Kings Arms Reviews Summary

Atmosphere

Pros:

• "Nice friendly bar with outside seating by the riverside."
• "The place maintains the charm of past times and makes you feel in the middle of a medieval tavern."
• "Personal opinion just perfect for dates because there's no distractions and the old couples around give a nice touch."
• "The atmosphere inside is quite welcoming, with a real fireplace and exposed timber."
• "Lovely place, traditional to say the least but friendly staff, good service."
• "It’s tiny and cosy inside, with extra outdoor seating."
• "I was curious to visit this pub that had been flooded in the boxing day flood of 2015. It has a great old world atmosphere with its exposed beams and Yorkshire stone floors."

Cons:

• "An absolute atmospheric void I have never ever experienced such a place it was just a weird stillness there was just no atmosphere whatsoever."
• "There is NO atmosphere at all."
• "The atmosphere is miserable, the rules draconian."
• "Visited here a couple of times recently and its been virtually empty, no atmosphere, bemused customers, miserable staff and no draft beer."
• "Soulless and lacking atmosphere, I've never experienced a pub with so little conversation."
• "The atmosphere was shocking."
• "Absolutely appalling 😡 rude, felt like we were at school."

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "Good staff, friendly and used to dealing with plenty of customers."
• "We had some drinks sitting outside..the service was prompt..we were served by a tallish chap who was very efficient/polite even though it was busy..this gentleman clearly knows his job.. bar staff of this calibre should be valued...He deserves a pay rise....!!!!"
• "All staff are very accommodating and lovely landlady, whom of which is very welcoming."
• "The two girls behind the bar are quick workers and very funny."
• "Staff were friendly and polite."
• "Staff was friendly and pulled off a nice pint of ale."
• "Great service with very friendly staff."

Cons:

• "Not worth it, bar staff were rude and patronising, enforcing their pathetic no phones rule and lecturing customers on which beers to order first."
• "From an establishment that attempts to give a traditional feel to each visit, the bar staff were belligerent and made condescending comments on if my party held enough cash to pay for our order."
• "The rudest bar woman I’ve ever encountered."
• "Rude barstaff, dirty, the place stinks."
• "Surly staff. 2 pints of old brewery not full, asked for a top up,,was told they had to give it with a head."
• "Staff were busy chatting among themselves and not serving."
• "The staff here were incredibly rude, sarcastic and judgemental."

Rules and Policies

Pros:

• "The phone rule is good."
• "They want to encourage people to talk to each other."
• "No phone, no swearing, just old fashioned beer and conversation."
• "Nice touch not allowing the use of mobile phones within the pub. Ensures a good time, with proper communication with friends."
• "No children under 14, no music and no swearing makes it an ideal grown up place if you just want a nice drink and a chat."
• "Very refreshing somewhere to talk other than electronic speak, although different was probably the norm in the past."
• "It has a no digital device policy inside, really not a problem, nice to see people chatting instead of gazing at their phones."

Cons:

• "So I was supposed to sit there by myself staring into my beer?"
• "The atmosphere is miserable, the rules draconian."
• "The no mobile phones and electronics policy honestly is ridiculous and not enforceable!"
• "Absolutely terrible. Was shouted at by a gentleman I would assume is the manager on several occasions - he demanded that we not use our phones."
• "They have this ridiculous rule that bans mobile phones so visitors cant even photograph the historic flood water levels that have become a tourist attraction."
• "No mobile phones, no swearing, and cash only. Utterly ridiculous to maintain these rules, a totally backwards pub."
• "Very off putting with all the rules of what you can't do inside,no phones no tablet's no photos."

Value for Money

Pros:

• "and if somebody can get a pint and a half for little more than a fiver that to me is fab value."
• "The price's are brilliant a pint of bitter and half a lager £3.00, must be the cheapest pub in York."
• "Cheap and good local beer selection."
• "Great beer at great prices. Nice atmosphere in a prime location."
• "Good quality and well kept beer, at very reasonable prices."
• "Great place to grab a pint. Cheap, as it's a Sam Smith's pub. And nice outside area to sit by the river."
• "A Samuel Smith pub; my favourite pint is the 'old brewery bitter' @£2 a pint it's astonishingly good beer."

Cons:

• "First post-Covid19 pub visit. £11 for 2 bottles of Sam Smith's organic lager. Great location but that's too much, it's central London prices."
• "Disgusting prices, I know York is super expensive, but Mr Smith is taking the mick....£5.00 for a 330ml bottle of pale ale then poured into a plastic pint pot,yuk!!!!!."
• "The drinks all taste of urine."
• "Visited the Pub on 08/08/20... the cheap prices (which are no longer cheap, at least £1.00 increase on every pint)."
• "The beers are all specialist but they will NOT let you try a sip even at £4+ a pint."
• "The cash only rule is perverse and counterproductive, we nearly left straight away but went and got cash out so we could have a pint."
• "It’s cash only, which is strange for somewhere in the middle of a city in 2019."

Location and Setting

Pros:

• "Right by the riverside, in summer it's lovely outside seating."
• "Lovely scenic setting."
• "Love pint sitting out overlooking the river in the sun."
• "Amazing old place in Ouse riverside."
• "An amazing little pub at an amazing location by the river."
• "A characterful Sam Smiths pub famous for its riverside location and flood markings recording high level marks since the 1970s."
• "WONDERFUL place, tables outside have a romantic view of the river."

Cons:

• "You have destroyed a unique and beautiful 17th century pub that was a real landmark in York."
• "The outside area was not cleaned and the tables were cleared by a couple of people who looked like they got paid in beer."
• "The back half of the place smelled like a corpse was rotting in the gents toilets."
• "This place is disgusting, toilets smell and it’s obvious they aren’t cleaned."
• "Dirty dirty glasses...poured my Mrs a gin and tonic in a dirty glass...went in to exchange glass and drink...but just slopped it into another glass...Dirty horrible place."
• "The toilets are filthy, the bar looks like it never gets cleaned down properly."
• "Plastic glasses without choice and cash only... why?"