Specialising mostly in local ales, The King’s Ditch is Tamworth’s first and only micropub.
Four to Six gravity-served ales straight from the cask are complemented by Twenty real ciders, Three Fruit Ciders and Three Perries, all carefully chosen by our passionate team.
The King’s Ditch is characterised by its simple but modern bare brick and wood interior. We have a single ground floor room and a small drinking area upstairs, accommodating around 40 people.
The Beer and Cider being served from a chilled room at approx. 12 degrees centigrade.
We don’t have any fruit machines, TVs or music – we simply have a warm and friendly atmosphere where people can enjoy real ale and good conversation. Please note! Children are welcome, to sit and not race around, until 7pm. Dogs are also welcome as long as they bring their owners.
We look forward to welcoming you to The King’s Ditch soon! Go to the Blog for our latest news…
Our Menu
What's currently being served...
Last updated: August 7, 2022 at 20:30 pm
Click on the icons on the left-hand side to see more menus.
Bitter and black stout. Dark malts and roasted barley combine to produce a smouldering chocolate flavour followed by a mouth embracing bitterness.
£3.60 / 4.7%
Bespoke - Leatherbritches, Smisby, Derbyshire
Traditional full bodied brown bitter.
£3.90 / 5.0%
Uprising - Green Duck, Stourbridge, West Midlands
Fruity American pale brewed with Citra and Centennial hops.
£3.80 / 4.2%
2 Pint Carryout Container
Supplied free of charge for take outs.
£0.00
Stray Cat Pils - Lymestone, Stone, Staffordshire
Craft Pils. 500ml bottle.
£3.50 / 5.2%
Marmalade Porter - Wold Top, Wold Newton, East Yorkshire
Wold Top Marmalade Porter, a complex rich dark porter with a sweet malty base, overtones of bitter orange and hints of coffee and chocolate. Gluten free. 500ml bottle.
£3.50 / 5.0%
Stray Cat Lager - Lymestone, Stone, Staffordshire
Bottled lager 500ml.
£3.50 / 4.0%
Scarborough Fair IPA - Wold Top, Wold Newton, East Yorkshire.
Strong and well hopped, interestingly brewed with a Pale predominately Wold grown malt base, a triple hop blend and Maize for the head retention. Gluten Free. 500ml bottle.
£3.50 / 6.0%
Cherries & Berries - Lilley's, Frome, Somerset
Crafted with the most sublime cherries & berries, this mouth-watering cider is sweet with a soft underlying berry flavour and bold cherry notes. 500ml bottle.
£3.50 / 4.0%
Peach Cider - Lilley's, Frome, Somerset
Apple and peach sparkling sweet cider. 500ml bottle.
£3.50 / 4.0%
Jaggy Thistle - Thistly Cross, Scotland
Scottish scrumpy. A dry, farmhouse cider, full of flavour.
£4.00 / 7.4%
Black Dragon - Gwynt y Ddraig, Pontypridd
Medium Dry. Rich in colour, body and flavour with a fresh, fruity aroma.
£3.80 / 7.2%
Haystack - Harry's Cider, Long Sutton, Somerset.
Farm pressed medium dry cider, using a blend of apples from Harry's orchard.
Sweet farmhouse cider. Takes its name from the area in which it was originally grown, Rodney Stoke in Somerset.
£3.70 / 6.0%
Devil's Device - Mr Whiteheads, Alton, Hampshire.
Quite clear and golden in colour with a full bodied smell. Nutty, earthy flavours are dominant in this cider, rich with a good deep body it is medium with a dry aftertaste.
£3.80 / 8.4%
Happy Daze - Gwynt Y Ddraig, Pontypridd
Fruity apple aroma, well balanced. A light and very easy to drink medium cider.
£3.60 / 4.5%
Mango - Lilley's, Frome, Somerset.
Smooth, sophisticated Mango cider made with an ample fusion of exotic Mango fruit and Somerset apples. To give a mouth watering tropical flavour.
£4.00 / 4.0%
Strawberry - Lilleys, Frome, Somerset
Easy drinking still strawberry cider made with a blend of apple cider and strawberry juice.
£4.00 / 4.0%
Moonshine - Broadoak, Somerset
Strong and very drinkable cider with a crisp and refreshing taste.
£3.60 / 7.5%
Sauvignon Blanc - Brisa, Chile
Valle Central - Wine of Chile.
£4.20 / 187ml bottle
Merlot - Hidden Road, Spain
Flavours of plum and black cherries and a soft, elegant finish.
£4.00 / 187ml bottle
Fruit Wines
Lyme Bay range. Choose from Ginger, Raspberry, Strawberry, Cranberry, Apricot, Peach, Elderflower, Elderberry, Black Beer & Raisin, Blackcurrant, Blackberry.
Mead also available.
£3.30 / 175ml£4.00 / 250ml£14.00 / 750ml bottle
Prosecco Frizzante, Di Paolo, Veneto - Italy
Light apple and pear with lightly toasty aromas. Apple notes on the palate together with light floral touches such as rose and also ginger. Fresh and appealing. 75cl bottle.
£15.00
Prosecco DOC Frizzante, Canti, Vento - Italy
Pale straw in colour with bouquet and taste of green apples and flowers. Excellent as an aperitif for with slightly salted snacks. 200ml bottle.
£5.00 / 200ml bottle
Pinot Grigio - Mirabello Italian
Fresh, dry and delicate with gentle floral and citrus aromas.
£14.50 / bottle££4.00 / 175ml££5.00 / 250ml glass
Zinfandel White - Wildwood - Californian
Wildwood Rose is made using only the ripest grapes from California to produce a youthful wine with aromas of fresh cherries and watermelon. On the palate, flavours of juicy ripe strawberries and sweet candy are incredibly sumptuous and ever so moreish. Perfectly balanced the finish is fresh and lingering.
£14.50 / bottle£4.00 / 175ml£5.00 / 250ml glass
Gin - Ableforth's Bathtub Sloe Gin 33.8%
Ableforth's sloe gin has the perfect balance of sweetness, tannie grip, and aromatic richness.
£7.75 / 50ml & mixer
Glencadam - Brechin, Angus
10 year old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
£3.00 / Single£6.00 / Double
Gin - Green Duck Apple & Lime 40%
Launched in 2020 by the Green Duck Brewery.
£6.65 / 50ml gin & mixer
Gin - That Boutique-y Pineapple 42.6%
Whole pineapples are roasted on a spit with Demerara sugar until they are gloriously caramelised. That Boutique-y Gin Company then combine this lip-smacking treat with some bold gin, which both cuts through and pairs brilliantly with the sweet, zesty, subtly toasty pineapple.
£7.05 / 50ml gin & mixer
Gin - Sibling Spring Edition - Lemon and Rosemary 42%
This gin is made 100% from scratch to the Sibling quality, then infused with fresh lemon zest and Rosemary. This is the perfect gin for a spring G&T. Served with a slice of Lemon, regular tonic and plenty of ice.
£7.25 / 50ml gin & mixer
Gin - Warner Edward Sloe 30%
This wonderfully crimson tipple is fabulously fruity, it's made with hand picked sloe berries from the hedgerows in Northamptonshire surrounding Falls Farm, where the gin is distilled. The berries are macerated in Warners Harrington Dry Gin. The taste is very full bodied, loveley and jammy. Dark chocolate and juniper in the aftertaste.
£6.55 / 50ml gin & mixer
Brandy - Seven Tails
XO brandy.
£3.00 / 25ml£6.00 / 50ml
Rum - Bacardi
White rum.
£2.00 / 25ml4.00 / 50ml
Talisker Skye - Carbost, Isle of Skye
Single malt Scotch whisky. 45.8% ABV.
£25cl / 3.00£50cl / 6.00
Balvenie Doublewood - Dufftown, Banffshire
Single malt Scotch whisky. 40% ABV.
£3.30 / 25cl£6.60 / 50cl
Gin - Whitley Neill Raspberry 43%
An initial and distinct juniper, coriander and liquorice flavour that gives way to a bright, fresh vibrant taste of Scottish raspberries. A perfectly balanced Gin with a delicate, fruity taste and a lasting citrus, raspberry flavour.
£6.55 / 50ml gin & mixer
Gin - Whitley Neill Blood Orange 43%
Bright, zesty aromas head up a clean, citrus Gin. A sweet fruit burst of Sicilian Blood Oranges offers a smooth crisp taste of the Mediterranean sun.
£6.55 / 50ml gin & mixer
Gin - Larios Rose 37.5%
A Mediterranean gin infused with strawberries! This is a variation from Larios. A fruity gin with plenty of strawberry notes supported by citrus and soft juniper. A striking pink version of Larios Mediterranean gin that has an intense strawberry aroma and is full of soft, delicious fresh strawberry flavours.
Served with Fever-tree Mediterranean tonic, or a mixer of your choice.
£6.25 / 50ml gin & mixer
Gin - Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger 43%
While the original Whitley Neill Gin is inspired by the exotic flavours of Africa, their Rhubarb & Ginger Gin variation takes inspiration from closer to the Whitley family’s homestead. Subtly tart with clear rhubarb influence. A twist of orange sweetness and herbaceous coriander brings balance to the palate. Served with Fever-tree Ginger Ale or a mixer of your choice.
£6.55 / 50ml gin & mixer
Gin - Gordons
Dry London Gin
£2.00 / 25ml£4.00 / 50ml
Whisky - Famous Grouse
Blended Scotch whisky. 40% ABV.
£2.00 / 25ml£4.00 / 50ml
Vodka - Smirnoff
Red label.
£2.00 / 25ml£4.00 / 50ml
Coke Zero
Zero sugar. 330ml can.
£1.00
Coffee
Kenco instant coffee.
£1.00
J20
Apple & raspberry
£1.80
Lemonade
R Whites in a can.
£1.00
Tonic Water - various flavours
Fever Tree range
£1.75
Diet Coke
The genuine article in cans.
£1.20
Coca Cola
The genuine article in cans.
£1.20
Fruit Shoot
Blackcurrant.
£1.00
Orange
Schweppes
£1.50
Tea
Yorkshire Tea.
£1.00 / Tea
Rose Lemonade
Fentimans.
£2.10
Peanuts
KP dry roasted.
KP ready salted.
Sun Valley chilli.
£1.00
Pork Scratchings
Black Country Quarters.
£1.00
Just Crisps
Sea Salt,
Sea Salt & Black Pepper,
Sea Salt & Apple Balsamic Vinegar,
Mature Cheddar & Onion,
Jalapeno,
Ham & Mustard.
£1.20
* Please note all drinks and menu items are subject to availability and may change at short notice.
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History & Background
About Micropubs
Micropubs are springing up all over the UK. A Micropub is a small freehouse which listens to its customers, mainly serves cask ales, cider, wines and no draught lagers, promotes conversation, shuns all forms of electronic entertainment and dabbles in traditional pub snacks. For more information see micropubassociation.co.uk.
So why The King’s Ditch?
Well it goes back to the very origins of the name Tamworth, they add the worth bit in the name, meaning enclosure, Tamworth = enclosure by the River Tame.
The enclosure in this case consisted of a broad ditch and bank, known variably as the King´s Ditch or Offa´s Dyke or Walferlong. Similar Saxon earthworks and fortifications have been measured at upto 50 ft wide.
The King’s Ditch was still visible and cleared identified on maps in the 19th Century. By 1884 the eastern ditch had disappeared.
Alignment of Ditch shown as dotted line.
The Northern line has been placed at approximately between 51 Lower Gungate and Bell Corner. From the various historical reports we have found the Ditch may date to either King Aethelfaed’s or King Offa’s rule — that’s over a thousand years ago and well before the castle or church were built.
About us
The King’s Ditch was setup by Dave Barnfield, Ade Smith and Ged Fisher. Formerly a cycle shop, after renovation we opened for business on 27th November 2014. It was Ged’s dream from Christmas 2013 to open a micropub, having been to several in Kent, that September. The premises were found in June 14 and lease signed in October, it took 5 weeks to lay the floor, get the stillage, build the benches (with thanks to John Deeming), source tables and chairs, install the cooling system. Oh and get the Beers and Ciders.
We have a passion for real ale and cider, having been keen followers of the local football team, and Camra members, we have been in many pubs on away days and drunk many pints of good and not so good beers. We thought that we might be able to supplement the beers sold by other establishments in Tamworth. Our aim is to complement the two or three other pubs that sell real ales in the town by using different breweries and beers to the other pubs, the main aim is LocALE from small micropubs that produce a good standard of ales.
Dave decided early in 2015 that working behind the bar wasn’t for him, so he left the company, so Ade orders the beers, and Ged looks after the cider and other items. We jointly run the pub.
We’re just an 8 minute walk from the railway station. Head to the island from the station forecourt, follow the path to the right to the crossing, cross road and take the left path towards Domino’s Pizza, pass this building on your left and go up Albert Road. Pass the Albert Pub, until you come to the junction with the traffic lights. Turn left into Lower Gungate. We are 50 metres down on the right.
We look forward to welcoming you to The King’s Ditch soon! Go to the Blog for our latest news…
Well it goes back to the very origins of the name Tamworth, they add the worth bit in the name, meaning enclosure, Tamworth = enclosure by the River Tame.
