Carmen M.
Cippenham
44 reviews
Fine for loud crowds
14 Dec 07, 18:09
As expected
If quirky, quaint and cramped fit your drinking style, you’ll find a very warm embrace in the King’s Arms. Set in a Waterloo back street with the Old Vic and National Theatre on the main thoroughfare close by, it immediately seemed evident that Tom, Dick Harry et al were privy to this labyrinthine locale - and had all chosen the same night as my friends and I to meet and mingle there.
Glancing at the old photos of yesteryear dotting the polished wood-panelled walls provided a great distraction from the claustrophobic feel of the heaving crowd.
The bar staff proved friendly enough and efficiently remembered more than twice that I like a straw in my drink. We didn’t eat there (in fact we and our glasses were shifted from tables set for reserved diners), but the plates of food wafting past gave off a heavenly curried aroma – apparently provided by Yvonne’s Thai Cuisine.
At first, standing amid the raucous chat above the background strain of unrecognised musak made normal levels of chat over a pint rather burdensome. A warmer, more relaxed atmosphere of close-knit drinking, conversation and camaraderie ensued when our eagle-eyed party of 10 grabbed enough seats to sit around three small tables.
From our spot in the saloon bar, the Ladies proved a bit of a circuitous hike to the rear of the building. Once there, however, I was delightfully relieved to find a striking watercolour painting of olde worlde London around St. Paul’s Cathedral on the wall.
In my lifelong quest for quietly spacious drinking time, I definitely don't envisage a return to the King's Arms any time soon.
