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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
Rose & Crown, Ludlow
Ludlow
SY8 1AP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Blackthorn _ left this review about Rose & Crown
A very attractive looking Tudor style timbered pub located in a courtyard just off the Market Square, it was quite busy when we visited mid-afternoon with many punters dining, and we had to perch on quite a small table.
Internally it’s suitably “olde worlde” in style, although somehow wasn’t quite as cosy as I had expected, although it’s difficult to pin down exactly why. It’s divided in to a number of interconnected rooms with the bar counter off to the right. There’s plenty of old wooden beams on the ceiling, and a mixture of sanded wooden boards and quarry style tikling on the floor. Most of the walls were exposed stonework or brick, with a couple of small areas that had been plastered and painted a deep salmon colour. The front “Mouse Bar” was quite elegant with full height wood panelling on the walls, whilst elsewhere were old beer barrels for vertical drinking and a wood burning stove in an old brick fireplace.
Beers on tap were all from Joules with their Citra Blonde, Pale and Slumbering Monk. A fourth pump for their 70/- appeared to have run out, whilst a fifth was unused. Ciders meanwhile were Aspall’s regular and Blush.
On 4th April 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
Tris C left this review about Rose & Crown
Date of visit: 19th August 2024 - rating: 7
This is supposedly Ludlow’s oldest pub, a beer house having stood here since 1102, though the current incarnation – grade II-listed – ‘only’ dates back around 600 years, with 18th and 19th century additions.
It’s well described below: stained glass leaded lights to the front, multi-roomed, much roughhewn wood panelling, bare stone and brick – probably always that way – baronial field panelling to the right-hand room, some ochre paint, low ceiling with exposed rafters, grand open fireplace, traditional furniture – with some tubular steel bar stools – and minimal décor. There’s also the ‘Mouse Room’ as some of the woodwork came courtesy of Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson (Google him); what is a bit incongruous are the large semi-industrial hanging lamps above the bar, which wouldn’t look out of place in Shoreditch. Customers were mixed locals, though given the location, expect a few tourists.
The cask selection amounted to Munich Dunkel, Golden Ale, Citra Blonde, Slumbering Monk and Pale, £1.90 a half, very dull, served by a very helpful barman.
This is a charming pub, making for a great triple with the Blood Bay and Blue Boar, but I couldn’t spend an evening on the beers here; this pub would get a higher mark if it ditched the Rose & Crown’s Joule’s.
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A return last Saturday around 9.00pm and what a shock: the pub was pretty much taken over by sub-normal feral youths behaving boorishly, swearing, shrieking at each, one blowing clouds of vape smoke all over the shop, some young girls wearing Stetsons. My friend who has recently moved to the area asked if we could leave and I couldn't have agreed more, so we necked our halves and got out.
I suspect this place is trying to attract the area's well heeled; it won't do so if behaviour like this is the norm.
On 9th September 2024
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Rose & Crown
A large, rambling Joules pub, with multiple rooms, an inside courtyard and a further outside area to the rear. Very atmospheric once the light fades. Some great wood panelling and several doors leading to who knows where. Four Joules beers on the bar alongside a couple of guests which were also local. Both my pints were in good nick . Ludlow has several very good pubs and this is right up there with them.
On 16th October 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Rose & Crown
The original layout to this pub was a lot smaller with the right hand side of the building only in use. Joules converted the kitchen facilities and storage areas on the left hand side of the building into an extended lounge area, to create greater table and seating space. The main bar was situated in on the right hand corner as you enter, serving a choice of six ales, 4 Joules and 2 guest. We went for the Great Western Brewery Old Higby, the other guest beer was Oakham Bishop's Farewell. We sat down the far end of the bar, which was comfortable and had some decent oak panelling, which looked original.
On 10th January 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Rose & Crown
A very good Joules pub. Hidden down a courtyard and bigger than I was expecting. A multi-area pub with interesting places to sit. The beer choice isn't great but its worth a visit anyway. Typical Joules woodiness throughout.
On 14th May 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Rose & Crown
A Joules pub, old and rambling, ie multi-space, exhibiting lots of oldness as befits an old pub hidden up a passage. Oddly very popular with those young people I've heard about, as an old git I was the oldest in the pub by some way, all the other punters and staff could have been my grandchildren, fortunately at my age we just become invisible. Upstairs in the "usual offices" things are extremely modern so lots of thinking done and money spent by Joules, good on them it's a good pub and the youngsters know it. Sadly the beer and service were a bit average and I've no idea why the free newspapers included the Mail or perhaps less so the Sun.
On 15th September 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Rose & Crown
Tucked away in a side street off the market place, this ancient building is a rambling and rather attractive affair, with claims to have been a pub for more than 600 years. With four Joules beers on the bar, this will not be a pub to everyone's liking as their beers are thought to be not hoppy enough for the modern taste. I don't know what the problem is myself, and anyway there are two guest beers, which at the time of my visit were Pennine Gold and Box Steam Piston Broke. Inevitably there's an emphasis on food and it is popular with tourists and families, but I for one would not mind a return visit when I can hopefully spend more time in this pub.
Date of visit: 20th April 2017
On 27th July 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
. Wittenden left this review about Rose & Crown
Tucked away in an alleyway between church and market,this could be described as a courtyard pub,occupying three sides of the yard. A long bar to one's right spreads down one side of the pub,offering a full complement of Joule's beers, together with a couple of guests.
One of Ludlow's oldest pubs, it claims medieval origins: more to the point , it has benefited from a major and painstaking refurbishment early in 2016. Seemingly much 1960s and 70s tat has been removed,revealing a quirky and interesting space-exposed wood and stone work, and eclectic flooring.
My brief visit on a cloudy October Saturday afternoon fell between the lunchtime rush, and the delights of the evening. A few drinkers at the bar, and conspiratorially in nooks and crannies.
Of the beers on display I tried Joule's seasonal IPA-Kolkata at 5%ABV, which I found rather on the sweet side,which I was warned is a house trait.
I can't comment on the food regime, but this is well worth a visit, especially for anyone interested in old pubs and vernacular buildings.
On 23rd November 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 290 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about Rose & Crown
We found this very nice pub down a back ally way nice open fire with hop,s on the ceiling and many water jugs hanging had a good pint of Timothy Taylor,s had the most people in.Worth a visit
On 19th February 2015
- rating: 10
[User has posted 122 recommendations about 122 pubs]