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Cambridge PuG Crawl, Friday 5th April 2024 with Gann on the Pub Forum

The Crown, Oxford

59A Cornmarket Street
Oxford
OX1 3HB

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Pub Type

Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)
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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The Crown

A bit of a contradiction in terms, but this is a bog-standard historic pub in an alleyway from Nicholsons, totally pitched at the tourist market yet without any at time of visit. There are some nice historic features but it feels a bit over the top yet slightly unloved. The yard outside is wedged with too many tables, which doesn't help. Ales seemed in fair condition but were not hugely exciting: Adnams Bitter and Ghost Ship, Rev James, Doom Bar and the St Austell house bitter.

On 20th October 2022 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blackthorn _ left this review about The Crown

A Nicholson’s pub set back from the road in an alleyway leading down to a pleasant courtyard, it certainly looks quite enticing and is the sort of place you can’t resist wandering in to in order to explore further.

Internally it’s got quite a traditional feel with plenty of black beams on a white plastered ceiling, as well as white plasterwork on the walls and dark wood panelling on the lower part of the walls. Flooring was a mixture of wood strip and some old flagstones at the rear, with large windows giving views out on to the courtyard. Some glass panelling was etched with the Nicholson’s logo, and a number of old black and white pictures of the locale were on the walls. A chalkboard on the wall advertised a number of forthcoming events, including a Lego evening which is one that I’ve not seen before.

Beers on tap were their own Nicholson’s Pale Ale, Adnam’s Ghost Ship, Brakspear Oxford Gold, Oakham Scarlet Macaw, Siren Sound Wave, Black Sheep and Doom Bar. Ciders on tap meanwhile were Mortimer’s Orchard Original and English Berry varieties, as well as Old Rosie and Rosie’s Pig racked up on boxes behind the bar.

On 16th November 2018 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1937 recommendations about 1850 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Crown

As others have said, this place bears an uncanny resemblance to the Chequers up the road. Fairly typical in its Nicholson's format though much better maintained than my last visit at least 15 years ago. Given the number of tourists milling around the locale, it was surprisingly quiet.
Worth a visit for curiosity value, but as this is a central Oxford pub, it's a magnet for both tourists and students alike.

On 5th September 2016 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1955 recommendations about 1922 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about The Crown

A good solid Nicholson chain establishment that, despite being on the busy Cornmarket Street, was not overrun with tourists. probably due to its location at the bottom of a courtyard entrance.
Internally plenty of the usual dark wood décor familiar with Nicholson’s establishments with wooden floors , tables and chairs and low dark beamed ceilings.
But it also benefits from having a very pleasant outside seating area in the courtyard area to the front.
It was the last pub of the day for me so although I can’t remember the details I remember that the beers available were fairly mainstream offerings from the Nicholson list but I do remember also going for the Red Squirrel Hopfest Pale which was a good way to finish the day.

On 15th August 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Real Ale Ray left this review about The Crown

A lot smaller in comparison to the Chequers, but still very similar in style and layout. In fact by coincidence, I went for a repeat of the same beer Red Squirrel Hopfest. The bar faces you as enter with a choice of six ales on this visit. The wallpapered seating area to the left looked very inviting, but being a hot day we opted for the outside. There was a raised decking area outside, which was already full with customers, so we finished here with some pleasant vertical drinking in the sun.

On 31st July 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about The Crown

Mr Fastard below has just about covered our visit here,I was rather amazed at the similarity to the Chequers upon entering the courtyard and had to do a double take.A rather standard and safe beer selection but the Red Squirrel Hopfest Pale was good.Nice pub.

On 25th July 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Crown

Very reminscent of the nearby Chequers but just in mirror image ,a courtyard pub off the main shopping street and easily missed if you are not paying attention.On entering there is a raised section to the left,bar straight ahead,and a lounge feel to the right with some flatscreens dotted ,BBC 24 News being shown with sub titles.Live music on some Friday nights,this Nicholsons has 7 handpumps serving on my trip Brakspears Oxford Gold,Hobgoblin,Nicholson Pale Ale,Purity Mad Goose (coming soon,aaagh),Doom Bar,St Austell Cornish Best and a decent Red Squirrel Hopfest Pale.
I liked it ,not rammed with tourists and worth including on a real ale crawl.

On 23rd July 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


john mcgraw left this review about The Crown

A Nicholsons pub that is down an alley which leads to a courtyard for outside seating. The pub is long and narrow with a smaller seating area at one end. There were six real ales on with the Taylor Landlord being below form.

On 1st April 2015 - rating: 5
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Smith left this review about The Crown

Hidden away down an alley next to McDonalds. Inside is long and narrow. A Nicholsons pub so the usual focus on food. It does have a good selection of real ales (usually 6 or 7 available) and as well as the house Nicholsons Pale Ale and the likes of Doom Bar, normally has 2 or 3 more unusual ales to choose from. Service can be slow at times as the staff concentrate on food and hot drinks for the tourists. Overall though a comfortable pub. Nice large patio outside.

On 1st August 2014 - rating: 7
[User has posted 47 recommendations about 44 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Oggwyn Great left this review about The Crown

Pub is pretty well as described in previous review , long and narrow with lots of dark wood and beams , there is a large outside seating area .
A decent choice of ales on , i had Oxfordshire Pride of Oxford and Vale Black Beauty both pretty good .
Service depended on who served you , the barmaid was exellent but the barman was slow and clueless .
Worth a visit as part of a crawl

On 9th June 2013 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]

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