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Kings Head Pub closing its doors after 32 years of serving up pints, chips and welcoming smiles

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Kings Head Tavern
The Kings Head Tavern will close after 32 years in business.

It will be a little harder to keep calm and carry on without it.

The beloved Kings Head British Pub will officially pour its last pint on September 15, the St. Augustine institution revealed on social media Friday night.

With its signature double decker red bus stationed out front, the cozy cottage evolved into an iconic St. Johns County destination after first opening its doors in 1992.

“This journey has been one of passion, dedication and countless cherished memories, and we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude,” the owners said in their post, which unleashed enough tears to fill the Thames.

The message did not specify a reason for the closure.

“As we close this chapter, we carry with us the joy and fulfillment that comes from serving our community,” it read. “Though the doors of the Pub will close, the memories and friendships we have built will remain forever in our hearts.”

Serving traditional British fare like bangers, fish and chips and shepherd’s pie, the pub drew from both a loyal base of regulars, curious transients, and visitors from across the globe who found themselves drawn to the homey structure.

“A knife through my heart,” one poster responded.

Festooned with Union Jack flags and an English-style phone booth out front, the King’s Head’s unique regalia always drew craned necks from passersby who wondered what was taking place inside.

Over the years, the tavern morphed into a monument to a bygone St. Augustine, with many posters mourning the loss of what had become a vital repository of childhood memories.

With the increasing dominance of corporate chains, the outpost remained a fiercely independent refuge.

“Absolutely gutted,” another poster wrote. “The Kings Head became the last place I could go to revisit my childhood memories of my late parents. I was a little girl when the pub was built- we would drive by nearly every weekend to check on the progress. Once the pub opened, I practically grew up there.”

One respondent tersely speculated that the King’s Head would soon give way to even more apartments.

“I don’t think so,” an owner replied.

The Boddingtons will flow and the fish will still sizzle until next Sunday, so belly up one last time.

“Thank you for being a part of our story, and for making these 32 years truly unforgettable,” ownership write. “With heartfelt appreciation.”

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2 Responses

  1. First place I ever went to with my wife and kids after moving here. My daughter saw the red bus and insisted on going. Been a regular ever since.

    Oh well. There’s always Panera.

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