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Crown & Sceptre, Ross-On-Wye
Ross-On-Wye
HR9 5NX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Crown & Sceptre
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.
On 12th November 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Crown & Sceptre
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
On 16th July 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Crown & Sceptre
This is a terraced pub in the Market Place. Clearly, such a site has been occupied for centuries, and this place has been a pub since the Victorian period at least. It looks like a Victorian facade, but the core of the building is older (looking at the stacks). It is in white render, with blue paintwork on the windows and black beams on the gable. Two bay windows flank a central entrance, with two bow windows above. The interior is a single long room, with the serving bar on the left, half way up. The decor is grey, grey wood panel, cream, clay and other colours; making it quite noisey. Arty art is on the walls and there are a few stone fakey fireplaces. There is a VIP lounge at the back (up a step or two), which was dressed for a party at my visit. There is a dart board. The TV had silent news and the music was easy listening at a decent level - a little of a surprise, as with the art, as the place seemed to be aimed at another clientele. The service was fine and a few locals were in. Beer; usual tap stuff with Otter Amber on handpull (2 pulls not used). The Amber was actually well kept (again, i didn't really expect this). A far better experience than i expected - i would pop in for a swift half again, at the right time!
On 24th August 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Crown & Sceptre
This 17th Century timber framed pub is thought to be the oldest pub in town currently open. Its recent history appears to have been quite problematic and led to an enforced period of closure in October 2010. It reopened in late 2011 but from my experience still appears to be aimed at the sort of people who probably led to the problems in the first place.
The building looks enticing enough from the outside but the interior is all a bit faceless and bland. The front section has bare floors and has a quite pubby feel with traditional furnishings as opposed to the more loungey carpeted rear section with its rather kitch banquette and surround mirrors.
The thumping music was quite offputting and seemed somewhat superfluous given that the pub was practically empty at peak time on a Friday night and would suggest that they might need to explore other ways of luring in the punters. There was certainly no major issue with the beers with a couple of ales available (Otter Amber and Doom Bar + a third pump unused), my pint of Otter being surprisingly good quality for a pub that doesn’t appear to show any inclination at aiming itself at the ale drinking demigraph.
All in all, a bit of a let down but could have potential with a bit of imagination and a more sympathetic management outlook.
On 10th April 2013
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]