Ploughman’s lunch at The King Charles House, reviewed
Location –
The King Charles House,
29 New Street,
Worcester.
WR1 2DP
Tel: 01905 726 100
Website – www.thekingcharleshouse.co.uk
Date of Visit – 28/05/2026
Notes on the visit:
A couple of days in Malvern afforded the opportunity for a quick trip into Worcester. I have wanted to explore the city for many years, but when I finally got the chance, I was hampered by a rather troublesome leg. The cathedral will have to wait for another visit, but I did get my priorities right and enjoyed a Ploughman’s lunch in this amazing ancient building. We also found time to nip into Greyfriars House and Garden, which was well worth a visit.
The Food
0 – Pickled onion. Erm… ah. This is a shame, because it was actually a jolly good Ploughman’s lunch. Keep reading…
7 – Pickle. Standard Ploughman’s pickle, possibly Branston. Certainly pleasant, and about the right quantity.
15 – Cheese & Ham: (Yes, 15 out of 10 – quality and quantity).
Ham.
Now, before we get into the cheeses, you may notice that there is not just ham on the board. No, there is also a sizeable chunk of very nice pork pie and a spectacular home-cooked Scotch egg. More on those presently.
The ham was good. Very good indeed. I have had a few hams lately that were in a league of their own, although not on a Ploughman’s lunch, rather purchased directly from a butcher. Even so, this ham did not disappoint.
Cheese
I often go on about a Ploughman’s lunch being an opportunity to consume an excessive amount of cheese. Well, here it is!
Even without the assorted meaty accompaniments, the quantity of cheese would have been ample. With them, it became a rather substantial lunch indeed.
Time to admit a cheat and an error.
First, the cheat. I am not a fan of blue cheese. Thankfully, I had my blue cheese tester with me in the form of Little Piece of Wonder who rated the cheese as very good indeed.
Second, the error. I forgot to make a note of what the cheeses actually were! I may just have to contact the pub to find out…
That said, both cheeses were enjoyable. The blue cheese was certainly popular with its intended audience, while the hard cheese was mature, creamy, and crumbly enough to be interesting, yet still held together well. A very pleasing combination.
9 – Bread: Now this was different – lightly toasted sourdough with garlic butter!
The bread was good. Sourdough can sometimes be a bit “worthy” – lots of holes and a tooth-testing crust. This was not. It was reasonably dense, with a nice crumb and good texture. It had bite, but was still quite light.
The crust was reasonably soft, with that little hint of acidity that hallmarks a good sourdough.
4 – Spread Garlic Butter. Already applied to the bread. Original, and worked.
5 – Presentation: A classic presentation of a Ploughman’s on a board. Yes, it looked good and inviting.
4 – Salad, etc. A little light on the fruit and vegetable matter. That might not have been such an issue had there been some traditional pickles knocking about.
Sometimes a bit of sweetness and acidity from pickles, fruit, and foliage is required to balance the richness of the cheeses and meats, especially on a showboat like this!
5 – Originality.
Three meats, all very good, lots and lots of lovely cheese, plus garlic-buttered bread.
As mentioned above, besides the ham there was a very generous portion of lovely pork pie. However, there was also a show-stopping half Scotch egg. Homemade, it was one of the best Scotch eggs I have had.
Bravo!
Food Total: 49
Beverages
10 – Drinks: An outstanding choice of drinks. Whilst I opted for a bitter shandy, the bar largely spoke for itself.
I also observed others enjoying tea and coffee, so there appeared to be something for everyone.
Drinks Total: 10
The Venue
10 – Service: The service was excellent. It was beginning to get a little busy in the bar, so the first floor was opened up, providing additional seating.
The Ploughman’s did take a little time to arrive, but this was clearly stated on the menu. Everything was in good order, and there were no issues with the service.
9 – Atmosphere: What an amazing building.
To be able to sit in such ancient magnificence, in a place where people have been doing the same for hundreds of years, was quite something.
Whilst it is a city-centre pub, it felt calm and welcoming; a place where people could relax, have a chat and a drink, and enjoy a meal. It definitely had the feel of being the “local” for a regular crowd, an important function of a pub, and one that is sadly overlooked at times.
If you find yourself in Worcester, do drop in, even if it’s only for a half.
5 – Location: Right in the historic city centre, yet an oasis of calm.
5 – Toilets: In good order. Very good order for an urban pub.
Venue total: 29
Total Score: 88
Footnotes:
What an absolute belter of a Ploughman’s lunch!
A score of 88, despite the absence of a pickled onion or other balancing accompaniment. Add a pickle, and the top spot is firmly in sight.
It is also worth noting that this represented excellent value for money. There was a lot of food on that board, and it was all of a good standard.
If you are ever in Worcester, make a point of visiting. Even if you only stop in for a half, this historic pub deserves your attention.
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