Kings Corner Public House in Jenkintown Serves up Soccer, English Menu Favorites and Microbrews

Soccer fans are many things…dedicated, passionate, enthusiastic… and hungry! When Zac Hulayev, a soccer enthusiast and current owner of the Drake Tavern, acted on his desire to open his second restaurant in Jenkintown, he reached back into his childhood memories for inspiration.  An avid soccer fan, Hulayev visited soccer clubs with his father and fondly recalled the experience---watching soccer and enjoying the traditional English and Scottish dishes of his favorite teams. These fond memories were the inspiration behind his newest restaurant - King’s Corner Public House, an English Soccer Pub located in Jenkintown, PA. The newly renovated pub caters to soccer fans who want to catch a game on the screen, those who enjoy English comfort foods, beer lovers and anyone who enjoys a night out in a quaint, cozy setting.  

A Menu that Scores!

The restaurant’s menu contains a vast selection of traditional British pub favorites, which includes fish and chips---a house specialty--- bangers, shepherd’s pie and lamb stew. Hulayev, who is responsible for many of the recipes, has ramped up the selection with innovative dishes such as rabbit stew and venison. Each month, menu highlights are added that reflect a different ethnic cuisine, season or holiday. For example, May will feature Mexican specialties to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

In addition to a full bar, King’s Corner offers 12 draft beers and 80 bottled beers from around the world. Daily Happy Hour specials, slated between 4pm – 6 pm, offer up $5 specials on burgers and sandwiches. Homemade desserts, such as butterscotch toffee pudding, top off a Kings Corner’s delectable menu.

 An Attention-Grabbing Transformation

Kings Corner is located on 603 Summit Avenue in Jenkintown, just off Old York Road. The building was once an Italian specialty shop, which later became Archie’s Tavern, a mainstay for locals for over 30 years.

  In September 2012, the former tavern opened its doors as Kings Corner following an extensive restoration which yielded many architectural surprises. Hulayev and his team peeled away the drop ceiling, removed the dated paneling and stripped the floors to reveal a tin ceiling, exposed stone walls and ceramic tiles. “All I could say was, ‘wow,’ the building has so much character,” recalls Hulayev.

 With such great bones to work with the crew was eager to design the dining room, which seats 50, and the bar, which can accommodate 20, in a way which pays tribute to the former nostalgia of the building in its heyday.  In addition, large screen televisions were installed to ensure that soccer is always being streamed. During the warmer months, outdoor seating will be added. Plans for live entertainment are one the horizon.

 ”Kings Corner has had a tremendous start. When we made the decision to open the Drake Tavern here in 2004, I strongly believed this area had the potential to become a destination town. By now, with my second restaurant now thriving, I know it to be the case. I am very excited about Jenkintown’s future,” noted Hulayev, who owns the restaurant along with his business partner Bobby Makris (whose family is responsible for the success of KitchenBar in Abington).

To paraphrase the restaurant’s tagline; “Ye cometh hungry, ye cometh thirsty, ye cometh primed for soccer, ye will have a great time.”  

About King’s Corner

King’s Corner is located at 603 Summit Avenue, Jenkintown, PA 19046. Hours are: 11 am- 2 am daily, and it opens for brunch at 10 am on weekends.  The restaurant accepts all credit cards. To view the menu or for more information, go to www.kingscornerpub.com or call 215-758-2402.