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Detail Pages
Crown & Sceptre, Bowbridge, Stroud
Stroud
GL5 1EG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Crown & Sceptre
Scruffy boho pub up the hill, run by Stroud Brewery. Enter to a porch with a startling leopard print wallpaper (!). Characterful inside (‘The walls display an eclectic mix of framed prints, many of vintage motorcycles, and old film posters, and the ceiling of the side room is covered with band posters’), a tight left-sided Y shape bar with an area off right. Almost all tables set for dining despite most being unoccupied at 1pm. Pasties (unpriced) and rolls (£2.50) at the bar – despite asking for (and pointing at) the Thai chicken pasty I ended-up with cheese. Four cask (GBG’23 listed), 2x Uley, a Stroud and another I forgot to note plus a cider. My Uley Pig's Ear was getting on a bit but just about hit par (NBSS 3). Went outside to the scruffy grassed garden was then subjected to the self-absorbed banal Loaded-era witterings of the arrested development Gen X Guardianista clientele. I wanted to like it here but it wasn’t to be on this occasion. I might give it another go.
On 26th April 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about Crown & Sceptre
On my mid-afternoon arrival, the Friday lunchtime crowd were attempting the crossword but, apart from myself, there were no others in yet - a few more turned up later. They're a good crowd, though I found that you do need a tolerance for strong language at times.
Internally, you'll find 3 or 4 different seating areas with tables, as well as stools at the bar along with a friendly barman.
4 ales and a cider were offered at the bar, but craft keg has yet to arrive. The Uley Bitter, my first pint, was on top form, as you'd expect. There's also the same brewery's Pig's Ear, plus one each from Stroud and Bristol Beer Factory.
Food extends to Sunday roasts, but a simple cheese and ham toasted sandwich hit the spot for me.
It's a hike from the town centre, and Stroud is certainly a hilly place, but it's well worth the effort.
On 4th April 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Crown & Sceptre
The Crown & Sceptre is situated on a hill in a residential area of the town.
A walk-through system is in operation through the pub. You queue at the front door, approach the bar, order and then take your drinks outside into the garden, where a large tent has been set up to provide shelter in inclement weather. On a sunny Sunday, there was ample space for all. Although, many were drinking on a large public grassy area on the other side of the pub.
The 3 ales were Stroud Budding, Uley Bitter & Blue Anchor Spingo Middle. A number of hot bar snacks are also served.
Beer festivals are held here and they are planning to go ahead with one soon. They are well set up for it, with so much outdoor drinking space.
On 4th August 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2454 recommendations about 2453 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Crown & Sceptre
Worth the lengthy uphill trek from town to discover this back street classic.
Very pubby feel inside centered around an island bar, with loads of interesting nick nacks all over the walls.
Proper drinkers who had been there a long time, even on a sunday night :-)
A chance to try some of the rarer Uley Brewery Beers. The Pigs Ear needs to be tasted to be believed - so sweet and fruity for an ale. They aslo had the Pigor Mortis and Better on.
Perfect pub.
On 8th January 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Crown & Sceptre
Good Beer Guide pub located some distance from the centre of town but well worth the walk. Very traditional, both inside and out, with a most welcome real fire on a cold December day. Seating on both sides of the central servery, with the counter facing the front and a hatch at the back. Also has an open side room with an upright piano and posters advertising forthcoming entertainment of various types. As an Uley Brewery outlet, their ordinary Bitter (£3.70) and stronger Pigs Ear were available from two of the five handpumps, along with Stroud Brewery's Budding, Rock Wood from Clavell & Hind and She Devil cider.
On 15th December 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Crown & Sceptre
Situated a walk from the town centre this is a traditional community based pub, popular with the locals and hosting motorcycle and fishing clubs. The pub has been opened out into one space with the bar in the middle of the larger area. Carpeted, fireplaces each end, there is a bar billiards table to the rear of the bar. A side area has a central large table that could seat a big group. Decor includes animal heads and antlers, B-movie film flyers and there are a few shelves of various bits and bobs, old kettles and the suchlike. There is occasional live music and there are a large selection of board games to borrow.
Four handpumps were serving Butcombe Bitter, Stroud Budding, Uley Bitter and Uley Pig's Ear. Meals are served and bar snacks available all day include pork pies, scotch eggs, home made pate and toasties.
A thriving pub and it just goes to show what can be achieved with an out of the way pub when it is well run. A deserving 2011 GBG entry. NB opens at noon.
On 10th April 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]