BITE user comments - raphaella
Comments by raphaella
Sorry to chip in chaps, byt maybe I can clarify a few points. As I understand it the landlord of the Crown is a tenant on a non-repairing lease; this means the owners are responsible for repairs and renovations. I have been told that he has been in dispute with the owners for a number of years about their failure to carry out their obligations and lawers are now involved. Notwithstanding this, significant improvements have been made to the interior, the pool table has gone and comfy chesterfields and chairs have taken its place to create a cosy area with magazines and toys which makes it an ideal space for families. The dining area had also ben painted and re-furbed and most of the upholstery has been updated.
As regards the cleanliness of the Crown, having been a dog owner in the past I valued pubs that welcomed dogs and children and I would willingly sacrifice a squeaky clean floor for the pleasure of having a good meal and a pint at the end of a dog walk without having to feel guilty for leaving the dog in the car! The rare pubs who do still welcome dogs and walkers must fight a continual battle with mud etc. There are plenty of pubs now who are adopting the 'gastro pub' role...and thankfully the Crown is not one of these, but remains, without any pretension, a proper country pub where everyone is welcomed.
22 Jan 2009 18:27
Paladin, I have never been away. Don't start all this foolishness again, please, you are just demeaning a site where GENUINE pub users can post their coments; that is, people who have possibly more interesting lives than to indulge in spiteful, personal and inaccurate reportage. Enough.
26 Nov 2008 18:03
With advance apologies to the POW for using their site to defend myself...sim,biker,leftfield,frosjadson et al, if you care to check back it was not me that dragged the POW into the Crown reviews. The POW was first mentioned in a 'knocking' review of the Crown, so please lets get our facts right and stop all this silly correspondence. Nothing that is being said at the moment is doing either us, or the pubs in question, any credit, and I think it is time to draw a line under this. I, for one, have better things to occupy my time than engaging any further in all this foolishness.
28 Aug 2008 16:54
simwilliam, leftfield, please don't accuse me of cowardice. I have been away on business for the past week but have been given to understand (by someone whose word I would trust completely) that even last night there was a blackboard plainly in view inside the POW indicating that the kitchens were closed and that the pub is closing shortly. I certainly haven't made any veiled accusations about hygene,etc, simply reported the facts as I understand them. Perhaps one of you can throw some light on the true situation as you both seem far better informed than I am.
28 Aug 2008 13:32
Admittedly I may have been as guilty as others posting on this site but I believe that the original purpose of it was to post favourable comments about pubs we like and not to use it as a knocking site and post sometimes cruel and personal remarks about personalities associated with the particular hostelry concerned. Yes, by all means lets have some fun, but why don't we try to keep it light and kind?
Moving on to the comments about the POW (The Prince of Wales) for those not as familiar with Westcott as
simwlliams, I may be wrong, but I heard that the kitchens had been closed recently and that the pub is due for closure shortly anyway. Perhaps simwilliams who seems to have in depth knowledge of the POW can clarify this on the POW site? Remember, if you can't say anything nice...
26 Aug 2008 13:01
gutzeit, I believe you are unmasked! I always suspected we had similar tastes, good to know that you appreciate the Crown as much as I do. Hope to see you soon over a good lunch there in the near future.
21 Aug 2008 21:03
Raphaella here, certainly not me deleting comments, what a pity as an interesting dialogue was progressing on several levels.� Does anyone know an IT wizard who could have done it?� I also didn't read any derogatory comments about the Crown this afternoon so I wouldn't think they had reason to delete anything, and I have always understood that this pub is not linked to the internet!
1 Aug 2008 17:42
Village pubs used to fall into two categories; the first - where as you entered all conversation ceased and sixteen pairs of unfriendly eyes surveyed you, and the second - where a jocular landlord greeted you with a ready smile and the locals were friendly. Happily the Crown Inn falls into the second category. The slightly scruffy exterior belies the confortable interior which is being updated as I write. Plenty of tables and chairs, quiet corners, a log burner in winter and a delightful cottage garden to enjoy in summer. The heart of the pub is the host, Paul Davies, who can (and frequently does) converse intelligently on most subjects under the sun. All opinions are welcomed and this can lead to some lively debates from which no-one is excluded! Add to this well kept beer, a good selection of wines and excellent pub food which arrives promptly and in more than generous portions (no nouvelle cuisine here!). Well behaved children and dogs (although not necessarily in that order) are welcomed and you will leave the Crown refreshed,relaxed and replete.
27 Jul 2008 09:38
Crown Inn, Westcott
I am ashamed for the other residents of Westcott who seem to have nothing better to do with their smallminded petty lives than to continue their nasty minded campaign against the Davies family, even after they have shaken the shabby dust of Westcott from their shoes. They are well rid of the village and the majority of the inhabitants and it will be interesting to see just what replaces The Crown. Probably another plastic imitation to replace one of the last truly traditional English pubs, perhaps exactly what the spiteful villagers deserve. I doubt that Wetherspoons will be quick to welcome muddy dogs and foul mouthed drinkers! How quickly people forget that Paul was a good friend to many of us over the years; he will be a hard act to follow. I am sure there are a handfull of decent folk left in the village who will join me in wishing Paul, Charlie, Lewis and their families well in the future.
27 Sep 2011 22:54