Pubs and Bars / Reviews
Kongs of King Street
With a few flashing lights and bleeps, Kongs of King Street has the power to reduce men and women of a certain age to gibbering wrecks.
In one corner of the bar is the original Donkey Kong, the arcade version which saw the very first appearance of a portly plumber called Mario. But that’s not all, nearby is a line of four other arcade machines including the all-time classic Street Fighter II and the daddy, PAC-Man.
If knob twiddling is too childish, there are also table football and table tennis tables, but the theme of this new bar is clear when you see the adverts for Atari affixed to a metal mesh overlooking the table tennis table, separated from the rest of this bar by a low wall perfect for spectating with drink in hand.
Kongs now forms part of Bristol’s ‘Beermuda Triangle’ made up of Small Bar, the Beer Emporium and the Royal Navy Volunteer
Drinks are not taken quite so seriously here as in its near neighbours. Lagers predominate on tap, with an international selection that includes Sierra Nevada from the USA, Affligem from Belgium and Birra Moretti from Italy. Ciders on tap are Thatchers Gold and Symonds.
Spirits meanwhile are presented on shelves in front of an exposed stone wall, just one of the touches of a design very much of the moment with chipboard on some of the floor, walls and bar; dangling filament lightbulbs; and colourful stools and chairs.
On its opening Friday evening, Kongs was standing room only. I spotted a friend in what I thought was a beer garden at the far end from the main entrance on King Street, and ended up standing in the middle of Little King Street.
Returning on Monday evening, the place was much quieter – an ideal opportunity to appreciate Simple Simon’s design touches while thinking of who to play next on Donkey Kong, Street Fighter or PAC-Man.
Kongs of King Street, 13-5 King Street, Bristol, BS1 4EF
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