Crown & Sceptre, Ross-On-Wye

The Crown & Sceptre is now owned by the same people who also own the currently flood damaged Tap House. As a result of the damage and the closure of that premises, the brewery kit for the in-house brewery (Motley Hog) has apparently been re-installed in the cellar of the Crown & Sceptre. The interior is long and narrow. There are a couple of raised areas in the front windows and a further raised area at the very rear, which is now the dining room. There was nobody eating, but fish specials were listed on a noticeboard to the side of the bar. A fish tank in a fireplace on the right-hand wall was hopefully not the source of the specials. I also noticed a sign for a sports bar. The sign appeared to be pointing to a door leading outside. So, perhaps there is another room in an outbuilding somewhere. I decided not to go looking. The bar itself is a fair way back on the left-hand side, just beyond another fireplace with various books on its mantlepiece. There are a total of 8 handpulls, of which 8 were clipped with Milestone Crusader & Raspberry Wheat Beer, Swannay Starboard Porter, Three Acre Best Bitter, New Bristol The Joy of Sesh & Tempest Pale Armadillo. However, there was no sign of any of the Motley Hog beers. I did enquire about ciders, but was not told about a box of Weston's I later spotted at the end of the bar. In addition, craft beers were Tiny Rebel Easy Livin', Staggeringly Good PteRedactAle, Wiper & True Kaleidoscope, Left-Handed Giant Sky Above & Weekend Project Meadows. Draft ciders were Weston's Stowford Press & Lilley's Apples & Pears. Bar snacks came in the way of cobs and pickled eggs, whilst another sign on the bar stated that cards could be accepted for payment, but that they preferred cash. Wifi was available. With just one other customer, who himself seemed to be arranging some kind of music events for the pub and who was also a brewer, the atmosphere was very muted. Granted it was a weekday lunchtime. It must get much busier at other times to sustain such a wide beer range. My choice of beer (the Swannay porter) was in good condition. Perhaps this pub has improved dramatically with the Tap House being closed. I wonder why it hasn't appeared in the Good Beer Guide? For me, it was the best of 3 pubs I tried in Ross-on-Wye. It just needs more customers.

Facebook page of Crown & Sceptre - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Crown & Sceptre - www.facebook.com

Looks the business externally, an attractive black and white building with triangular apex and pleasing bay windows. Sadly the inside is long, narrow and blandly decorated in cream shades, like a Barrett show home (show pub?). Of interest is the 'Poor Ross' decal map on the wall. Two ales on, Hancocks HB (awful and taken off) and a decent (in context of its existence) Doom Bar. Another Ross pub that promises more than it delivers, unfortunately. 4.5