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Beer of the Week (w/e 28th April 2024) with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
Crown & Sceptre, SW2
SW2
SW2 4AH
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about Crown & Sceptre
I had to put my glass half full, smiley face in adversity to get this venue to a rating of 3. All hail to the oracle that is Tim Martin in abandoning this site presumably based on anything that is half decent drinking choices. No beer on hand pump. Plenty of tap choices (in fact more bland lager choices than you will surely see in almost any venue in Christendom). Full range of Camden choices but I was so depressed on walking in the door that I asked for a glass of red wine (almost didn’t care what the choice was) only to be told, a bit casino like, you bet all in on red to find that it came up black (substitute that here for white). Can you be pleased with a glass of white wine for £5.50 that would have even undercut Sir Tim? OK am on my way somewhere else.
On 11th March 2024
- rating: 3
[User has posted 117 recommendations about 117 pubs]
Pub SignMan left this review about Crown & Sceptre
Large landmark pub at the top of Brixton Hill, which until relatively recently, was a branch of the Wetherspoons chain, and retains a lot of their distinctive fixtures and fittings. The pub is carpeted throughout and comprises a large, mostly open-plan room which is only divided in any real sense by a couple of large, centrally positioned sections of partitioning wall. The bar runs along the rear of the room and has a distressed-effect dark wood counter front with a matching canopy and rather dull bar back. The same faux-scuffed panels can be found around much of the interior, with anaglypta uppers and seating is provided in great abundance, with high tables and chairs near the entrance and bar, banquettes over to the left in a pleasant, raised seating area, and basic tables and chairs through the centre and to the right. One of the partitioning walls has some beautiful etched glass panes in situ, perhaps from the pub’s pre-Wetherspoons days, and there’s a small, decorative fireplace on the right side, but aside from these features, there’s not much of a traditional pub feel to the place and it does still resemble your average South London ‘Spoons. Walls have been decorated with old paintings, a few contemporary images and at least one bright, vibrant piece of modern art, so a decent mix all in all, but no stylistic theme to speak of. Several TV screens were showing live sport – football in the centre of the room and rugby elsewhere – with the commentary for the latter audible to anyone sat in the right-hand side of the room. The TV here is hung above a nice old bookcase which also houses a collection of board games. The room runs back a short way to the right of the bar and this space, which benefits from some large windows on two sides, has been partially filled with a pool table.
Not much of a ‘Spoons vibe at the bar sadly, with five handpulls mustering two turned clips, two unclipped pumps and a lone ale in the shape of Morland Old Speckled Hen. I forgot to note the price, but I don’t think it was particularly excessive and the clientele looked like the same middle-aged bunch of blokes I’d expect to see in a ‘Spoons on a typical mid-afternoon visit. The beer wasn’t exactly in great shape, but was definitely still drinkable, whilst the barmaid was friendlier than you get in your average ‘Spoons.
Not too much to get excited about in this place, which appears to have made next to no changes since the new owners took over, making it feel like a typical ‘Spoons visit, minus the good beer. In a way, I quite enjoyed the pub and was happy sat here watching the rugby and generally passing time with all the codgers, but there are plenty of better pubs up the road in Brixton and I can’t see me making a return.
On 12th September 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Crown & Sceptre (JD Wetherspoon)
As noted below, this was originally a large Truman's pub. There are plenty of fine exterior features from its Truman days.
The interior is fairly typical Spoons, carpeted with a few raised areas. Unusually, there appeared to be a car park at the back, but whether the small patio at the front overlooking the chaotic A23 can be described as a "garden" is debateable.
There are two banks of five pumps and on my visit none of these were wasted. There were the two mandatory GK beers, a cider, two Sambrooks (Wandle and Pumphouse Pale), Marston's Old Empire, Exe Valley Autumn Glory, Yeovil Ruby and Orkney Wayfarer.
I arrived here far earlier than planned at around 09:30 and despite this the pint I had of Yeovil Ruby was in outstanding condition at £2.15.
Wetherspoons opened it in September 1990 making it one of their older houses. It is listed in the 2014 GBG. This is one of the best Spoons I have been to this year and I will try and return here for the October Festival.
On 7th September 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Crown & Sceptre (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a fairly decent ‘spoons, which had on half a dozen ales, all at £2.35 a pint. Less usually for a ‘spoons, this one is housed in a large corner site building that has clearly always been a pub. Walking up to it you wouldn’t identify it immediately as a Wetherspoons as a lot of the original signage – Truman’s, Burton Ales, etc, - remains in place, with the Wetherspoons branding relatively unobtrusive.
Inside it’s completely opened up of course, although some panelling and the like has been inserted to break up the large space and introduce some more discrete drinking and dining areas. The usual ‘spoons type furnishings and typical customer base were all present. But it was clean tidy when I was in at around 12.30 PM on Monday. In short it’s a fairly typical, or perhaps slightly above average, ‘spoons, but that can be a welcome sight when looking for something decent to drink in an otherwise real ale wasteland.
On 21st February 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Crown & Sceptre (JD Wetherspoon)
Large Wetherspoon's pub at the top of Brixton Hill. Plenty of space to move around and a good selection of real ales to choose from
On 22nd January 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]