack - Red Herring

Differently Produced Speciality Beers

ABV: 5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted once recently. Last spotted 1 week ago
Colchester - Metropolis
Colchester - Metropolis Session Golden Ale • 3.9% Spotted 3 times
Colchester - Metropolis
Colchester - Metropolis

Session Golden Ale

ABV: 3.9%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
Spotted 3 times recently. Last spotted 1 week ago
Red Herring
Tomos & Lilford - Red Herring Premium Pale Ale • 4.8% Spotted once
Red Herring
Tomos & Lilford - Red Herring

Premium Pale Ale

ABV: 4.8%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: Yes
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

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
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

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

(Pub, External). Published on 31-05-2013
Open
Mischief Tavern
Easteye Pub, in Norwich
2 Changing Beers
Merchants, Norwich. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-07-2021
Open
Merchants House
THE ANTEROS ARTS FOUNDATION Pub, in Norwich
1 Changing Beer
Ribs of Beef. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-09-2019
Open
Ribs of Beef
Pub, in Norwich
3 Regular, 4 Changing Beers
Plasterers, Norwich. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-04-2025
Closed • Opens at 4:00pm
Plasterers Arms
Pub, in Norwich
1 Regular, 2 Changing Beers
Beer Hatch, Norwich. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-11-2023
Open
Beer Hatch
Pub, in Norwich
Beer
Chambers Cocktail Company. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-08-2018
Closed • Opens Wed at 4:00pm
Chambers Cocktail Company
Pub, in Norwich
Cask Ale not available
Green Room, Norwich. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-05-2024
Closed • Opens Thu at 5:00pm
Green Room
Ecobars Ltd Pub, in Norwich
Cask Ale not available
Weaver's Arms, Muspole St, Norwich. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-07-2023
Open
Weavers Arms
Pub, in Norwich
4 Changing Beers
Glass House, from Elm Hill. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-08-2018
Open
Glass House
Wetherspoon Pub, in Norwich
3 Regular, 3 Changing Beers
  • CAMRA voucher scheme
(Pub, External). Published on 14-06-2014
Open • Closes in 58 minutes
Olive's
Restaurant, in Norwich
Cask Ale not available

Need accommodation?

 

 

Pub Walk Shoes Icon

Love Cask Beer?

Join CAMRA to support the campaign to access more features plus access to a range of different benefits.

Become a member
© Campaign for Real Ale 2023 - 2025 (ce-9)
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
Home

Privacy Overview

We use cookies, which are small text files, to improve your experience on our website and to show you personalised content. You can allow all or manage them individually.

Necessary

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-Necessary

These cookies help us to improve your web experience. They allow us to gather feedback on your behaviour and to show adverts relevant to you. You can turn this off here.

Cookies

We use cookies, which are small text files, to improve your experience on our website and to show you personalised content. You can allow all or manage them individually.