please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The revamped Crown may do very well (and I hope it does), but yet another example of losing an old fashioned boozer and gaining another gastropub.
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I've learned that it has been bought by the owner of The Lemon Tree restaurant and has been done up. If the job has been done properly the Crown (renamed The Lexden Crown) should do well as there is no competition in the area.
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Went past at the weekend and saw that it was closed for redevelopment. Does anyone know what is going on?
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A not very enjoyable visit to The Crown last night. My mate ordered Harwich Town Redoubt Stout and I had Red Fox Fox & Hind Bitter. Mine was very tired and well past its best, the redoubt stout was undrinkable and vinegar like. Really we should have complained but when two different beers are that bad you worry the rest of them are also like it. In the end we ordered a cab and parked our beers on the table outside. Why do pubs persist in selling too many beers for their turnover? Outside there is advertising stating that they sell 8 real ales, I think 6 were available last night. Judging by this they should take it down to about two or three. There is no way the landlord tasted those beers before they opened up. It will be a long time before I check up on this pub again. A vastly reduced BITE score to reflect this visit.
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I met the new enthusiastic landlord and his experienced barman at the weekend. The pub looked clean and tidy and well presented. The pub is a free house and has eight hand pumped ales. There is no point in listing the beers as they regularly completely change. I noticed that a number of local brewers were being supported which was good to see. There were also two dark beers available; Railway Taverns Crab and Winkle and Harwich Towns Station Porter. We only had time for the one beer this time but no problems with the beer quality or temperature.
The pub is split into two different bar areas. Four hand pumps in the front bar and another four up the stairs in the other bar. There is a blackboard that you can see from both bars showing all the available beer and their strengths. There is certainly enough seating in both bar areas. There are many classic pop/rock music pictures in both bars.
I will certainly use the pub again soon. I just hope they can support eight real ales. I see from the other BITE reviews that the beer quality has been an issue in the past. I for one would rather see a smaller choice if there is a problem turning eight barrels of ale over in a week or less. The landlord seemed very keen and experienced and I am sure he knows exactly what he is doing.
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I recently tried The Crown noticing it was under new management. I was very encouraged by the large selection of local beers. However the ones I tried were served far too warm and instead of refreshing me they made me feel nauseous instead. A shame as there was nothing wrong with the quality of the beer itself.
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I have now used this pub twice in the last 6 months. Both times I have found the beer quality to be good. The pub is still in the new 2008 GBG so I dont think things were as bad as some of the previous posts. Knowing the criteria and the beer surveys required to remain in the GBG it has to be good. I know they have reduced certain unprofitable hours as I was caught out on the old GBG when I had walked to this pub only to find it shut. On both visits there was certainly not as many as 8 pumps on so perhaps they have worked out now how many pumps they can support.
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This pub is in the 2007 CAMRA Good Beer Guide so notwithstanding other reviews on this site, being in the area I decided to give it a try. I ordered a beer called Jouster, and sure enough it was cloudy, soupy and barely drinkable. The pub's decor is pleasant enough, and I can't comment on the food as I didn't stay for any- But I can confirm that the beer isn't good and this pub shouldn't be in the Good Beer Guide
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I have lived in Lexden for 11 years and have to say that the beers in this pub have never been very well kept. I walk into town rather than use this hostelry. My step daughter complained once that even the coke was flat!
This is the nearest pub to the camsite which is where a lot of visitors from the continent first visit on their way to elsewhere. What a shame that they have to visit a pub like this, not a good example of an English pub!
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What is the point of serving eight different sorts of vinegar?
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One of my more preferred pubs - seperate eating and pool areas, a bit small, but generally OK. Not bad if you've just left the A12 and require watering!
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To many real ales on offer for the turnover as the quality is often very poor. Staff are quite arrogant when talking about it. Food not much better than a Macdonalds. Pricey beer.
anonymous - 11 Dec 2005 21:44 |
8 real ales available . Fodd not too bad either .
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