please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Small Nicholsons pubs - instant corporate feel - three or four real ales on - London Pride was added after I had been served. Brew York X Panda was in good condition.
Nothing to really make it stand out from other London Pubs.
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Met up in here for some beers and bite to eat before a cabaret show at Madam Jojo's down the road.
Nice little haven just up from Picadilly.
5 real ale pumps but only 4 on when I got there. Nice pint of Acorn from a brewery I can't remember, a couple of stronger beers from more small breweries, a good selection but started to run out about an hour after arriving.
Food is the standard Nicholson's pub fayre, I had the large fish and chips at around £13, fish was good but a miserly portion of chips for that money.
Would definitely revisit if in the area.
Dan65 - 22 Nov 2013 16:55 |
Came in here on a Tuesday afternoon after a meeting locally.
Nice looking Nicholson's pub but the 1st thing that greeted me was the smell of stale body odor, near to the bar but currently not working was a bar man, when he moved the smell moved with him! Not the most pleasant thing you want to smell as you enter a pub.
There was 5 pumps which were serving 4 beers then after 90 minutes when I left they only had 3 left on.
I had 3 pints of which the Mole, Mole Catcher was excellent the 2 pints of Pride of Pendle were very drinkable
Food smelt very good but portions looked small.
This is a very busy soho pub that despite the bad stench of BO is worth a visit.
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A Nicholsons pub near Soho. Usual kind of thing to expext now from a chain pub. Barmaid was friendly and I'd have to agree about the stairs to the toilets as mentioned by the previous poster. From around half a dozen hand pumps I tackled the Harviestoun Old Engine Oil porter at £3.90 which was a well kept pint. 6/10
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My first visit to this Pub.
Just a few minutes from Piccadilly Circus if you know where to go.
It was quiet mid afternoon when I called which was just what I wanted.
I found the Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted very drinkable and the Beef Stew delicious.
Some may not like the climb up the narrow Wooden Stairs to the Toilets.
I shall return.
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Excellent and friendly service. The ale selection was not fantastic but the food was really nice and well worth a vist if you like the old world feel of a pub in London.
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Full of tourists coming in for that real English experience with not an Englishman or Englishwoman in sight. A nice traditional pub however and the beer was good with an interesting range.
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Better beer slection than before. St. Austell's Tribute, Adnam's Lighthouse, Coach House Gunpowder Mild plus more regular brews Doombar and London Pride.
Like many pubs in the area there's a large turnover of customers and finding a place to sit just requires a little patience.
The clientele was quite a mix of ages, appearance and gender.
Still a bit gloomy, especially in the back of the pub.
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Visited here for the first time last week. Considering it's in the Camra Beer Guide I was a little disappointed with the ales. Only 2 available, Doombar and Sambrooks Wandle which I didn't particularly enjoy.
The pub was ok but dark- even at 4 in the afternoon. Unless you were close to the window or near a light it was not easy to read.
There's an open space in the middle of the pub and plenty of chairs and tables round the outside, in nooks and crannies.
Despite being in the heart of Soho it wasn't too busy and finding a seat wasn't much of a problem.
I went back about 3 hours later and it was a far busier with a mix of customers of varying ages and backgrounds. Some having a few after work others starting off for a night out.
The service was good even when the place was full.
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I made what is probably my second or third visit here over the last 10 years on Saturday. And on balance I found the pub to be as it I had always experienced it in the past. That is to say, perfectly acceptable and satisfactory.
Contrary to some previous comments, I find the Nicholsons chain to be one of the more reliable and worthy of London pub companies, as their outlets are traditionally-orientated without being too faux or branded; there is usually a range of good quality cask ales; consistently good pub food using good ingredients but nothing pretentious; and the service is normally efficient and friendly enough. All these things should be basic pre-requisites in our pubs, but sadly they are not - especially in the Capital.
Most of the above positives can be experienced at the Crown. It is not as capacious, or as atmosphere-driven, as some of its counterparts, and on my last visit the ale range was okay and the beers kept well, though nothing out of the ordinary was available. But it is perfectly serviceable, especially for a quick couple of drinks en route to other venues. I completely concur with earlier visitors in that it is a very mixed bag clientele-wise; even on a Saturday night one could find young and old, male and female, emanating from diverse social and economic classes and a mix of nationalities to boot. A good thing in principle, although the ebb and flow of so many disparate groups doesn't help to bind the punters together and can render things a little impersonal, despite the sometimes cramped conditions. It was odd because at some points the place was jam-packed, while at others almost clear. A steadier buzz would've been easier to negotiate.
There was also a slightly petty couple of incidents where the manager seemed obsessed with ensuring punters didn't move seats and stools around the bar area - one chap clearly was offended by this but happily nothing kicked off. Maybe the man had his reasons but it did seem something of an over-reaction especially when there was a bar of people needing to be served!
In sum I think people are correct in their assumption that this is the kind of place that is good and perhaps tries a little harder than many terminally-average London boozers. But in this location this isn't enough to make it stand out from its numerous nearby comeptitors, and make it a venue that is an obvious focus for an entire evening's drinking. It is a pub where people come and go quite happily, in between other pubs, bars, theatres, restaurants and so on.
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Really dark and gloomy out back, front bar better. 4 ales on and the Wolvers from Newmans was in fine fettle (others were Landlord, London Pride and one other guest). Staff seemed friendly enough and service. Punters were a strange mix of tourists, East End 'barra boys', and Sloany plummy types. Interesting place for people watching.
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Visited here yesterday (Early Evening) as part of the Nicholson "Dick Whittington" Ale Trail. Fairly Quiet but served a good pint of London Pride. Bar Staff were y helpful and but friendly. Typical Nicolson Fare, nice Tuna Melt Sanwich & Chips for �4.50 Although not much Melt!). Still worth a visit if in the Area.
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More than acceptable Soho boozer (of which there are many similar in the area) although the back room to the left of the bar is a bit of a cave. Very mixed crowd when I was in and had an amiable couple of pints with some (British) out of towners. Seems like the sort of place where spending an evening wouldn't be a big problem although not somewhere to really make a special effort for.
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Appearance-wise, a fairly typical central London pub. Smaller than most Nicholson's, but you always seem to get a decent pint here (unlike most of that chain's outlets which tend to disappoint). You usually seem to get a friendly selection of customers in too.
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ales are ok but a no atmosphere. better pubs in the area.
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I had to wait a while to be served as the lone barman was in the middle of a large order. Two more people came to the bar just before he finished and he still had to ask who was next, although he was very polite.
Pride, Landlord, Wainwright and Rev. James were all available along with a few standard lagers.
There are better pubs nearby, so I doubt I�ll ever return.
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Nice TT Landlord and food's OK too. Good place to get a window seat and peoplewatch.
bibbs - 28 Aug 2008 20:44 |
Came in here to get a stamp on the Ale Trail leaflet. Pride, Everards Sunchaser, Old Mill Summer Sunshine, Cains Bitter and also Landlord which was off. Had the Cains which was ok but I'm not sure about Cains beer. Street corner one bar pub, not sure if there was an upstairs.
OK as part of a crawl.
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I Visited this pub yesterday as PArt of the "SOHO & NOHO" Dick Whittington Pub Trail". Nice Quiet pub (when I was there late afternoon, background music and the usual selection of Ales served in a Nicholson Chain pub. Decent enough pint of London Pride.
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Changed a bit over the years,still serves a good selection of ales although not all in great condition.
I have been here and had fantastic beer and also very poor beer, shame its so hit and miss. If you are doing the Soho pub crawl its one to try and fingers crossed you will hit them on a good day
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Used to be particularly cheap in here but not so now. The inevitable crowds should not be taken as a sign of popularity, the location does most of the work for this place in getting people in - and the staff seem to treat most punters somewhat disdainfully. Just about acceptable if you're passing for a pint, but the rich array of fine Sam Smiths premises in the area offer far greater appeal.
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pleasant Nicholsons pub slightly away from soho crowds
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In agreement with the previous comment, I don't think this is anything more than an average smokey boozer. Ok for a quick stop on a crawl but would not recommend spending a whole evening here.
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After reading the rave reviews was sorely dissappointed. To me it's just an average boozer.
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This has to be the undiscovered gem of soho, not only is it well priced and unpretentious the eye candy isn't bad either! I have had many a top night in this pub, even when its quiet and that isn't often. Anyone know who the fit guy is behind the bar I think he is the manager? See you there!
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top boozer!. great atmosphere for footie games. nice relaxed upsairs room and comedy on thursday and saturdays. cheap as chips n'all!.
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Visited this pub the Saturday before Christmas and well worth the visit. Only London Pride on cask, but in very good condition. The pub is small but friendly. I actually went for the comedy night in the function room which was well worth the fiver entry. Where else in London can you see nine comedians for a fiver! The comedy nights take place every Saturday in a small informal setting, but arrive early if you want a seat. The pub has wooden floor boards and the staff are friendly and welcoming. Would have rated it 9 if I hadn't been asked to leave as soon as the comedy was over, even though I had half a pint left and it was only 11.10. Having said that, I was allowed to finish my drink, but the staff do seem over keen to clear the pub in record time.
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Foreign bar staff did not understand a word of my perfect English! Amazing....
Ollie Reed - 30 Aug 2004 16:43 |
