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Crown & Sugar Loaf, Fleet Street, EC4

26 Bride Lane
EC4
EC4Y 8DT
Phone: 02073533693

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about Crown & Sugar Loaf

Tucked off Fleet Street, this is an odd-looking place from the outside and this is due to it formerly being a part of the Punch Tavern on the corner until 20 odd years ago until it was hived off into an entirely separate pub. Inside is lovely small single roomed Sam's done-out in a gin palace style with loads to admire - intricate plaster work ceiling, dark woodwork and inset glass work and mosaic flooring amongst the highlights (apparently it isn’t in any way original but I think it’s fabulous nonetheless). A proper fire was on the go and a friendly barmaid in situ also helped the atmosphere. No cask OBB so decided it was time for a pint of Man in a Box and after it was drained I could have easily stayed for a second. Really enjoyed my half hour in here and would make a point of visiting again.

On 20th December 2019 - rating: 8
[User has posted 5050 recommendations about 5033 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Brainy Pool left this review about Crown & Sugar Loaf

a wet led traditional pub in central London with bitter at £3.40 a pint? god bless SamSmiths I say. a real oasis of proper pub bliss in an area of corporate tourist barns. just the one room here but decorated beautifully, fake or not.

On 1st February 2019 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1051 recommendations about 1016 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about Crown & Sugar Loaf

This pub differs in that it was created out of the overspill bar from the neighbouring Punch Tavern in 1997. The beautiful 'historic' interior was installed following Sam Smith's acquisition all the way back in 2004 and it shows; aside from the ceiling and mosaic floor it screams 'fake', though at least it's a very good fake.
No Sovereign or OBB on either cask or keg, so I settled for a pint of India Ale which was actually ok and £2.20 a half. The pub is a bit stark for a Smith's outlet and as a result is a bit bland; I don't envisage a return visit, not least because the aforementioned Punch Tavern is way better and the fittings are probably original.

On 30th September 2016 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Real Ale Ray left this review about Crown & Sugar Loaf

If I was rating this pub for its stunning Victorian interior, I would give this pub a ten. I hadn't planned to visit here on the day, so it came as a pleasant surprise once through the doors. The interior consists of a beautiful mosaic floor, a full marble counter top, an elegant fireplace, intricate fibrous plaster case ceiling and lots of etched mirrors. If you don't mind Sam Smiths offerings, then this is a must do.

On 8th January 2014 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about Crown & Sugar Loaf

Sam Smith's pub with as you would expect an old style interior.

On 19th November 2013 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Crown & Sugar Loaf

Small, single-bar Sam Smiths pub with a nice tiled floor and some ornate features (e.g. etched mirrors and moulded ceiling). Little else in the way of decor, and plain furniture. Very empty post-work on a Thursday (when other nearby places were as busy as you would expect). Annoyingly, no OBB on handpump so made do with a pint of Extra Stout (£3.40).

On 16th June 2013 - rating: 6
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about Crown & Sugar Loaf

This is a Sam Smith’s pub, but unfortunately now without the handpump version of Old Brewery Bitter being available. At one time this pub used to be ona and the same with the Punch Tavern next year, and this one retains the original name of the pub. Being a Sam Smith’s pub, it has been restored to a reasonable facsimile of its former glory, with replacement cut mirrors, woodwork, mosaic floor, and even a marble bar top to boot. The ceiling is original though. It was very quite when I dropped in on Wednesday afternoon – unsurprising really, without a decent ale on offer. The lack of a real ale is a big minus for me, but if you want a quiet drink in comfortable surroundings and aren’t fussy about ale availability, then this one should work for you.

On 28th May 2013 - rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Old Blue left this review about Crown & Sugar Loaf

A traditional, smart, single room Sam Smiths pub, serving Old Brewery Bitter from hand pump for a recession-busting £2.11 (I guess the penny might make some difference on the sort of margins they're working to). Other Sam's brews available on tap are the Extra Stout, Cider Reserve, Organic Wheat Beer, and Pure Brewed and Taddy lagers, and a wider range of bottled offerings. Traditional pub grub is available from 12-3 and 6-8 Monday-Friday.

A good venue for Sam Smiths aficionados, and as one of the quietest pubs in the area a good place for a relaxing beer. I will continue to pop in from time to time, when in the right sort of mood.

On 3rd August 2011 - rating: 6
[User has posted 271 recommendations about 270 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about Crown & Sugar Loaf

The Crown and Sugar Loaf is a Sam Smiths pub with the usual interesting décor and is one of the few that is now found with Old Brewery Bitter on hand pump. The lack of any mainstream draught is evident, but the SS brews are very cheap. There is no TV or music and the usual dartboard found in this chain’s pubs is lacking, but this is probably due to the small size of the bar area. Food is served everyday from midday until 15:00 and from 18:00 until 20:00 and when I visited at 17:30 on Wednesday last week a guy was sitting at the bar eating a baguette purchased off premises and the staff didn’t seem at all concerned.

On an epic crawl of the area two days before Christmas this was by far the quietest pub and the only noise was generated from a couple of blokes playing the quiz machine. OK if one likes SS pubs, but I’m not the greatest fan so I cannot see a return visit anytime soon.

On 30th December 2010 - rating: 5
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]