Crown Inn, Coniston

This is a big old inn which looks like it's been added to at various times. The pub part has had a fairly recent refurbishment. The bar itself is in very smart modern wood panelling, with ecclesiastical arches below the bar rail and glass panels above declaring "The Crown Hotel - The Heart of the Lake District" (not strictly-speaking true - at least, not geographically). The chairs and bench seats are covered in strikingly patterned upholstery, and there are engravings of various game birds on the walls. Two wide screen TVs face the long side of the bar but they were not on and there was no music playing when I was here, a Monday lunchtime in January. As with most, if not all, Robinsons pubs in the Lake District, there is Hartleys XB on hand pump, plus Hartleys Cumbrian Way and a Robinsons beer. Although the Crown is not in the same league as the Sun or the Black Bull, it's definitely worth a visit if you're in Coniston.