please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Good Beer Guide Entry - so I suppose I was a little underwhelmed that my Hogsback Tea was slightly metallic and near frothless once a third had been consumed.
Pub was my sort of place (apart from the flags). Old School, plenty of distractions - not least a library of GBG Books.
Would give it the benefit of the doubt and be prepared to try again.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2nvKsbG
|
Quaint pub. A good selection of ales but no cooked food and poor quality toilets. 10-15 minutes' walk from station.
|
usually four beers on tap - I tried one from Ascot and one from Hammerpot. OK but nothing special. Local trade and a lacking in something! Bar billiards; juke box;rear outdoor area quiz machine;beams (but no brasses);whitewashed walls which could do with a few pictures etc. It is always worth popping in to see what beers are on but I never stay longer than one pint.
|
Small old Pub which smelt a bit Musty. Had a Pint of Twyford Tipple, which unfortunates was not to my friends or my taste as it was a bit sweet, still we managed to down it. Also available was Clifton Ale, Waterloo & Doombar. Juke Box and Bar Billiards available. Seems to be a locals Bar.Sadly this Pub was not for us and will not be returning
|
First class. Been here a couple of times. Once for a works do and once to play darts for the afternoon. A proper pub with great service and nice clientele. Bar billiards also available. Will have to dock one point though for not catching any sight of the eye candy
|
Went in last Friday night to show a friend the delights of Wokingham's Real Ale scene. He was not disappointed. Mick's still doing a great job with this place. There was a West Berkshire seasonal ale on.
|
Again a good selection of beers (3-4) often from local and/or micro brewers. I had Red Hunter from Hammerpot Brewery. They have installed a bar billiard table which is a novelty although I'm not sure about the position (it could cause a traffic jam on busy nights). I always visit The Crispin when in Wokingham and I am usually never disappointed.
|
Went in again last Friday night. Mick's now got some nice eye-candy behind the bar and she's friendly too. She even offered to bring over our pints while she cleared up the glasses. Now that's what I call service with a smile! Tried the Tring - Colley's Dog and Tring - Percy's Toppler on my visit.
|
Mick still doing a good job in this place. Always busy on a Friday night and in no small part because of the ever changing range of Real Ale. On Friday night had a very good pint of Binghams - Twyford Tippe and Hammerpot - Shepherd's Warmer. The Itchen Valley - Fagins was okay.
|
despite the good reviews from east berks camra ive had some shocking pints in the crispin in the last month
|
Well kept beers, great price for a pint. Very friendly staff who taught me how to play "aunt Sally" will definitely be going back.
|
I can't believe this only has 6 stars. Clearly suffering from averages over old reviews. Since this pub was taken over last year it has improved enormously! The beer is really great, the garden has been improved. It's won 2 CAMRA awards (2nd place in SE Berkshire Pub of the Year and a "Proper Community Pub" Award. Great Staff and atmostphere. In reality I would give it a 9.5 because the loos could do with an update, but I'm bumping it up to 10 because I think the average of 6.4 is really unfair
|
Pub changed hands since I was last in (bad expereince then), so thought I would give it another go recently as seen it given an award by CAMRA. Staff were preparing for an "Aunt Sally" pub competition out the back and were extremely friendly. Pint of ale was up there as one of the best I've had in Wokingham. Went back this week and had a Forbury Lion and again really good flavour and it tasted like it had been well kept. If you want a good beer served by friendly staff in Wokingham, then this is the place to try first.
|
Went there on a Saturday night on the off chance and pleasantly surprised. A warm welcome from the landlord and a fine selection of real ales was just what I needed. We settled in to enjoy the evening and found the pub to have a good crowd of people and no undesirables! Recommended.
|
New Landlord, Mick, is doing a great job to turn this place around. He's trying to keep 6 beers on the go, 4 on handpump and 2 direct from the barrel under the bar!
I saw a notice inside that says you can bring in your own take-away food to eat in the pub so I guess the kitchen's out of order.
The internal decor could do with livening up a bit, it's looking a bit too well worn.
Still a good pub for beer and conversation.
|
The old landlord has gone back to the Jolly Anglers in Reading. The problem he had in the Crispin was due to that ghastly woman he was involved with, but now they've split hopefully he'll do a good job in the Jolly. Meanwhile, the new landlord of the Crispin is trying hard to win back all the old regulars the evil witch threw out, and he deserves all the support he can get.
|
Recently taken over and a marked improvement in the quality of the beer, cleanliness and approach to customer care. Beer is well kept and the lines cleaned regularly. Choice of 3 ales which is plenty (Old Peculiar, Hulabaloo and 6X last night). The place feels a lot cleaner despite the bear sized (friendly) dog. Also there�s now a quiz machine if that�s your thing and the place has a genuinely good feel to it again.
|
The landlord and landlady have now left and returned, allegedly, to the Jolly Anglers in Reading. A new manager takes over today, so let's see if things improve. Less beers so those that are on are in good condition, less arguing, and better attitude to customers will all be a good start!
|
used the crispin for more than 20 years.new landlord,very rude,kicked out all of the regulars,we cant wait for him to leave as he has ruined a very good wokingham watering hole.the pub owners will see a lot more custom if he was not there.
|
Went to this pub a few times... To be honest the staff are great but the landlord and landlady are openly at war with eachother. Get the feeling it's a real us and them situation there... If in Wokingham and fancy a real ale, walk past and get on the train to Reading - loads of nice pubs where customer service and beer quality come first. Won't be going back!
|
Lovely pub, lovely locals.... those left.... and great potential, howver the landlord (not popular with the customers) does not clean pipes when changing beers and has not to my knowledge cleaned the lager/cider pumps in over a month, out of date beer which is allowed to go off on the still until foced to take it off the poor man and woman have no knowledge of customer care or good business Pub will be great if taken over by a good landlord
|
Drank some beer here with a notable vinegar odour & taste, was told that the locals enjoyed it but that was probably when there was alcohol in it. The barman used that as an opportunity not to refill my glass from one of the other handpumps - the conversation went downhill from then on, not pleasant. A shame as it looked a nice pub. I walked out.
|
As well as Loddon Hoppit and the Ascot beer, there is also Exmoor Fox which I sampled yesterday. Pub seemed clean enough to me and the beer was good. Maybe on the scruffy side and perhaps a bit old-fashioned but that is quite an attraction for me. I don't go there so often but will certainly go again: if you like a friendly welcome and good beer this is one to try, how often does a landlord offer a taste of a beer even AFTER you just bought something else!
|
sorry metrology_man, you must have been in the wrong pub. It is now dirty, smelly and lost a lot of regulars. Garden has dog pooh in it, not very enticing when they are now doing food. This is a pub on the way out....
|
Now under new management, the new licensee previously being at the Jolly Anglers in Reading. The Bombardier has gone, but Loddon Hoppit and Ascot Alligator are in! The beer festival over the Bank Holiday weekend was well run with a good selection of beers. We ate there for the first time too, and the food was good and excellent value. A pub on the up!
|
Great to see the new(ish) licensee has got this place back to its best, selling three goood quality ales in a cosy (and now clean!) pub. It's a freehouse, so the locals get to choose what beers they want to drink on the "coming up" blackboard.
I can now happily go back to thoroughly recommending it.
|
Much improved from a few years' back. Better quality beers with only 3 on. Beer festival last weekend excellent - good value and quality including some different beers for the area. Worth a try.
|
fantastic pub, jane and nick are spot on, very welcoming! this pub caters for everyone. staff are friendly and helpful. real ale is probebly the best in wokingham and changes regular. loads of friendly locals, great great pub
|
This is a brilliant pub with a pleasant welcome from the staff and plenty of atmosphere and good ale. The brasswork was gleaming and everything neat and tidy, which shows the management care a lot about their pub. When we visited, both the bar and the garden were full of people having a good time. As well as inside there is also a television in the garden gazebo making this a welcome place to sit for all. I also understand that lunchtime snacks will soon be available. Will definitely be going there again.
|
What a wonderfull traditional old pub. Excellent selection of real ales. Great atmosphere. Has a wonderful garden with fish in the pond. New manager has recently gone in and has obviously spent a lot of time and energy on the place. Starting a lunchtime menu September.
Will definatley be going back and hope the food is as good as the pub.
anonymous - 1 Sep 2007 14:53 |
Beer quality on the slide, 2 of the 3 rugby themed beers on today were minging and have had a number of ropey ales in here over the past few weeks.
Get a grip!
|
***NEWS UPDATE***
The seats have been fixed as of last Friday! Hoorah!
|
Last time I went to this pub I walked out. Not pissed, just pissed off. I couldn't believe the attitude of 'Steve' the young owner. What a pumped up, rude dickhead. Had to call in again to kill a few moments and what a pleasure to walk in. Seats still needed fixing but what a breath of fresh air the new owners are. Just young but know what they are doing. Customers might come back now.
anonymous - 16 Sep 2006 22:18 |
lovely pub and nice friendly staff and locals!! The landlady and landlord are superb and really add to the great atmosphere of the pub. This pub is certainly one of the best that i have been to thanks for an ace night guys!!!
anonymous - 5 Sep 2006 10:59 |
Still doing a good job on the Real Ale guest beer, but the place desperately needs a good clean and new seat covers. Being some sort of 250 year old pub doesn't stop you from updating the basic decor occasionally. Like once every 20 years.
|
Definately a locals pub, friendly staff and a general nice atmosphere. Lacks young people to make it a good night out, full of old duffers but not bad non the less.
|
In anticipation, I tried The Crispin this month when I heard there had been a management change and I was looking for a good venue to take my friends for an evening in W'ham. Alas, on the day of my visit there was no special beer, everything looked worn out and shabby. A nice fire, but the seating was so scruffy, you didn't feel like parking your backside on it. Not a lot of interest from behind the bar. Really disappointing.... someone needs to spend some money to lick it into shape. We went to The Broad Street Tavern instead.
|
Really nice small pub with friendly staff and regulars.
Superb selection of ales. Regulrly have unusual beers from lesser known breweries. They also had (not sure if its still there) a request board where you can suggest specific beers and they will try to get hold of them for you.
Added bonus is thet this is one of the few pubs left in Wokingham with a Dart board
|
Nice pub with guest ale, though let down by poor staffing; when I went in just before Christmas some drunk started stripping the tree and throwing it into the fire. Staff reaction? Nothing. Time to move on.
|
Strikes me as a friendly locals' pub (really locals pubs are always divided into two factions, the friendly and the 'you ain't from round these parts'). Slightly different range of ales from many pubs, though some to be seasonal.
Will2 - 31 Dec 2005 17:17 |
Nice atmosphere. Has a good range of ales and is recommended by Camra.. Suggest you take a look at the books as well..
|
Tatty, ramshackled and superb, good choice of beer, well kept beer, a real pub for people, basic, almost "spit n sawdust" a local pub where they know each others names.
I liked it, I'll be back
|
Good real ales. Friendly also.
Conveniently next to Curry take away and a restaurant.
Worth a visit.
Nice pub in a sad town.
|
Great cosy pub - very welcoming and superb choice of ale and wine.
...I'll be back!
Joy Shepherd - 5 Oct 2004 12:20 |
They played Guns And Roses for us on the stereo when we were there.
Hugh - 26 Nov 2003 14:56 |
Claims to be the oldest pub in Wokingham. Can't think of an older one, so I guess it could be.
Nice boozer, they have proper fires in the winter so worth a visit on a cold December evening.
Tom Foolery - 8 Oct 2003 13:57 |
I've been in this pub a couple of times recently after reading the comments on this site and have been pleasantly surprised. The beer range changes on a regular basis and the quality is good. The place feels like a proper local and would appear to be a free house ?
Food (lunch times only) is good value ...
The shady garden is a bonus.
Monty - 13 Aug 2003 12:10 |
Small, but really nice pub serving a good choice of real ale. Good beer garden (in fact the garden's bigger than the pub!!)
mike - 1 May 2003 07:48 |
