Cheery crowds at King's Arms

This is essentially a friendly, traditional, boozer, with cheery crowds spilling out onto the street at lunchtimes and in the early evenings in summer. Apart from the bar downstairs, there are two rooms upstairs: a quieter front room, popular with couples and small groups of friends, drinking or dining, is adorned with photographs by Frank Meadow Sutcliffe, depicting scenes in and around Victorian Whitby and has a fine view of one of the smartest Georgian streets in London.

The back room is a games room that packs an awful lot in without quite feeling cramped. There are two pool tables, a darts board (with darts provided) and table football. And not a teenager or hooded-top wearer in sight, or sound. Thai food is served most of the day and it usually has a decent selection of beer on tap - though it's now got Bulmer's cider and pear cider on tap.

CLIENTELE: local workers
NEAREST STATION: Chancery Lane station
FEATURES: disabled facilities, real ales, function room available, traditional pub games, outdoor seating, two pool table, separate restaurant, Sky TV

The King's Arms
11A, Northington St, WC1 2JF