The Crown Hotel, Chertsey

My company has an office in Chertsey (no, really), so I do occasionally visit from London, and I've been in here a few times.

It's a lovely looking place, and currently very nicely turned out.

I ate and drank here - the food was very good (Lamb Shanks, Grilled Fish & Chips), although about �5 too much per dish. This isn't Central London.

We drank both Young's Ordinary, and Doombar. They were both OK - I've had a better Doombar, but maybe it doesn't turnover very fast there. The beer was more expensive than a place in Greenwich a few nights later, though. This isn't Central London! (I'll get off the hobby horse now).

It was warm and comfortable, and the staff were pleasant and helpful. What they weren't, though, was particularly quick in serving. On a quiet Tuesday night with 1 person in front of me, I was a bit disappointed about the times it took to get served. It seemed very much like some of them were new, though.

Overall, it was all right - I wouldn't want to be there on a crowded night though. You'd give up after 15 minutes and go home thirsty.

Only one of the toilet cubicle doors closes in the men's, by the way, if the landlord is reading...

23 Oct 2010 16:31

Richard I, Greenwich

Took a Canadian friend in here on Thursday night. I have been going to the Richard on and off for about 13 years, and I think it's been getting (gently) better all this time. The only thing I don't really like is the carpets - who puts carpets in a pub?

Anyway, we had 2 very nice pints of Special in a very uncrowded pub. It was pretty expensive, sadly, which might explain the uncrowded feeling. But the place was clean, no banging music (which is always a bonus), and the toilets are a lot better than they have been in the past. They'd run out of handsoap a good while ago, though (the container had been broken) which isn't a strong sign that anyone's taking much care.

The food menu looked very Youngs, and very nice - nobody was eating though, and it was dinner time. I wondered why.

Overall, a lovely atmosphere, a lovely looking pub, pleasant helpful young staff (although that can change at the drop of a hat of course). And the beer's expensive (but it's Greenwich), and the toilets aren't monitored properly.

Toilets are really important to older punters, and because this place is quieter and food oriented these days, it'd be worth checking them every hour or so.

Still manages a 7 though, for being so pretty :)

23 Oct 2010 16:23

The Crown, Blackheath

I went in here a week ago - a strange first impression caused by the whole place reeking of urine! We walked about trying to find somewhere that didn't stink, but everywhere was bad. It was quite surprising to see 30-odd people in the place given the smell, and on a Tuesday night. But it was snowing, so we stayed for a drink...

I had a pint of Adnams Broadside. It tasted revolting to me, but I was told by the landlord that it was exactly right, and he asked me if I'd ever had any before. As he wouldn't replace it, I left 9/10 of a pint, and we moved on to Zero Degrees, where they (always) let you taste the beers first, and it doesn't smell like a urinal.

A bit of a sad outcome, but the Crown is reliably disappointing for me. I can understand not wanting to replace beer on a rammed Friday or Saturday evening, but on a quiet Tuesday, when it's snowing outside, it was enough to remind me why I've only been there long enough to order a drink 4 times in 6 years.

3 Nov 2008 13:54