East Anglia Region

Campaign for Real Ale

Campaign for Real Ale

Kings Head

42 Magdalen Street
Norwich
NR3 1JE
Real AleQuiet PubGardenSeparate BarGamesCiderLined GlassesDog FriendlyNewspapersWiFiServes LocAle

See more about this pub on WhatPub, CAMRA's national pub guide.

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 available to parties of 1 person and upwards 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