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Crown Liquor Saloon, Belfast
Belfast
BT2 7BA
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Crown Liquor Saloon
I do like Nicholsons’ pubs as they’re normally very traditional and well kept with a reasonable selection at the bar. I must say that the Crown is probably the most splendid original Victorian pub that I have seen, both inside and out. The bar lined with bar stools along the left wall faces screened booths that look like first class train carriages, doors and all. There are interesting features from the ceiling down through the carved fish scale columns to the tiled floor, far too many to list on here.
Drink wise, I counted six handpumps that were drawing Whitewater Brewing’s Maggies Leap, Bass, Nicholson’s Pale, Thwaites Wainwright, Big Smoke Brew Co’s Solaris and Weston’s Family Vintage Cider. Standard and premium keg is also available, as is food. There is a restaurant on the first floor. I found the service to be polite and would recommend that if in Belfast this is a must visit pub.
On 20th September 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Crown Liquor Saloon
This is undisputedly one of the finest examples of unspoilt Victorian interior decoration that there is. Just look at the photos on here or on the CAMRA Pub heritage group website to see how magnificent it is - or you could visit the place to see for yourself. When I had a couple of hours to spare in Belfast I obviously spent them in the Crown. If I manage to get Belfast again then I'll undoubtedly visit again.
Being a Nicholson's there were several real ales on - I noticed Landlord and Purity Mad Goose (£5.05 a pint) and of course Nicholson's Pale. I saw people eating but I didn't bother to examine a menu.
On 17th August 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Crown Liquor Saloon
Described elsewhere as the jewel of Northern Ireland’s pubs and really it’s very hard to disagree, it’s astounding both inside and out and is up there with the best interiors in Britain - it may well be the most ornate. Described in depth below, so a tl;dr – ‘high Victoriana’, amazingly intricate tiled exterior which matches the inside - doored booths (labelled A-I), ceramic bar frontage, stained glass windows, illustrated mirrored panels, carved wood features and animals, patterned floor tiling and probably a load of other stuff I didn’t note – every time you look round you notice something new. Leased by Nicholsons via the National Trust, so I was pleased to see three cask ales on; Black Sheep 2020 (sadly a flat musty aspiratored mess, NBSS 1), Titanic Plum Porter (3.5) and TT Landlord. Also Whitewater Stout and lager on the keg, tried both of those as well (the lager was decent). Staff were well-drilled and on-the-ball, with one lass asking us if we wanted a booth seat when one was vacated. Ate here and the food was standard pub grub, if a little on the expensive side. Beware that it’s actually a fairly small pub so time your visit for the quieter hours – there were a dozen or so people turned away on my visit as the place was at COVID capacity, and that was on a cold blustery Sunday evening in January. Should be number one on your Belfast visit list, you won’t want to miss it. Just a shame about that first ropey pint… 8.5
On 17th February 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Crown Liquor Saloon
Perhaps the most iconic of all Belfast pubs, it’s in a prominent, street corner position on a busy thoroughfare and looks immediately appealing with it’s ornate exterior tiling, imposing pillars and stained glass.
It certainly doesn’t disappoint on the inside either, and although it’s perhaps a little smaller than it initially appears (due to the mirrored back wall), what there is, is really quite splendid. Victorian style tiling is on the floor, with an embossed dark brown ceiling. The ornate stained glass windows on two sides are a very impressive feature and must count as some of the most intricate that I have seen. Seating along the right hand side was divided in to individual booths with a low level, carved wooden door providing access. A brass bell push in each booth presumably provided table service at one time, although I suspect that now they are merely decorative. A similar booth arrangement was at the front on the left, but the majority of this side of the pub was taken up with the bar counter. Carved animals adorned the woodwork and there was also some ornate tiling on the wall at the front.
Not only was this by the far the most impressive interior of all the Belfast pubs we visited, but in also had quite an impressive beer selection in an area that largely seems to be a real ale dessert. On this occasion the line up consisted of Doom Bar, Whitewater Belfast Ale, Stewart’s 80/-, Mourne Gold, Nicholson’s Pale Ale and St Austell’s Proper Job. Cider choice was disappointing though with only Magner’s being available, but overall a fantastic pub and certainly a must visit for any visitor to Belfast.
On 22nd October 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1949 recommendations about 1862 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Crown Liquor Saloon
Often cited as the best pub in Northern Ireland, this fabulous example of a Victorian gin palace certainly lives up to such claims from an architectural point of view. The pub’s facade displays some pretty stunning, ornate tiling along with restored signs and impressive etched glass windows. Entering from the main road, you pass through a doorway with a nice mosaic tile floor design depicting a crown image, flanked by some detailed etched and stained glass windows, before emerging into the main bar area, with the servery along the left hand wall and some unique fully-partitioned booths to the right, each with its own door. The room has a decorative tile floor, an elaborate moulded ceiling, some superb ‘fish scale’ carved pillars and a run of elaborately etched and stained glass windows. The ten booths all have low doorways flanked by carved lions, bears, dragons and so on, and inside, hard bench seating runs around a single table, with the floors decorated with their own patterned tile design. The partitioning screens between each booth have a number of painted panels and coloured window panes whilst the doors have been fitted with smart, decorative handles. The servery is a real stand-out feature thanks to the incredible glazed tile bar counter with its polished granite top, heated foot rails, gas lamp lighting and grand bar back displaying high arched mirrors, old barrels, some attractive advertising friezes and pretty stained glass inserts. The toilets, to the rear of the room, also have fine glasswork in their doors and nicely tiled interiors, making them worth a quick look too. Aside from the booths, seating is very limited, with the odd drinking ledge here and there and a good deal of standing room opposite the bar. Upstairs, there is a split level dining room with its own bar. This is a much plainer space with lounge furniture on the lower section and formally set tables through the rest of the room, with decent fireplaces and a basic servery along the right hand wall as you enter.
The pub is currently operated by Nicholson’s, who have invested a good deal into the pub and deserve some credit for the maintenance and restoration of the interior. A typical Nicholson’s ale range was available, comprising Broughton Hoppopotamus, Madness Absolutely, Mournie Gold, St Austell Proper Cracker, Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted and Nicholson’s Pale Ale. The Hoppopotamus was in fine shape but the Mournie Gold was flat and less enjoyable, although this was poured from the first floor bar, so I’m not sure if this was a location specific issue. As you would expect, the pub is very touristy, with a large group of Italian students entering as we were leaving and a few couples from the Far East popping in just to take some photos during the course of my visit. We also ate here, in the less interesting first floor dining room, and found the food to be pretty decent standard pub fayre.
This really is a must-do pub for anyone interested in historic pub interiors, as it has to be one of the finest restorations of its kind and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring all the intricate details and grand gestures the pub has to offer. Whether it is the best pub in Northern Ireland though, I cannot say, but it did strike me as lacking the genial, lively atmosphere you might expect to find this side of the Irish Sea – a factor that perhaps makes this worth a look, but perhaps not a full session.
On 25th January 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Crown Liquor Saloon
I arrived at this place at around 20:00 on a Thursday evening to find it packed. Why does a busy pub like this have stools at the bar? It's hard work getting served with these things in the way even if they are not occupied. It certainly is a time warp of a pub with no resemblance whatsoever to any more modern pub.
I managed to find myself a place at the bar behind a frustrated looking punter waving a note who had presumably been there for some time. After a long wait he got served and then after an even longer wait I managed to get a short pint of Peerless Icebreaker which cost an outrageous £4.45. In my opinion this was too warm, definitely above cellar temperature. There are six hand pumps here but the only other two I could identify were Hilden Gold and the Nicholson's house beer.
I thought this place was hopeless. With only three behind the bar the service was abysmal, there were uncleared glasses everywhere and it was a rip off. It might be unique but that's the only factor that saves it from the Score Of Shame, It's best left for people who prefer to just gawp at pubs rather than drink in them. I wouldn't return and was relieved to get back to the comfort of the Bridge House.
It's GBG 2018 listed.
On 1st May 2018
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Crown Liquor Saloon
Beautiful pub - unfortunately covered in scaffolding outside, which stopped any photo opportunities.
Inside is just as lovely. A series of vanity alcoves, the likes of which I have not seen in a pub before.
Had a Belfast Ale in here - out of the all the pubs I visited, this was the only draught real ale found.
Definitely worth a visit.
On 30th October 2015
- rating: 9
[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 Liquor Saloon
Grade A listed building, owned by the National Trust and now managed by Nicholsons. The number of handpumps has increased to five since my last visit, offering the chain's Pale Ale and IPA plus Cornish Coaster, Strathaven Ginger Jock and the local Hilden Barney's Brew (£3.50). I won't try to describe either the façade or the interior - you just have to visit it youself (but as this is one of Belfast's 'must see' destinations, it can get very crowded).
On 27th July 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
David Ross left this review about Crown Liquor Saloon
As the other reviews suggest, this must be the most ornate pub I've ever seen anywhere in the world (and this is a substantial claim). It's a tourist attraction in its own right, as witnessed by the fact that several people were coming in just to take photographs. As if that wasn't enough, it sells real ale too, which is something of a rarity in Belfast. Unsurprisingly, it gets extremely busy at times, but it's not to be missed by anyone who appreciates good pubs (or even devout teetotallers for that matter).
On 2nd July 2012
- rating: 10
[User has posted 769 recommendations about 683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Crown Liquor Saloon
Absolutely stunning pub, operated by the National Trust in conjunction with Nicholson's. Small private snugs down the right hand side which are all reserved for food during food service times but are available on a first come first served basis at nights. I wouldn't bother waiting for one as we got one on one evening and the seats were uncomfortable and designed for midgets (Victorians). Every two minutes someone either knocked on the door or opened it to see if it was full, it was a real pain. The rest of the bar is very ornate as well with gas lighting highlighting an impressive ceiling and bar back. The stained glass windows are also impressive. They've made really good use of mirrors which makes it look bigger than it is, which fooled a lot of people who tried to walk though into "the other room" which of course didn't exist. 3 handpumps on the bar serving beer from Whitewater brewery. Belfast Ale, Copperhead Ale & Crown Glory on each of our visits. It's a must visit place, but it is very touristy during the day. If you want to visit I would suggest you try about 7:30 p.m. as all the day trippers have gone by then and those staying over are having their evening meal at their hotels.
On 3rd May 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]