The Crown, Woking

Bit of a cockup on my part whilst briefly visiting this pub, I only had 10 minutes or so to spare and entering the left hand room only espied a solitary unclipped handpump, so putting 2 and 2 together,came up with 5 and ordered half a Stella. Only once sitting down did I spot a blackboard on the wall displaying a choice of several beers from Joules,Marstons, Goddards and local brewery Thurstons,(and only once leaving the pub I discovered Thurstons Brewery is located virtually next door).All my fault for not inquiring. The pub is well discribed by Malden man and what I saw of it I quite liked but deserves a more thorough investigation from myself sometime.

Two room pub with 4 handpumps housed in one bar only. Just 2 of the 4 in operation at 15:00 ystdy. Titanic Iceberg turned out to be a wheat beer – good thing because if it had been a golden ale, as the barman suggested, it would have been very off. The other on offer was Bombardier but they did have 40 or so old pumpclips on display so, although none were too radical (eg Archers,Sharps), they at least suggested that maybe I was unluckly in the limited choice that day. The staff left me be in the main bar and returned to the other side, which was also empty, to listen to the radio. It may be quite good with a busy bar & serving all 4 pumps but I couldn't recommend the walk here in the afternoon, & there was a slight wiff of drains in the air.

More of a traditional drinkers' pub then the Red Lion across the road, there are two main carpeted rooms with the bar splitting them centrally, plus a dedicated pool room to the rear. The left hand side has a dartboard and Tv while the other room is just regular seating with no other add ons. Stained wainscot panelling throughout, the right hand room has a fireplace with a stag's head over, some framed artwork and a selection of newspapers and magazines. Of note was a framed collection of old Archer's Brewery beer mats. The ale pumps are in the right hand room with a solitary handpump dispensing Old Rosie cider in the other side. Yesterday had Thurston's Horsell Best (£3.60), Doom Bar, Castle Rock Harvest Gold and Marston's New World. I didn't spot any indications of food at around 4.30pm on my midweek visit. A pleasant enough spot with a small group of locals discussing issues around the bar.

Largely unremarkable local pub, with two rooms divided by a central bar, similarly and fairly basically furnished and not much to choose between them. Most notable for having a sensibly-priced and regularly changing selection of beers, which seemed in fine order. Nice little garden at rear.

The Crown is a traditional style local’s pub at the start of Horsell High Street, a15/20 minute walk from the centre of Woking. The pub consists of twin bars connected by a corridor at the back. At the rear is also a separate pool room. The carpeted interior is similar through the 2 bars but some of the décor, both inside and out, is looking a bit tired and shabby but nothing a few licks of paint here and there wouldn’t resolve. There are a few modern artworks and old pictures but not really a great deal that catches the eye and the empty bottles on the window sills don’t really add much. There are a couple of flat screen TVs and a dart board in the smaller bar (complete with numerous holes in the wall surrounding it). Behind the pub is a car park and a decent little beer garden. The pub is in the current Good Beer Guide and there were 3 ales available on my latest visit, Spitfire, Brains SA and Black Sheep with a 4th pump unused. At £3.05 for the Black Sheep, prices were very reasonable by Woking standards. It’s very much a down to earth unpretentious sort of place that both contrasts and compliments the more upmarket foody based Red Lion opposite. Both are worth looking at for their particular merits and compare well with the general standard of Woking’s pubs without leaving any great longing to return on a regular basis.