Crown & Sceptre, Fitzrovia, W1

Occupying a prominent street corner position on the fringes of Fitzrovia is The Crown and Sceptre, externally quite an attractive and imposing looking pub. A number of doors, including one on the angle of the two streets that retains an impressive high glass surround, tells us that this was obviously a multi-roomed pub in its heyday. An impressive, high, black painted moulded ceiling and some Corinthian columns give us a feel for what was evidently a grand Victorian pub in days long gone, although, disappointingly, all the windows are now plain glass. There's that usual mish mash of sofas, chairs and tables and different areas that one always seems to find nowadays in pubs that have been opened out and given a makeover, although the overall effect here is not as displeasing as is often the case. The bar servery is centrally situated and quite small for what is actually quite a large and spacious pub. There's some seats outside on both streets for sunny weather. The pub seems to appeal to what I suppose are described nowadays as urban professionals. I gather that media types often pack the place out and there's a bit of a trendy, pretentious air about the place. On my recent visit, beers on were London Pride, St Austell Tribute and UBU Purity. Notably, the price list shows London Pride as £ 1.50p for a half and £ 3.30p for a pint. Given previous comments, I am pleased - and somewhat surprised - to be able to report that the UBU Purity (£ 3.30p) was in good form. I didn't detect any problems with the staff either, although the pub website's description of them as being "the friendliest staff for miles around" is probably overstating the case somewhat and I'm never impressed when I see a cup on the bar counter specifically for tips. This isn't really my type of place at all, but I did at least have a better experience than expected.

Bit of a barn of a corner pub which I believe is in the M&B stable and certainly seems to have been given one of their DFS Furniture makeovers. As mentioned below, was presumably at some time a multi roomed pub, but is now knocked through, with a bar area at the front and a larger area mainly to seating for dining at the back. I can relate to the LLB analogy below and M&B probably spent a bucket of money on the modern style makeover trying to make it look like they spent £500. It seemed to be mainly geared to the food menu , which I didn’t try, but there were three hand pumps on the bar which included Fullers Pride, St Austell tribute and one other I cannot remember. The pub had a bit of a pretentious feel to it and this was certainly perpetuated by the bar staff, who begrudgingly attempted to provide a full pint after some initial outrageously short pulling of a pint. Not really my sort of place, and if you are just after a pint, there are plenty of better offerings in close proximity IMHO. But there were plenty of people in on this early Saturday evening so it obviously does appeal to those who like their pubs to more resemble DFS show rooms.