Kings Arms

Great to see Jamie and his team still serving the best beers and providing the friendliest service in London despite COVID and restrictions. Best for Bears and for the Beers.

This is a very traditional, gay male pub, just off busy Oxford Street, which has become a centre for the 'bear scene' in recent years. (For the uninitiated, that refers to the more cuddly and furry of our fellow brethren).


It's a very popular place and can get packed, and fairly cruisy, especially on one of their regular event nights - eg karaoke, DJ-night and the bears' club 'Bear-hug'. There's a less crowded area upstairs with a pool table, if that takes your fancy, and they do pub grub at lunchtime.


It only gets two stars from me as the availability and quality of real ale has become rather variable of late, as has the friendliness and quality of service. And the interior can get very smoky and is seriously in need of some fresh paint. But there's clearly a very loyal (male!) crowd who like it that way.


Historical quirk: a plaque outside states 'In this Old Kings Arms tavern was the Ancient Order of druids revived 28th November 1781'. What would those Georgian druids make of it now?

Great pub for a Sunday dinner, good selection of beer. Would defiinitly go again.

This pub is probably my favourite watering hole in London. How many places will actually turn up the volume when you put Morrissey on the jukebox? Answer: not many.

The punters in the King's Arms are friendly enough, although I view almost anyone to be friend material after 3 double Jamesons and a pint of Peroni. The prices are decent for central London and if you are overweight and hairy like I am, you will feel right at home.

A good place to be gay and drunk.

This is a bear bar. If you don't know what a bear bar is, you probably don't belong there! That said, it's one of many in London where you can find men of the hairy and girthy persuasion, but probably not the sleaziest and definitely not the drunkest... for that try XXL or The Eagle. Because of where it is, I understand that they must close earlier than other bars.

Maybe it's because I'm from San Francisco and expected to find something like the Lone Star, but I hung out a few times at this bar and didn't find the bears there that friendly or interesting. Maybe it's a Brit thing, but guys there were definitely not as "friendly" as they are in the states. Definitely worth checking out, though. Sunday evenings before 11 p.m. seemed like the busiest time. Most men there seem to leave to other, later night clubs so if you are new in town be sure to ask where the later bear bar nights are.

This is Gay bar near to SOHO and Oxford Street, the crowd is mainly bears and otters and its a great friendly crowd, theres an upstairs lounge which is nice if downstairs is too busy. It was really busy on the friday night when we was there. its not pretentious at all and everyone seemed to be having a great time.

Was a fun time. We got there at an odd time. They were setting up for an event. If we were local, we'd definitely stop in regularly. Friendly crowd and bartender.

Just got back from London ,
I GOT THE PLEASURE TO BE THERE 10 DAYS, I LOVE THAT CITY

durring my stay , my friend recommended me that place to go and meet some nice people , i was in soho so i end up going on sat Night .
and i have to admit i have the best time there. its was so cool.

the people there was very friendly , nice easy going.

the bar look great remind me sf bars, very neighborhood witch i love it.
the stuff there was amazing, very friendly people .

i got to meet of the guys who work there and he told me some of the history of the place ( Jaime ) and he was a great person to talk with.

after that night i end up going 3 days to have a beer on my way home, i was not disappointed .

OH YES Before i forget , on Sunday Jaime told me to come to some karaoke night , so i went with my friend, and it was so much fun, i really recommended that , must to see and enjoy every min of it.

Thank you Jaime for the great host . thank you Kings arms , me and my friend had the best time !!!!

This gay bar attracts bears and their admirers, bigger, hairy guys and those that like them. I thought it was friendly, just the right amount of cruisy and easy to meet and talk with other guys. Even on a busy night bartenders were friendly and hospitable and quick to get my order. I was there on Sunday night for karaoke, or as they call it, bearaoke. Like most karaoke there were a few good singers, a couple that were atrocious, with everyone else in between. What made it especially fun is that the entire bar would join in on the chorus of popular songs. It felt like a friendly neighborhood bar that received a second visit from me on a less crowded week night.

The cheapest pint in London is what is declared for this pub.


Yes it does! A round is pretty good here (on the right beer) but the crowd isn't the best. I feel like a complete outsider in here and checked out and measured up when entering this place. There's an eerie silence as people do not talk here! It's even worse upstairs.


the place also screams out 'UPDATE ME!!!!' The carpets are wearing through and it just feels like the place is about to collapse. The fact that other gay pubs have done so right in updating the bar area whilst also retaining the olde pub feeling makes this place all the more desolate.


Shame really, it's got great potential with the pool table upstairs, if you can forgive the felt being worn through