Welcoming and friendly back-street local. The former two bar pub has been opened up, but a partition can be closed to separate the areas. Wooden floors with rugs and painted walls form the decor. Photos on the walls illustrate Kingston's aviation history, as Sopwith's factory was just down the road. There is a secluded garden and log burners in winter. It shows some important sporting events and will host a party or celebration, charity quizzes, piano and wine evenings (3rd Wednesday monthly). Beer is kept to a high standard by a Master Cellarman. Guest beers are supplied by Asahi but are often from another brewery. Regular Friday Curry Nights and roasts on Sunday. Accredited for beer quality during 2023 and was awarded Local CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2022. Normally closed on Mon and Tues but usually open 7 days a week in December.
19th century building of brick rendered over, it was originally three rooms and an off sales. In 1935 changes saw an enlarged saloon bar on the left, a slight change in the position of the off sales, and new inside toilets added.
In recent years a gap has been created in the wall between the front public bar and the saloon bar on the left but a modern folding wooden partition means they can still be separate rooms. There is (part of?) a surviving part glazed partition in the saloon bar but it has been moved to this position.
The bar counter in the former saloon bar part looks old with its decorative brackets and now painted a dark grey colour. The former saloon bar back lower part with arches and decorative console brackets also looks old and painted a dark grey colour. The bar counter and bar back in the front public bar area are modern (and shorter than the 1935 one) as is the left hand bar back top section. All the dado panelling is painted a light grey colour so it is difficult to identify whether part is old (possibly that in the former saloon bar?) and which is modern.
19th century building of brick rendered over, it was originally three rooms and an off sales. In 1935 changes saw an enlarged saloon bar on the left, a slight change in the position of the off sales, and new inside toilets added.
In recent years a gap has been created in the wall between the front public bar and the saloon bar on the left but a modern folding wooden partition means they can still be separate rooms. There is (part of?) a surviving part glazed partition in the saloon bar but it has been moved to this position.
The bar counter in the former saloon bar part looks old with its decorative brackets and now painted a dark grey colour. The former saloon bar back lower part with arches and decorative console brackets also looks old and painted a dark grey colour. The bar counter and bar back in the front public bar area are modern (and shorter than the 1935 one) as is the left hand bar back top section. All the dado panelling is painted a light grey colour so it is difficult to identify whether part is old (possibly that in the former saloon bar?) and which is modern.
This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 3 regular beers.
Wych Elm, Kingston
Source: Local