Crown Hotel, Nantwich

Visited in May 2010 The Crown Hotel is an impressively large black and white timbered building in the centre of Nantwich. On the wall outside, a plaque tells us that the building was rebuilt on site in 1585 on the site of an earlier inn destroyed by fire in 1583. It was a coaching stop on the London - Chester run. Despite it being predominantly a hotel - The Best Western Crown Hotel - the attractive exterior, coupled with a blackboard listing several real ales, encouraged me inside. The bar in the hotel has the predictable wonky beams, sloping floor and a comfortable, pleasant feel to it. Beers on were Titanic Anchor, Titanic Golden Age and Woodlands Crown Ale, which, as the name suggests, is brewed specially for the pub by the local Woodlands Brewery. The Titanic Anchor - £ 2.95p - was a superbly spicy and bittery pint. The barman seemed genuinely chuffed that someone had come in specifically to sample the real ales and, somewhat ironically, the Titanic Anchor was easily the best pint of my Nantwich mini - tour. You do need to remember however that this is principally a hotel bar and not a pub.

Possibly Aberdare's last remaining "pub of two halves" - the bar and lounge haven't been knocked through to make an open-plan boozer. We've always had a soft spot for the Glosters, going back 20 years or more. It's got a very mixed clientele, from old boys who live locally and prop up the bar to students who enjoy having the lounge and juke box to themselves. It's got a good range of beers at reasonable prices, a nice big pool room, and not much else really. It's an old-fashioned pub with much to commend it. If you want the bright lights and loud music, give it a miss.

Beautiful old pub with a very relaxed atmosphere inside, good beer and very nice staff,