The Crown Inn, Lechlade

The same as Steve - potential to be so much better, but no sign of Halfpenny Brewery ales or indeed anything local, with a three ale palette of Sharp's Doom Bar, Butcombe Bitter and Sharp's Juniper Rising along with a small clutch of colourful locals. There are exposed, original wood beams and exposed stone walls, bare-boarded floor with fireplaces at either end. The smallish bar is right of centre against the rear wall. A small staircase to the far left leads to.a hidden games room. Three dogs prowled the premises occasionally engaging in a fight. Someone with a bit of drive could turn this into a destination venue - it's well away from that in this current incarnation.

This twin-roomed, wooden-floored brewpub with its secluded beer garden should be a must visit destination for the Ale lover when in Lechlade. Unfortunately for our visit it was a major disappointment. Firstly there were only a couple of beers on the go and nothing I could see from the Halfpenny Brewery and the one non-standard pump that was in operation had a hand written clip that I couldn’t read. And then secondly on entering we were immediately knocked back by overly loud music being played in the front bar and a few locals, who had clearly decided to have a liquid only Sunday lunch shouting at each other over the din. And only having time left to do one of the two brewpubs in Lechlade we cut our losses and turned tail to visit the Swan, and what a good decision that turned out to be. I won’t rate this visit as I sincerely hope we caught the Crown on a bad day and that could certainly be the case as, when speaking to the landlord of the Swan later, he confirmed that the micro brewer in the Crown had had an accident when falling in the brew plant and breaking an arm, and therefore wasn’t brewing, which would explain the lack of Ale.

Just fantastic, couldn't be any better, just what a small town wooden boarded drinkers pub should be. Open fires in the Winter, newspapers to read, its own Halfpenny ales from the on site brewery, a small garden at the rear for sunny days and no food, except on Sunday lunchtimes. Even better you are welcome to bring in your fish and chips and eat them in the pub. Top notch.