The Crown Inn, Shepton Mallet

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The pub closest to the Glastonbury Festival site has just reopened (4 Nov 22) after a couple of years’ downtime and a substantial renovation. Whether the investment in time and money is rewarded remains to be seen, but early indications are very positive. There is a car park behind the pub, away from the main road, from which you pass through a newly landscaped garden with seating and a covered area, down an impressive sweeping staircase into a beautifully restored traditional pub. There is a games room at the back with a pool table, a dining area with a cosy atmosphere and a main bar decorated in the style of an eccentric Orwellian middle-class boudoir. Stone floors and walls abound. The two young bar staff were welcoming, enthusiastic and knowledgeable – one of the may have been the landlord but it was hard to tell. Three handpumps on the bar were dispensing Wild Beer Harlequin and Quantock QPA, while a third was dry but clipped Independence. The QPA I had was probably the best pint of QPA I’ve ever tasted. Also on were three real ciders, Haymaker and No8 from Harry’s, and 1/2n1/2 from Stones. Craft ales were Infinity and Independence from BBF, plus Wild IPA - there can't be too much of that left around now. There was also a premium lager and a megacider. Food looked good, reasonable value, and there were some interesting, novel bar snacks at a decent price. There is already a lot of interest in the pub, and I’m sure once the local cadre re-establishes itself this will be a superb pub. Let’s hope so.

On 28^th December 2022 - rating: 8
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