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Picture of Crown & Sceptre
Image posted by Philip Carter
Submitted on Friday, 29th July 2016
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Crown & Sceptre, SW2

2A Streatham Hill
SW2
SW2 4AH
Phone: 02086710843
Correct details

Pub Type

J D Wetherspoon

Served areas

Reviews of Crown & Sceptre (Average Rating: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Tris C left this review about Crown & Sceptre

Situated in a none-to-desirable location on the South Circular and diagonally opposite a drive-through McDonald’s, this pub dates from at least the mid-19th century, the current structure quite possibly Victorian, but with some fine faience and wonderful Truman’s tiling, no doubt dating from the 1930s. In 1990 it became the first ‘spoons in south-west London, remaining as such ‘til 2019 when it closed in 2022 to reopen after a few months.
The exterior is very scruffy, looking dirty from decades of exposure to London pollution, the dereliction further amplified by gaps around the base of the pub harbouring windblown detritus such as leaves and bits of discarded plastic.
The interior matches the previous reviews and can be seen on the pub's website. My arrival on a Thursday at around 9.00pm was greeted by loud music and flashing multicoloured lights, with weird characters wafting about in the pool room and a loon swaying about in a bizarre fashion as he made a half-hearted attempt at exiting the place for a fag.
I decided not to stay.

On 8th June 2024 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

David Walton left this review about Crown & Sceptre

I had to put my glass half full, smiley face in adversity to get this venue to a rating of 3. All hail to the oracle that is Tim Martin in abandoning this site presumably based on anything that is half decent drinking choices. No beer on hand pump. Plenty of tap choices (in fact more bland lager choices than you will surely see in almost any venue in Christendom). Full range of Camden choices but I was so depressed on walking in the door that I asked for a glass of red wine (almost didn’t care what the choice was) only to be told, a bit casino like, you bet all in on red to find that it came up black (substitute that here for white). Can you be pleased with a glass of white wine for £5.50 that would have even undercut Sir Tim? OK am on my way somewhere else.

On 11th March 2024 - rating: 3
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Pub SignMan left this review about Crown & Sceptre

Large landmark pub at the top of Brixton Hill, which until relatively recently, was a branch of the Wetherspoons chain, and retains a lot of their distinctive fixtures and fittings. The pub is carpeted throughout and comprises a large, mostly open-plan room which is only divided in any real sense by a couple of large, centrally positioned sections of partitioning wall. The bar runs along the rear of the room and has a distressed-effect dark wood counter front with a matching canopy and rather dull bar back. The same faux-scuffed panels can be found around much of the interior, with anaglypta uppers and seating is provided in great abundance, with high tables and chairs near the entrance and bar, banquettes over to the left in a pleasant, raised seating area, and basic tables and chairs through the centre and to the right. One of the partitioning walls has some beautiful etched glass panes in situ, perhaps from the pub’s pre-Wetherspoons days, and there’s a small, decorative fireplace on the right side, but aside from these features, there’s not much of a traditional pub feel to the place and it does still resemble your average South London ‘Spoons. Walls have been decorated with old paintings, a few contemporary images and at least one bright, vibrant piece of modern art, so a decent mix all in all, but no stylistic theme to speak of. Several TV screens were showing live sport – football in the centre of the room and rugby elsewhere – with the commentary for the latter audible to anyone sat in the right-hand side of the room. The TV here is hung above a nice old bookcase which also houses a collection of board games. The room runs back a short way to the right of the bar and this space, which benefits from some large windows on two sides, has been partially filled with a pool table.
Not much of a ‘Spoons vibe at the bar sadly, with five handpulls mustering two turned clips, two unclipped pumps and a lone ale in the shape of Morland Old Speckled Hen. I forgot to note the price, but I don’t think it was particularly excessive and the clientele looked like the same middle-aged bunch of blokes I’d expect to see in a ‘Spoons on a typical mid-afternoon visit. The beer wasn’t exactly in great shape, but was definitely still drinkable, whilst the barmaid was friendlier than you get in your average ‘Spoons.
Not too much to get excited about in this place, which appears to have made next to no changes since the new owners took over, making it feel like a typical ‘Spoons visit, minus the good beer. In a way, I quite enjoyed the pub and was happy sat here watching the rugby and generally passing time with all the codgers, but there are plenty of better pubs up the road in Brixton and I can’t see me making a return.

On 12th September 2023 - rating: 5
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]


View more reviews of Crown & Sceptre (6)
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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Tris C
Streatham Hill, 0.55 miles, 10 min walk (show)
Tulse Hill, 0.95 miles, 18 min walk (show)
Herne Hill, 1.41 miles, 27 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for Crown & Sceptre, SW2
9th Jun 2024, 20:08
Request to add pub to area Brixton by Tris C approved
 
9th Jun 2024, 19:28
Request to add pub to area Brixton by Tris C

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : Yes last updated 07 June 2024 by Tris C
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 07 June 2024 by Tris C
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 10 May 2024 by Tris C
  • Beer Garden : Yes - At a pinch! - last updated 07 September 2013 by Aqualung .
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 08 January 2019 by ROB Camra
  • Car Park : Yes last updated 07 September 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Child Friendly : Yes last updated 07 September 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Darts : No last updated 07 September 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 12 September 2023 by Pub SignMan
  • Function Room : No last updated 16 December 2018 by Komakino .
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 16 July 2013 by Dave McNally
  • Jukebox : No last updated 07 September 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Karaoke : No last updated 07 September 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Live Music : Yes last updated 12 September 2023 by Pub SignMan
  • Live TV Sports : Yes - Major events only - last updated 28 August 2018 by Komakino .
  • Micropub : No last updated 16 December 2018 by Komakino .
  • Pinball : No last updated 07 September 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Pool Table : Yes last updated 12 September 2023 by Pub SignMan
  • Quiz Night : Yes last updated 12 September 2023 by Pub SignMan
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 07 June 2024 by Tris C
  • Real Cider : No last updated 12 September 2023 by Pub SignMan
  • Wheelchair Access : No last updated 16 December 2018 by Komakino .
  • WiFi : Yes last updated 16 July 2013 by Dave McNally
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