EACH month the SNJ’s Pub Spy visits a local eaterie to give his verdict. This time, he gives reviews The Kings Head in Kingscourt.

Google ‘The King’s Head’ in Stroud and you’ll find four different pubs all within a 15 minute radius of each other.

There is one in Eastington, one in King’s Stanley and another tucked away in France Lynch near Chalford.

However, the one you might not have heard about is perched atop a deep slanting hill in Kingscourt, just a few minutes drive off Bath Road.

And you might not have heard of it for good reason – it located in a secluded spot up a winding hill and through notoriously narrow lanes.

Most of all though, this particular public house has no website, no online menu and just one inconspicuous Facebook page. All you come across if you search for it on the internet is a few pictures, an address and a telephone number.

You wouldn’t be mistaken for thinking they were trying to keep it a secret.

Determined to discover the secrets of this secluded old pub I and some friends paid it a visit earlier this week to experience it for ourselves.

Unlike other pub trips I’ve been on, I genuinely had no idea what lay in store. This one was a leap into the dark – and it certainly paid off.

The small local pub sits in a quiet corner of the village off The Street and looks out spectacularly over the valley towards Woodchester and beyond.

Though the weather wasn’t great when we visited, part of me wanted to take advantage of the beer garden, which enjoys amazing views of this scene.

Few pubs in Stroud – save maybe The Black Horse or the Woolpack - enjoy such a great setting on its doorstep. Perhaps the seclusion is a good thing then, I began to think immediately.

The area is scattered with wooden benches, rope and a striking mural of the king the pace is so clearly named after. It seems like a great spot to enjoy a pint of a sunny Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately though the rain drove us inside – which turned out not to be such a bad thing.

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Though small, the pub has an immediately cosy and warm atmosphere. Laid out over two rooms, you are greeted by a 1940s interior, large and colourfully decorated bar, original stone walls and beams, an imposing fire place and welcoming staff.

The décor is noticeably that of an authentic English pub. The walls are strewn with paintings, beer mats and curious little oddities, including a fascinating drum above the fire place. It looks like much hasn’t changed in decades – in a good way.

The bar itself is well stocked and carries a good number of interesting local ales and beers. I always like to try something new – but unfortunately there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

But then again, who needs anything different when you can simply order a pint of Tom Long. With Stroud Fringe taking place this weekend, how could I dare order something that hadn’t come from Stroud Brewery?

As always, this 3.8 per cent amber bitter was smooth and citrusy and it made me extra excited to try their specially crafted Golden Fringe beer this weekend.

The biggest question mark however was what the menu would look like. As it turned out this was pretty curious.

There are some pretty interesting headers to the different sections of mains available, including Meat Lover’s Mains, Bistro Baskets and Veggie Delights.

While you can rest assured there are the pub classics such as fish and chips, steaks and lasagne, there are also a number of more unusual meals available.

The best example of this was something I’ll admit I’d never seen on a menu in Stroud: Surf & Turf – Scampi and Steak (£10.95).

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As well as the regular categories there is a weekly specials board and a dedicated Sunday lunch menu. One other addition is the ‘sizzlers’ menu which is also written on a chalk board in a far corner of the room.

This contains some unique and refreshingly different ideas, which are all based around a special sizzling dish of either chicken, gammon, beef of tuna served on a hot slate. (£8/9).

In the end I managed to avoid this lure and chose a 6oz gourmet beef burger with bacon, cheese and onion rings, which was served with chips and cost just £8.95.

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One thing that confused me though was that there was no starters menu – your only options were mains and side orders, as well as desert of course.

To compensate I ordered cheesy garlic bread (3.50) and a side order of mushrooms (1.50) to accompany the meal.

All this food came is very good time and to a good standard. As the centrepiece, the burger was served in a nice floury bun and – as it always should be – was the standout part of the meal.

The portion sizes were excellent – just want you want from proper pub grub. And when added to the side dishes I finished perfectly stated. If, like some of my friends, you want large dishes, then this is definitely the place for you.

From the burgers, to the tuna steak to the fish and chips, the meals were of a great quantity and even better quality.

Plus each and every one was good value for money. Added together the main, two sides and an ale, the bill came out at £19.55 - not bad going by all accounts.

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Another big plus were the staff, who were attentive and helpful throughout. It really makes a difference when they make you feel genuinely welcomed and that they want your custom. Both the barmaid and the chef were fantastic.

One criticism would be the wall-mounted television in the bar area. A roaring football match wasn’t the greatest thing to listen to during the meal – but then again I suppose we just visited at the wrong time.

Overall though, the atmosphere in the place was just what you wanted from an authentic local pub – relaxed, sociable and more than anything, humble.

Perhaps then, the locals who know this pub well have good reason to keep it a secret.

Luckily for us the risk paid off. I’d certainly go back again – especially on a lazy sunny evening for a quiet drink. Overall I was soundly impressed by my visit to The King’s Head.

I was going to say that they should perhaps create a website. But maybe that would take away from the very things that make this pub so great – the seclusion, the intimacy and the authenticity.

  • SCORES

• Atmosphere: 6/10

• Decor: 6/10

• Staff: 8/10

• Drink: 6/10

• Food: 7/10

• Prices/Value: 8/10

• Overall: 7/10