The Crown at Bray, Maidenhead

Official site of The Crown at Bray - www.thecrownatbray.com

Official site of The Crown at Bray - www.thecrownatbray.com

Historic building with lots of character inside. Nothing is straight in here, all walls and dark wood beams are wonky like something out of Alice in Wonderland. Inside is a higgledy-piggledy state of small areas and various levels but overall there’s an impression of there being two rooms. To the rear is a paved courtyard replete with red telephone box and impressive grassed garden beyond. Three ales on; Caledonian Gold, Courage Best and Directors. Not a particularly inspiring selection (you’d think a pub owned by Heston Blumenthal would be somewhat more adventurous?) but my half of Directors was in pretty good shape nonetheless. I enjoyed my half hour here and would be happy to sample it again.

This is/was one of our favourite eating places,so chose it to celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary with family members. Sadly, it is no longer the welcoming place it was. It has apparently been recently bought by Blumenthal,and is now an up market place for the wealthy businessman. Gone is the lovely pub food-lasagne in particular, and in it's place is something else.The staff are pleasant, but the atmosphere is gone.Heston should restore the pub to what it should be or he will lose customers