I am reminded of one of my favorite stickers "Every bar is a gay bar." Yay! Only 10 meters from our Airbnb...pleasant environment, fun music...nice tables. Came in for a glass of wine. Will sneak back in when the parents arrive.... ;) read more

Kings Arms - Cute tables in the front of the bar... - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Have been here several times - though this time a new member of staff made the choice to specifically pick me out and decide to flex their power. About 15 guys were crowded around the bar, some of them even sat on stools right at the bar. I was there with a friend, and were also stood at the bar. A gentlemen asked if he could get to the bar, and I happily moved out of his way. This new staff member then called me *back* to the bar after I'd made space by stepping away, and told me to make room for other people - completely ignoring the 15 or so other guys standing around, and literally *seated* at the bar. It felt as though I was being personally picked on; not only had I *already* moved out of the way, but I was the only one to have bothered to move for this new gentlemen. I've been here plenty of times before, but I'm not sure if I feel particularly safe with this new staff member working there, he seemed to zero in on me, and decide to abuse his power to call me back, only to send me away from the bar I'd *already* moved away from.... read more

This has been the best bar we have been to. Jack, Felipe, and Josh are the best! Not only great but super attentive. The management has been amazing, Alan and Dane have been amazing with helping us with our drinks and customer service. read more

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? read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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 read more

The Kings Arms is the premier bear pub in London. For the uninitiated, bears are more hirsute, chunky gay men. While it can be a tad quiet during the week, with mainly passing tourist trade and the after-work crowd, this pub really comes in to its own from about 8pm on Friday, throughout the weekend. During the summer the place is rammed, with people overflowing out on to the streets. Sunday evenings the pub plays host to Jivin' Julie and her karaoke - very popular with the regulars. Drinks prices are fairly typical of a central London gay pub, which is to say they're expensive! Soft drinks in particular seem to be very pricey. In summation though, it's a friendly place and known world-wide, so you'll often find people from all-over in there read more

We stumbled across this pub quite by accident one evening when we were walking from the theatre to the flat we had rented. We decided to stop for a nightcap and soon found ourselves engaged in lively conversation with a group of local men. Because I was the only female there, my husband asked if it was unusual for women to socialize in pubs. Everyone laughed uproariously because unknowingly we had wandered into a gay bar! They didn't care and neither did we, because everyone was so nice and welcoming. We always come here several times whenever we're in town and usually see the same familiar places. It has a warm atmosphere and attracts a very friendly crowd. I highly recommend it to everyone, gay and straight alike. read more

I love this bear bar, you see all shapes & sizes, I do recommend this bar to any bears who goes to London, I visit all the time when I'm in London. read more

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. read more

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. read more

What a great bar, had so much fun here visiting London from our place in North Carolina. Really friendly crowd and a great range of beers to try! Very friendly bartenders too, Graeme and Neil (two of the most unusual gay bar bartenders!) were great hosts for our weekend welcoming us to the bar and recommending places to visit all evening. We will be back! read more

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. read more

I had read the reviews before I came in. I could see why the straight couple had so much fun. Of course the patrons would take them and fancy them right off the bat. However, a regular gay guy, and tourist, it was a nice place, clean and reasonably priced but not so overly friendly that I would want to return. Just a typical gay pub. read more

Was in London for the weekend and dropped in here. Am a bear myself but was not impressed. The place had a bad smell and looked run down. The sfaff took an age to pull a pint if you got lucky to get their eye. This place gives a bad name to bears. read more

Visit London few weeks ago. I was visiting kings arms. And it was the best place. The stuff guys was fantastic. And the manager Jamie was very helpful. Best place for me in soho read more

This is a gay pub with a difference - almost defiantly traditional in its decor and ambience, the clientele are anything but the usual gay cliches, as this pub is one of the main favoured watering holes of the bear community. Beards aplenty will greet you on walking in, but don't fear the beardage - once you get yourself a pint and settle in, the welcome is generally a friendly one (much friendlier than most places in that area) and the landlord does his best to make everyone feel at home. There's a celebrated karaoke night on Sundays with Jivin' Julie, and a good selection of beers and ales, as well as a fully loaded jukebox that has all manner of good (and bad) tunes on offer. No food other than bar snacks sadly, and no facilities other than the pavement outside for smokers. Basically, an excellent place to nip for a quick pint while out shopping on Oxford Street and wanting to escape the madness! read more