The Kings Head and Bell re-opened this evening after being closed during the summer months.
The pub had been refurbished and repainted and there was a new pub sign. The King’s head has been replaced with a Brewing Bell. According to The Town Council History Portal there was a pub here before 1554 called The Bell. In the eighteenth century the King’s Head was first added to its name.
The beer was good.
The Mayor was there with the head of the pub chain for the opening.
The major innovation from the refurbishment is enclosing a lot of the courtyard. The roof can be retracted – as happens at Wimbledon. One of the glass walls can also be opened. So on sunny days there is a courtyard, and in rain and winter there is a covered eating area near the revamped kitchen.
Went this morning to meet a couple of friends for lunch; the menu was burgers or burgers or burgers.
All that money spent on turning what used to be a decent enough pub into a burger bar with a sun roof! I wish them well, but I will not be visiting, I fear.
That’s strange ppjs. I went for lunch as well and I had a pizza and my wife had a sandwich.
Not likely to be one of my haunts either, but that’s a bit unfair ppjs: it’s hardly haute cuisine, yes they do burgers, but they also at least do pizzas, salads and flatbreads at lunchtime….
Well, as I said, I wish them well; but not so long ago, you could get a proper cooked meal there.
Hope they’ve introduced some decent cask ales … I don’t really count crafty ales, which remind me too much of the dire days of Watneys Red Barrel.
The KHaB is a useful meet-up pub for various cycling, sports and other groups.
BTW the Kings bit was added because Charles the 1st held a meeting here and the Head bit is obvious
Used to be a very regular drinker in there. I somewhat agree with ppjs, somehow feels a lot less welcoming to casual drinker than before. Feels way more like a restaurant than a pub now.
See that The Nags Head is being ‘Revamped’. Will it go the same way as Kings Head and Bell??.
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17987464.grade-ii-listed-oxfordshire-pub-thames-plans-revamp/