please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This is an upmarket pub with an upmarket clientele. It was busy on my Sunday afternoon visit with local elite and their mutts and brats visiting. Had a decent selection of ales - Oakham Citra, Surrey Hills Shere Drop, Harveys Sussex Best Bitter & Siren Yulu. The interior is very nice. The toilets are also unusual. There was one gents for standing and one for sitting. But the prices are steep and bartenders appear to spend much of their time preparing cocktails or taking food orders. Not so much pretentious, as what is clearly designed for the local community. Probably nicer at quieter times. It was too busy on a warm summer's day.
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Pleasant gastro-y sort of pub which as they say on their website is not _too_ child-friendly - it is a pub after all. Beers including Little Haka, tried. Pub garden is nice as is the location near the riverside.
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Pre-gastrofication, this place was fumbling for an identify. The furniture was all wrong, punters were scarce, and those who did drink there were too interested in the football. Then in 2013 the place was heavily refurbished: walls were knocked through, furnishings improved, and the menu became king.
Drinking there now, I sometimes feel like I'm waiting to be seated, even at 9.00 on a Friday evening when all I want is a few quiet jars. One settles in eventually, although the redolence of the food served there – often fish – has been so strong on occasion that I have been forced to quickly leave.
Yet the service is generally good and the art-work hanging off the walls is a little more interesting than the stock rubbish you get in a lot of these more modern pubs, although they could do with dimming the lights; I suppose the customers need to see what they're eating... 6/10
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Did a revisit last Saturday and still to be recommended.
4 hand pulls for Surrey Hill Sheer Drop, Sharps Cornish Coaster and Hop Back Summer Lightning.
I went for a pint of Harveys Best Bitter which was excellent and cost £3.70.
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I commented on this pub earlier in 2013, and am pleased to say the initial quality has been sustained, and its ongoing popularity seems to endorse this assessment. Good beer, very good food (possibly better than the nearby (dare we say it, now slightly tired) Brula (a notable local restaurant), and very pleasant atmosphere. Perfect for settling in, or just a passing by couple of pints.
One slight quirk - they seem to serve a "quality street" with their Irish coffee - surely a pub of this calibre would make their own after dinner "choccy"!
But otherwise a welcome haven from the rigours of modern life, and a welcome improvement to the slightly gothic Tavern.
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Pub re-opened after refurb. Service good, the creche aspect has gone, but 12 quid for a burger; I must be missing something!
Good choice of bitters, I have to say and it does seem well run.
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Well the header to this page says it all and a quick flick through the images leaves nothing for me to add about this pub other than the beer selection.
In here last Saturday afternoon after 2.00 and quite busy but service was very good.
4 hand pulls for 1 each of Sharpes Cornish Wobbler, Surrey Hills Sheer Drop,
Sam Brooks Wandell and Harveys Sussex Best Bitter.
I had a pint of the Wandell which was nice and cost £3.60 and also a pint of the
Harveys as it's one of my favorites and cost £3.40 and was excellent.
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First time visit yesterday afternoon and by 6.30 all the local tradespeople I used to see at the St.Margarets were there as well! Lovely garden and not smokey. A jug of Pimm's in the sunshine plus a platter of really good tapas. We shall return!
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At last - a really good pub in the St Margaret's area. After an excellent make over, this airy, well designed, spacious pub looks to be a real game changer in the locale. Good selection of ale, at least 9 malts, open fires, good, solid menu, good quality food with helpful staff. The beer garden is huge and very well designed. This is a pub to settle into and with huge leather chesterfields huddled round roaring fires i suepct many will be doing so!
If they sustain the service / food quality over time, this will be a destination pub par excellence. We can only hope that the other local pubs (esp Tavern, also recently refurbed) take note.
As a point of principle, i never rate pubs as a 10, but this is a serious contender!
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Reopened Tuesday 14th May after a stunning high quality refurb. Initial signs are that it is a grown up pub for grown up people i.e. staffed by people who know what they're doing and aimed at a target market of adults. Food menu looks great.
Looks like a real asset for St Margarets. Fingers crossed that it delivers on the early promise.
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Still closed and not much sign of activity. Yes the choice of dark battleship grey with white trim for the outside was er......interesting. Sadly the creche aspect has moved to the Turk's.
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Closed for refurbishment until September.
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Has reportedly changed hands. First sign of the new administration - a Psychic Fair. Oh, dear. Who you gonna' call? Ghostbusters!
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What the f**ing shitting sodding hell colour have they painted this pub? Navy urinal blue. Christ.
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Visited on a weekday evening - earlier reviewers might be interested to learn that there were no children about. Good Twickenham Ale, nicely served, and reasonable and reasonably priced meal. Pleasant staff.
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I only tend to have gone on occasional weekend lunchtimes. Usually some reasonable real ale (particularly if they have a Twickenham Ales brew) but dear me, both the outside and the whole of the inside of the place are like children's playgrounds. Well that's fine if that's what the landlord wants but it's not for me so won't be going back in a hurry.
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Friday night; place is like a morgue; they've run out of Pimms; the beer (allthree I tried) is indifferent and the food is awful. Don't.
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Plastic glasses at 7pm on a Saturday evening because they expected to be busy!!! Says all you need to know.
beap1 - 29 May 2011 22:19 |
There's a difference between allowing children and allowing children to run wild!
Actually, the lunchtime food is good but take ear defenders.
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Average gastropub. Very child friendly but not somewhere I'd visit again in a hurry.
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Nobody seems interested in beer any more.
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Hmmm. Tilly is very quick to plug both this pub's menu and to dis the local competition. While reviewing no other pubs at all. Curious. Could s/he and the management be in some way related?
Just askin'.....
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I had the best meal ever after visiting The Crown today and waiting 50 minutes for some macaroni cheese to be heated up. They were ever so helpful though and were quite informative on the three occasions I had to ask them where my food was and it was quite sad for them to admit defeat and offer to refund my money in the end. However, fortunately all was not lost and I had not wasted my lunch hour with friends waiting for my dinner as I had a mouldy old roll and some cheese back in the office which 'filled the gap'.
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This pub now serves breakfasts, its really worth a try as ten times better than the cafes around and very reasonable prices for the quality offered.
tilly - 21 Mar 2011 18:29 |
very child friendly with playground in the garden. food is ok, drink is ok, shows sport, nothing to write home about but serve a good pint with capable staff.
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Great place to go with the kids if weather good due to the pub garden having a good play area.
Excellent roast dinner - veggie roast by far the best I've had anywhere.
Bit stingey on some of the kids meals - considering not cheap.
Have found food always to be good here.
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Not the most inspiring place to have a drink, however, just called in for a Kronenbourg and I wasn't aware that one of those typical lagers that we're all bored of seeing could taste so good! Maybe there's a change occuring.
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A bit of a creche during the day but good for a quiet well-poured ale later on of a midweek evening. Not stingy with the heating.
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What amazes me about this pub is that although it gets very busy the quality of food and service doesnt seem to drop. the staff are the friendliest bunch i have seen for a long time. the roast pork came with amazing crackling (that if old worral thompson was able to do then his place would not have gone bust.)
a baked apple filled with apple sauce and probably the nicest potato dish i have ever tasted. Was driving so didnt taste the beer this time - great work all involved
tilly - 29 May 2009 19:01 |
Decent Pub with a nice garden and friendly staff. Guiness is usually good and there is always a tempting choice of local ales. They have also introduced a more trimmed-down bar snack menu consisting of good quality doorstep sandwiches at realistic prices.
However, my enjoyment of all these positive elements is often impaired by the local Yummy Mummy brigade who seem to frequent the establisment. I've nothing against kids in pubs but I do believe there should be some sort of designated area for them. Sometimes, when walk in the main entrance to the bar, it resembles the starting grid of the push-chair grand prix, and there have been too many occassions where I feel obliged to drink-up before the nappy changing commences.
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What a great pub. Excellent Sunday Roast, by far the best in the area. Lovely garden which actually gets the sun. It does tend to be very family friendly but i noticed there are signs saying it is child free after eight which does seem to be quite a sensible policy by the management.
It is definately worth a visit. They had london pride and twickenham on and made a great pimms for the wife
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A lively and friendly pub with modern d�cor and a good choice of beers. I had a Twickenham Original and my friend had Twickenham Sundancer, both of which went down quickly and easily. The DJ on Friday was a bit loud but the music was good (and I'm not a fan of dance music) so that was OK.
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Couldn't agree more with last two comments. Just popped in with husband and kids who, as per usual, sat quietly with their crisps & drinks. We left after we had finished our drinks due to a couple of kids charging up and down on their scooters INSIDE the pub! One fell over twice narrowly missing the radiator with his head. The mother seemed totally oblivious whilst staff had to pick him up and bring him over to the table!!! Not in a rush to visit again.
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With reference to review below, strongarm is right. Place can turn into a noisy creche VERY quickly, with scant consideration or acknowledgement of non-parents who are now almost an inconvenience.
On the other hand, food is good, beer is good and cold.
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Not rating the pub this time but passing on reports that this is not the nice place for families that it might be on Sundays due to the presence of some extremely unpleasant and disruptive kids whose parents are known to - and who are thus indulged by - the staff. You have been informed.
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Garden has been tidied up since my last visit last year: slightly larger play area; new grass; more tables. Bar staff are very friendly and assiduous (in helping you spend against your tab!). Beer (Twick) in good nick. Home-made burgers very nice; could use being a bit bigger....Whenever I go there there seems to be the loathsome football on the TV inside but as I only go in sunny weather and sit in the garden, who cares?
Worth a visit.
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Popped in on Easter Monday for lunch after the being advised of a 40min wait for food at the St Margarets
Tavern.
Arrived with limited expectations but left mightily impressed with the Crown.
Fine pint of London Pride and the food was excellent and very reasonably priced. We had burgers at �7.00 and the chap had the table next to us had very impressive looking toad-in-the-hole.
I would echo the previous comments about the friendly attitude of the staff. The owners are putting some serious effort in to making this place work and it looks like they've got things about right.
We were impressed and will certainly be back,definitely preferable to the behemoth of the St Margarets Tavern.
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I was delighted to read the comment bellow. I genuinely do not understand how one could have a bad word to say about the pub. The staff are not only friendly but seem to thoroughly enjoy their jobs, displaying enthusiasm and exeptional service. The food has been delicious every time i've eaten. Also the friday night live music creates a great atmosphere. I recomend the crown very highly.
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After reading the reviews on The Crown and then experiencing an evening there myself, i find it hard to believe that these people had ever actually been.
I really enjoyed my meal, as did the 5 people i was joined by. The food was very tasty and i found the staff to be very friendly and the atmosphere extremely pleasent. To summarise, great pub, great food, can't wait to go again!! (Especially in summer when the sun is shining, sipping a magners in the fantastic garden...)
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Visited last night (a quiet August Thursday). This pub has all the right ingredients - great location, nice interior, good beer garden. So why is it so empty? Couple of families in there with small kiddies running around (well past their bed times) - so agree with some of the other comments. Something is missing - namely customers - and I'm not sure why. Summary: good pub, but really needs an atmosphere.
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We visited this pub on Sunday for lunch. The Sunday roast was very disappointing! for the price and what you got I would not recommend have it.
The outside area is great for kids and plenty of tables. Inside is a pleasant wooden contemporary feel, the beer was fine and the staff seemed ok.
The big down side of this pub is the food! not very good and over priced.
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Maybe if they tried to remember this is a pub, not a daycare centre, they might attract responsible parents who can teach their children to behave and not tear around screaming ALL the time.
Food's been iffy on the two occasions I've had it, but I might have just been unlucky.
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Dear All,
I am a local to this pub and before it was taken over it was alright.
I thought it looked promising when it first reopened - the staff seem interesting looking and they had a music night.
I have come to find that the pub is swormed with children. I don't mind this once and while, or in summer when it's lovely outside, it can be quite pleasant to have everyone of all ages gathered together.
However, I have noticed that the children's parents are all mates, and a couple of them work there from what I can gather (the serving behind the bar gave it away).
I feel this pub is used to congregate and has been taken over by the staffs mates. The group make me feel intimidated and unwelcome.
In regard to the beer it seems fine, it drinks well. I have no problem there. In fact if it's one night when the 'mates' are not there and if you maybe have a mate or two it can be nice sat around the big wooden tables, sipping on a Bacardi (who drinks Bacardi these days? me, I was introduced to a Barcardi, cranberry and fresh lime in Florida Keys - it's great).
So, back to the review.
I have too opposite opinions on the food. I have had a risotto which was pretty tasty. A bit claggy (gooky - thicker than sloppy) but filled me up. Another however, my brother ordered a burger last summer, and it not only took ages but when it arrived, and he cut into it, it was bloody, not just red, but bleeding.
I could not believe my eyes.
I had to take the plate myself to the bar, as no one was paying attention to our table, even though there was only us and two other tables dining, of a potential 25 tables.
There was no recognition from staff which I found uneasy having spent money on a meal for three plus drinks, and the chef (who was half there in mind) said she'd grill it a bit longer.
I am a fan of how Americans service each other. So to speak. So the Crown has no change in my review.
You make your decision. I've made mine.
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Fantastic child friendly pub with great outdoor play area (Don't know what we will do with our son now winter is soon upon us) An indoor play area would be great if the owner reads the reviews!!!
Shame there isn't more pubs in the area suitable for the kids.
Food is Great - slightly pricey - probably wouldn't go there for a roast at �10.95 when surrounding pubs are cheaper.
staff seem friendly enough.
Definatley worth 8.5/10
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dull as ditch water, lager tastes just as bad.
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Have visited this pub a couple of times and each time have found it lacking in atmosphere.
Went in last Wednesday with my husband and daughter. The lady behind the bar was incredibly rude, the wine was hot (not just warm) and the burger that my daughter ordered was pink in the middle. When I mentioned this she offered to "reheat it for her". At this point we left and won't be returning.
It's a great shame because this pub has loads of potential but with the current staff it is a real let-down
anonymous - 10 Jul 2006 14:06 |
Not really a pub anymore, more of a yuppie-with-brats hangout. Tiny car park, expensive food, no character.
anonymous - 6 Jul 2006 15:50 |
I agree with the post on the 28th march. I have been in there with friends/family/kids and had a lovely day.Watching football is good in there as there are no loudmouth idiots, and again 'the tatooed barman', who I think is the governor, let us rearrange the sofas and tables to our liking. Yes the roast is a wee bit pricey, but no-one makes you have it.Also I'm not sure why but the crown and the st margarets have stunners behind the bar. no complaints there!
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I have been to The Crown several times since it first re-opened last year. Although my first visit for Sunday lunch just after it re-opened wasn't a huge success (more on the food front than anything) I think it's really improved.
I have been there recently on a Saturday evening (minus the kids) for an early drink (in by 8pm out by 9pm) and there's a lovely relaxed atmosphere - cool live music and food still being served. There were loads of families in (mostly with children over 5) and as a parent myself it's good to find somewhere where you aren't treated as though you're a leper if you have children out after 8pm. I've also been for sunday lunch in the garden and the food has improved; the children's menu is much more suitable than when it first re-opened and the staff were polite and friendly. If you're a parent who wants somewhere relaxed, a little bit trendy and very child friendly then this is definately the place for you.
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I disagree with the last comment, this pub certainly had no 'character' before its refurbishment, what it did have were 'characters', all a bit rough and unfriendly. the old pub served thai food but the density of cigarette smoke made your curry taste like the wall of a nightclub.
it is very clean now and i especially like the tattooed barman who gives the impression of being the owner, he must be the one who hires the bar staff as all are unbelievably attractive. he went up even more in my estimation for allowing me and friends to rearrange the position of the sofas to our liking. he also disconnected a speaker above my head after i complained that the music was too loud, i am sure he would have fetched me earplugs if he had any. i would associate this type of helpfulness with The Samaritans or the Dorchester not a pub!
One criticism is that the rich 40-somethings with new babies and X5s descend upon the garden in summer with their noses held high. watch them order food 10 minutes after you and receive it 10 minutes earlier than you. on reflection i suppose the pub was designed for people like this rather than public sector blue collar workers like myself...
anonymous - 28 Mar 2006 18:24 |
Unbelievable - this place now looks like an all bar one or a slug and lettuce - it's had any character stripped out of it. Why would you want to pay �9.50 for a sunday roast here when you can get three courses of quality food for �9.99 at the nearby Rising Sun and it also feels like your in a pub. Horrible loud and echoey - feels like your sat in a hospital waiting room. Give it 3 as the beer's good.
anonymous - 21 Nov 2005 14:22 |
i suppose they are trying? but something is missing is this a pub or members only club i am not local so i dont fit
anonymous - 27 Jul 2005 18:21 |
its ok if u want a modern place food ok beer not great ill stick to real pubs sorry
anonymous - 26 Jun 2005 15:59 |
This is my first review. Went last Saturday 11 June in the evening. Was impressed by the atmosphere. Good DJ playing cool music. Not incredibly busy - leather armchairs and cosy corners to sit and chill. Mixed crowd of people and not any young idiots. I didn't have the pleasure of visiting this pub under the old management, so can't compare, but is a welcome local addition and a nice change of scene from the St. Margaret's Tavern at the other end of Crown Road which tends to monopolise the area. Go now, before it becomes too popular.
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The Crown will be introducing new quiz nights and live music in the next month or so
anonymous - 3 Jun 2005 13:46 |
The relaunched Crown doesn't do quiz nights or live music but it does do good food and great London Pride amongst other things. Whoever anonymous is must be talking about another pub. I'd suggest the GP tries it out when he's in an better mood but avoids the segrated round the corner at the back of the garden kiddies play area if he doesn't like kids that much.
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Unfavourable refit!! ARE YOU BLIND???
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Hmm.. Pub gets a unfavourable refit, next thing there is a comment clearly posted by someone linked with the new management.
Might want to ignore the previous comment - it has false staff praise written all over it. It happens on many pubs on this site, usually rubbish ones, and I don't know why because it is always obvious.
TheGP - 18 May 2005 14:11 |
This pub is excellent. The staff are friendly and the new look has brightened and modernised the whole place whilst still keeping a traditional feel. Friendly service and with new quiz nights and live music, this pub is a great night or day outing.
anonymous - 17 May 2005 19:52 |
Now re-opened, following a drastic internal makeover.
Is now promoting itself as a family pub and restaurant and, on the Sunday afternoon that I visited, was full of screeching kids in pushchairs and buggies. Nearly got run over several times.
Very focused now on the family - little, if anything now to appeal to anyone else, sadly.
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Now closed, and currently surrounded by scaffolding - but scheduled to reopen in May 2005. Sorry, that's all I know at present
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I'm sad to say that both Trudi and I are now selling the lease on the pub and moving away. Thanks to all those who kept us in the sixes on this site and good luck to the next owner. We are moving to The Radnor Arms in Kensington should you wish to visit.
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Yes Mr Bull Dog but this pub does Thai Food well and for a reasonable price there are plenty of cardboard chip emporiums in Twickenham (try the George)!!! Keep up the good work, a lovely family pub, good food, fab Belgium White beers, great Jazz band practice out the back of a summer evening in a back room and the music floods the garden and makes for great evenings under their decorative and calming garden awnings. Avoid during midday rush in summer if you don't like sharing your space with kids, the mini-adventure playground is very popular.
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I visited this establishment a few times in June of this year. I was staying with a mate who lived locally and we found the pub a pleasant place to frequent. Friendly staff and good value Thai food.
Graeme Catty - 30 Oct 2004 03:23 |
Nice traditional pub, but you can always smell the Thai food. Old fashioned and all the better for it.
Doesn't get the Circuit drinkers from Richmond or Twickenham on Friday or Saturday nights, which is an added bonus
John - 14 Oct 2004 17:36 |
OK Peter the landlord, fair point well made. In light of this info. I may return for another pint (of something other than Heineken..)
I'll also up my rating
Heineken sound as if they are getting away with daylight robbery mind you.
TheGP - 15 Sep 2004 16:35 |
The reason for the Heineken being priced so high is due to the fact that it is no longer brewed under licence in this country. Instead it is imported from Holland. Although more expensive than the old Export it is a much smoother pint of beer. The price we offer it at covers the gross profit margin required for us to stay in business. And despite the increase many of our customers have switched to it, asthey preffer it to Stella. You get what you pay for. Had the gentleman ordered something else he would have recognised that as a whole we work out as one of the cheapest pubs in the local area. I hope he visits again, our Stella is �2.70, he may find this a little easier to swallow.
Peter - 14 Sep 2004 14:52 |
Walking into this pub for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised - Looked good inside, decent music playing, no pikeys and a good range of beer.
However... I was then forced to pay �3.05 for a pint - THREE POUNDS FIVE PEE! We are in Twickenham admittedly, but there is a line between being an expensive pub and a ripoff - And this place is a rip off. It was only for a pint of bloody Heineken as well. I was considering a Hoegaarden or Leffe but a call to Ocean Finance would have been in order if I had been foolish enough to order one of those beers.
A real shame - A decent pub ruined by ripoff prices. Officially the most expensive pub in Twickenham.
TheGP - 31 Aug 2004 10:14 |
Why has nobody mentioned the aviary? Very strange.
Street life?
Skulevard - 26 Aug 2004 00:10 |
The best pub in the area! A real pub for real people and lovely owners.
Gizmo - 30 Jul 2004 14:48 |
Great pub traditional pub that serves a good pint of real ale. Pete and Trudi make you very welcome and create a real local atmosphere. A great place to relax and unwind.
matt - 1 May 2004 20:29 |
The Crown is a friendly comforatable pub whci hserves delicious Thai food in the evenings. It is the type of place you would enjoy after a hard day in the office: soaking up the realxed atmosphere and the good food and beer.
Crona - 29 Apr 2004 13:28 |
A great local gem in the midst of boring chain pubs. Good drink,food & landlord & landlady. long live the traditional pub!
Alex - 29 Apr 2004 11:07 |
it has pool tables............. thats about it
jonny - 6 Apr 2004 22:21 |
A bit dowdy really, but the Thai food is good and quite cheap.
Mary - 1 Dec 2003 11:43 |
real fire thai food great wines good choice of beers what more can you ask for on a dark cold winter evening
kate - 18 Nov 2003 23:31 |
Perfect for a few beers with the mates. Belgian beers, thai food, pool, darts, sky sports.
What more could you want other than free beer?
Phil - 19 Aug 2003 18:20 |
It's a great place to play pool. I almost got beaten up in there once, and it's sometimes very smokey - but apart from that it only brings back pleasant memories.
Sven - 9 Jul 2003 11:33 |
This is now the local place to be on a sunny weekend afternoon with the kids. In fact they demand we go there. They have plastic beakers for small children. Beer is kept well. Excellent start to the makeover.
Roger C - 10 Jun 2003 13:19 |
. hi i am trudi and along with my husband we run and own the crown as summer is on its way we are just finishing the garden we have put a play area for toddlers and under 10s .,table tennis for the energetic adult ,2 beautiful gazebos along with heaters ready for our chilly days and cool evenings leffe blonde, hoegarrden staropramen stella guiness all on draught, bottles include peroni nastre azzuro leffe bruin budvar doc equois tiger and of course becks and bud. real ales are very popular pride is a regular, also everards tiger grand union bitter and 3s a crowd mild and recently stout we have different ales each week comming soon timothy taylor landlord and chadwicks we have a small selection of wines but are very nice and not too pricey.there is parking for 10 cars we are right next door to marble hill and 5 mins stroll to the river it would be nice for someone to visit us and give us their opinions as i am obviosly byassed thankyou
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exellent night thursday steve simpson was fantastic we will be back to see him on 13 feb
sue gear - 10 Jan 2003 19:24 |
great pub for any get together tasty thai food big screen only for major events [England or 6nations etc. Girly friendly a roaring fire with a blackand white dog and a black and white cat called splodge who will be gently stroked when he chooses.twofrench girls behind the bar are very friendly and very french both bundles of fun shame about the old guy he dosentseem to know what a smile is anybody paying a visit has permission from the owners of the pub to call him a miz-hog as long as they also put it in writing and leave it at the bar for the managment.quiz nights are very popular i cant wait fot the comedy club to start on sundays.
trudi - 10 Jan 2003 19:20 |
Sells booze and fags.And crisps.Ace.
anonymous - 3 Jan 2003 09:11 |
Excellent Fullers and the Leffe is served Belgian style.
Landlord friendly,but from Essex.A good old fashioned pub with great garden.
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Large friendly local
Draught Leffe & hoegaarden, pool tables, beer garden, function room. Weekly live music, quiz etc
Peter Lambert - 3 May 2002 16:54 |
