The Crown, Milton Keynes

A Georgian village pub on the site of an earlier ale house, well described by Blackthorn, below.  The smaller area is indeed mainly used by diners, though the tables are quite well packed in.  Parking is on the village green in front of the pub, and is quite tight.  The staff were very welcoming and friendly, and the ambiance was very agreeable.  Three ales on – 2 from St Austell, which were both in very good condition.  An excellent place to stop for a relaxing lunch and a decent pint. 

A traditional and attractive pub facing the pleasant village green, it's surprisingly small inside with just a couple of rooms at the front of the pub. There are also a couple of tables out the front and apparently some more seating in a courtyard around the side. The main bar to the left has pale wood flooring and a very large brick fire-place on one side, with logs blazing away in an open fire. This was giving out plenty of heat on a recent December evening and was kept well stocked. Decor wise, there is little else of any note, with fairly plain cream plasterwork on the walls and ceilings and a couple of old photos dotted around. There is a similar sized room off to the right which may be perhaps more intended for dining, although on this occasion it had been taken over by the local dominoes team. Food wise the menu was a fairly concise selection, with five or six "pub grub" dishes such as Fish & Chips, Gammon & Chips, etc., at around the £8 mark and another five or six more adventurous options with prices ranging anywhere from £12 up to £22 for the fillet steak. My Smoked Haddock Risotto was an excellent dish, generously proportioned and creamy, with plenty of chunks of tasty fish and topped with a runny poached egg. One of the best pub meals I've had for a long time, and good value at around £9.50. Beers on tap were Courage Directors, St. Austell's Trelawney and Black Sheep. The solitary cider was Aspall's Suffolk. All in all, I thought this was a great pub - friendly locals and staff, great food and a very pleasant spot. Just be aware if you're making a special journey that they do not open Tuesday or Wednesday.