The Crown, Borehamwood

Closed and boarded up with security company signage. Owned by Juniper Inns but no indication as to what they might do with it. Fear it may be ripe for residential development. Don't see who would want to live in this town but it is right opposite the station.

This is a Barracuda Group pub and is run under the Juniper Pubs brand meaning that unlike most other chav infested Barracuda holes that I have been in I actually enjoyed it in here. One of the three hand pumps was unused, but Bombardier and Special were available alongside a standard draught range and I had a well served pint of Guinness from a polite and friendly barmaid. The clientele seemed to be a mix of local’s, students and work colleagues having a quick pint before jumping on the nearby trains. It’s not the most memorable in regard to the décor as it follows a bland corporate design that one would expect in a chain of high street pubs, but it is clean and comfortable for drinking the cheaper than normal beer or eating the inexpensive food. It is an L-shaped pub with the large high ceilinged front area housing plenty of seating and numerous flat screens for watching the football on Sky. There are also some disco lights up on the walls and I could see where a dance floor would emerge later in the evening. At the rear of the pub there is a section with a dartboard, two pool tables and some more flat screens and a door that gives access to a good sized beer garden. There is a disabled toilet and when I asked for the key to change my nipper’s nappy I was also offered a changing mat which I thought was a nice gesture. Based on my weekday afternoon visit I would return if passing.

I first drank in here in the late 80's when I started working in Borehamwood and it certainly wasn't the sort of place you felt comfortable in with a suit and tie on. I remember they used to have strippers at lunchtime and they even set up a sumo wrestling night. From what I gather each subsequent incarnation has both attracted and accommodated similar clientele.....up until now that is. It seems the local chavs will now have to find somewhere else to have a scrap on a Friday night as they're unlikely to even get a foot in the door of the new Crown. Even on a Saturday afternoon I saw one bloke refused service, two 20 something young ladies carded quite aggressively, and one guy made to step away from the bar so that they could check if he was wearing tracksuit bottoms. All this while I was waiting for them to do what they should be doing – selling me beer!! Still I suppose I can't blame them, when you take over a pub with this sort of reputation you need to be strong from the outset. The refurb into a gastro pub by current owners Juniper Inns is fairly extensive and the space has been used well. The eating area is at the front of the pub leading up to the bar and round to a raised area with a couple of pool tables and a dartboard. A large beer garden completes the picture.