Riddle me this: What has two open fires, a Skittle Alley, real cask ales, and a children's play area? The Kings Head in Wickham right off Winchester Road.
This former coaching inn, turned village public house, has all the humble charm of a quaint gathering place with all the heart of the community, packed into a Fuller pub. Who would have guessed that it is clearly the nicest one in the tiny square.
If I could design a pub, it would look like this. It is absolutely lovely, with wall flowers of many colors running up the side entrance's facade and a lovely beer garden through the alcove on the right. It is open plan seating, that goes straight back to the outdoor family area. The inside feels like an affluent country home and the prices match the vibe. There are plenty of beers and ales, though I opted for the cider. We played billiards in the back because although it was full overall, no one bothered to take advantage of the games area.
I really wanted to try the Skittles but we were out of time. The games section seems to double as a function room or perhaps as extra seating when it's not rented out. A good place to go with group, then. Definitely a fan of the Kings Head. read more