The Crooked Billet, Marlow

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Steve of N21 left this review about The Crooked Billet

The Crooked Billet is an unspoilt traditional country pub offering well kept ale and good pub food and , although being fairly close to the villages of Bourne end and Flackwell Heath in Bucks, it is fairly out the way in the countryside on Sheepridge lane and is located on the Chiltern Way path.
It is reputed to be a 400 year old pub and the original oak beams that give the inside of this pub some character pays testament to that. Originally the internal space must have been at least two smaller rooms, but now it is one open space around a smallish corner bar. Low beamed ceiling, exposed brick fireplace and plenty of other oak beams on the walls and where at least one of the dividing walls would have been.
Old style pub décor with a collection of horse brasses around the bar, assorted porcelain on most surfaces and a collection of period photos and pictures, one of the pub itself from days gone by which shows it as a former Whitbred house.
Nowadays I believe it is a Free House and there are four ale handpumps on the bar. But these are always doubled up and the two regular beers are Brakspears Bitter and Youngs Gold and both have been very well kept on the times I have visited. Food is only served at lunchtimes and here again it is traditional pub fare such as eggs and chips, home made chilli, various ploughmans (from £4.95) and a good offering of doorstep sandwiches which are well worth the charge.
The outside space is equally as pleasant, with a small secluded grassed garden to the side and a patio area with assorted tables and chairs to the front. The garden is also old-school pub style and in summer is a spectacular display of planted tubs and pots for which the pub rightly wins awards. I believe it is a former winner of the national Pubs in Bloom award. One small issue with the outside space is that the pub does not have the luxury of a car park, so unless you are walking the Chilton Way, you drive here. So the view from the patio area is usually a mass of cars parked in the space in front of the pub and all the available verges and kerbside of the road.
As for the average clientele, on the times I have visited at lunchtime it has been, let’s say, mature. I’m not ashamed to admit that I now have 10 more years than David Gower’s first-class cricket batting average under my belt and I feel reassuringly young drinking here. So suffice to say if it’s excitement you’re after, best look elsewhere, but if you are after a good pint of ale in a traditional old country pub with friendly service, you can do a lot worse than a drive out to the Crooked Billet.

On 17^th August 2011 - rating: 8
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