King's Head, ping-pong in Islington (Angel, Upper Street)

Photo: WhatPub / CAMRA

King's Head: Ping Pong in Islington, London

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115 Upper Street, Angel, Islington, London · N1 1QN · Mo-We 12:00-23:00; Th-Sa 12:00-00:00; Su 12:00-22:00

The King's Head is a Young's pub on Upper Street in Islington with a ping pong table you can knock a ball about on while you drink. It is the original King's Head, an Islington institution since 1970 and long famous for the theatre that ran in its back room. The pub itself is still here at 115 Upper Street, Victorian fittings, etched windows and black-and-white photos on the walls. It suits a relaxed evening: meet friends, grab a craft beer or a cocktail, and play a casual game rather than book a serious table-tennis session. The single most useful thing to know is that this is a proper pub first and ping pong second, so just turn up, no booking needed.

The ping pong setup

Expect a casual pub table rather than a dedicated bar full of boards. You play between rounds, so it works best in a quiet afternoon or early evening before the place fills up. There is no booking system listed and no published charge for the table, so it is first come, first served. Bring your own crowd of two or four and treat it as a bit of fun alongside the drinks rather than a competitive night out. If you want guaranteed tables and bookable slots, this is not that kind of venue.

Good to know

The pub is run by Young's, so the bar leans towards craft beers, wines, cocktails and G&Ts, with toasties and bar snacks for food. It opens daily from noon, runs late on Thursday to Saturday, and keeps live music on the calendar, with bigger sport like the World Cup shown on screens. No charge is stated for the ping pong, but you are expected to buy drinks. Note the theatre that made this place famous moved to a separate building nearby in 2024; the pub itself stays put at 115 Upper Street.

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Common questions

What is the King's Head?
It is a Young's pub on Upper Street in Islington with a ping pong table, plus a long history as the home of the King's Head Theatre. The pub dates to 1970 and sits at 115 Upper Street.
Is the ping pong free at the King's Head?
No charge for the table is published. It is a pub first, so you are expected to buy drinks at the bar. Treat the exact pricing as unconfirmed.
Do I need to book to play?
There is no booking system listed. Just walk in and use the table when it is free, ideally earlier in the day before the pub gets busy.
How many tables are there?
It has a pub ping pong table rather than a row of dedicated boards, so plan for one casual table, not a bookable bank of them.
What are the opening hours?
Noon to 23:00 Monday to Wednesday, noon to midnight Thursday to Saturday, and noon to 22:00 on Sunday.
Where is it and what is the nearest station?
115 Upper Street, London N1 1QN, in the Angel area of Islington. Angel station is the closest stop.

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