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The Crown, Bloomsbury, WC1
WC1
WC1A 1BL
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Crown
Another Sam Smith house,which you can walk through with street entrances at both ends.The interior is traditional wood panelled with three sections,a front and rear saloon and a central section opposite the bar.It's typical of Sam Smiths with an authentic feel and many nods to tradition.
Sadly no real ale (even the keg OBB was off) and my keg Sovereign Bitter was indestinct.My drinking colleague had to send his soapy Organic Wheat Beer back ,but at least it was changed for a SS lager without complaint.It was very quiet ,but then why would anyone hang around drinking substandard beer ? One to avoid despite the pleasing interior.
On 24th December 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Crown
A Sam’s pub in three parts with an entrance at either end of the building. The bar is in the middle separated by two sets of panels, nice. Salmon and brown colour scheme throughout. Plumped for a Sovereign Bitter (a pretty dreadful drink, it turns out), served-up by an old skool landlord. No cask OBB here. Has a beer garden on the pavement at what’s best described as the rear entrance, which is relatively pleasant. Not one of their more notable pubs in central London but a decent stop nonetheless. 6.5
On 29th September 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Crown
Sam Smith's pub that has a front and back entrance . It's Sam Smith's by the numbers no more no less.
On 29th September 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Crown
Another SS's outlet with Sovereign bitter on keg at £1.58 a half, which oddly is 3p a half more than the Old Brewery on cask at The Angel around the corner.
There's lots of brown wood and a lino floor. Spirits are on optics which is nice to see, not least because it means staff can serve them faster than fannying about using spirit measures. Food is served upstairs.
Not a bad place but as always with SS's pubs, would be improved with real ale.
On 30th April 2016
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Crown
Dark gloomy tourist pub with very expensive but good bottled beer.Had a half of their own lager.Cold.
On 18th May 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Crown
Another of those annoying Sam Smith's pub that doesn't serve 'real' Old Brewery Bitter on handpump, and whilst the keg version is still relatively cheap (although much less so than it once was) I normally opt for the Extra Stout (£3.40). The interior has several seating areas, but all are rather dark and the place lacks any character if you go at a quiet time. In fact, if the weather permits, the patio seating in the large paved area outside the back door is probably the best place to sit. Overall, difficult to recommend even to an aficionado when you have the Angel or Princess Louise nearby.
On 30th June 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Crown
First time to visit this Sam Smiths establishment the other night. As previous reviewers have commented The Crown is disadvantaged by only having the keg SS beer offerings, but I found it a decent enough place.
The dark wood panelled interior in three distinct sections, although not as characterful as other Sam Smiths flagship pubs , was still a good traditional surrounding to have a social drink and a chat.
The one thing that did put me off was the outside drinking arrangement which, instead of being the freeform alfresco affair you would expect when having the benefit of such a large outside plaza, was a cordoned off square tabled section which made the place look more like a Costa Coffee establishment than a pub.
When I asked the bar man about this it apparently is as a result of complaints by nearby residents ? , and they are now under strict regulation on drinking outside.
So, decent enough place, but the lack of OBB on hand pump probably means I won’t be bothering to rush back.
On 27th June 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Crown
A Sam Smiths pub so it's good or bad depending on your tastes. I have no problem with Sam Smiths products and it makes a change from the usual formulaic beers of the other chains. They have no hand pump bitters here although the cask version of the Old Brewery bitter I always find perfectly drinkable and often wonder if there is any difference between them. 3 separate drinking areas partitioned by wooden screens. Not a very big pub and can get very busy at peak times but there is an outside drinking area when the weather permits and this makes a handy overspill. A few old pictures and cartoons on the walls alongside a clock purloined from Paddington station and some nice old traditional tiling on the exterior but overall, not a particularly interesting establishment, especially by Sam Smith's standards.
On 9th April 2006
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]