please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Yes - a fine establishment now, after major makeover.
Large beer garden, with the concentration on food.
However, avoid the rednecks in the small front bar.
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Open again - after a £300k+ refurbishment.
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Lovely pub right next to the church. A nice bar area and plenty more room at the back, also a big garden. They had Doombar & Tim Taylors Landlord when I was there, both in good condition. Very friendly & efficient staff, had quite a chat with the landlady about how much work is needed to keep the Landlord well, Doombar is much easier apparently. Lunchtime menu is quite limited but fine, sarnies are pretty large. Evening menu looks much more extensive. I liked this pub a lot.
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Visted this pub the other day for a pint and some lunch. After reading the handbaggings on here, I was unsure of what to expect!
There were 3 real ales on, Ringwood Best, Doombar and Timothy Taylor Landlord. Had the Best and Doombar and they were fine. There was a good selection of reasonably priced food on offer. Our meal was good.
I would certainly call in again, if in the area.
Oh, they had raised a pretty impressive amount for H4H too.
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Pleasantly surprised on a return visit. The chef has been replaced, and our our fish and chips were the best we have had in years. Freshly prepared.
We believe the new owner will revamp the interior.
We plan to return. A nice country pub.
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We popped in last week following a country walk. It's a nicely kept / improved pub with a good pint of cider on offer (Weston's Stowford Press) and a mix of client�le. An interesting building with several different seating areas. If you're in Capel and fancy a pint, it's worth popping in
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How I agree with Simonkey7. Yes the landlords are doing their best to make this a village pub but the 'regulars' are destroying a good thing. I'm not an incommer, my family have lived in the village for over 70 years. As I have said before the majority of the regulars are not locals and are extremely rude.
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Yet again another lovely pub ruined by rude and arrogant locals, I spent many years in and out of this pub and have seen its many ups and downs. New landlord and landlady are trying hard to bring this place back up and should be congratulated for their efforts but are being let down badly by many a regulars attitude and behaviour.
I love this place yet my heart sinks at the thought of going in there at the moment, I do hope things change very soon.
maybe the thousand or so villagers who don't go near the place should start going en-masse and reclaiming their village pub!
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It seems apparent that some the so called "newly moved in" and "locals" wish to be greeted to The Crown with a fanfare of trumpets and a red carpet.When this does not happen they choose to blame it on the terrible people ,who have been enjoying the pleasures of this wonderful hostelry for many a year before the arrival of these new celebs.If some of these "newly moved in" critics were to get off there high horse and actually tried to join in and interact with some of the "serfs", they would find them thoroughly decent people.More than likely though they will skulk in for their bi-annual half a lager or glass of wine,for which I am sure the landlord is eternally grateful, then slope off home to type up their vitriolic remarks. I would suggest in future they stayed indoors where can hold themselves in the aura of high esteem they feel they warrant.
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Really try to like this pub as the only one in the village but would rather buy booze to drink at home as it is so anti social. When I moved to the village I hoped that the pub would be the social centre but in fact it's the social club of Newdigate villagers who have several drinking holes they don't use as they have been barred so many times
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Six of us went there for lunch a few days ago and were anitially a bit apprehensive given some of the negative reviews.
It was quite busy but not overly so. The food and drink were fine and the landlady gave us a large helping of chocolate brownies for good measure at the end of the meal.
We were cheerfully and efficiently served which made a big difference.
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Maybe the comments posted on this site have had an effect on the so called regulars. I have been going to this pub for over 10 years as a villager and totally agree with the comments made about certain ignorant people hogging the bar. There are some people that frequent The Crown that are not friendly and do not live in the village, these are the people that give the pub a bad name. It's all down to the money people spend which is a sad fact of running a pub. A few spend loads on booze but the rest of the village are made to feel unwelcome so they don't come with their families. Hopefully The Crown will become a butterfly from a maggot.
anonymous - 14 Oct 2007 19:29 |
After reading comments about this pub i feel very disappointed seeing as on sunday 2nd september i as well went to the crown and must say had the best meal i have had in a long time. I had the breast of lamb which i would recommend!!I did how ever feel for the young chef who did come to appoligise to a customer who was extremely aggressive and personal to him but he conducted himself very well and was extremely polite when i personally would of lost my temper. I would say to all those commenting about the pub that the locals were nothing but helpful to me in gettin to the bar and the staff were fantastic!it is a certain destination for me in the near future
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As a villager, a local and a regular I am bemused by some of the recent reviews of the Crown. the Landlord/ Lady and all the bar staff are always welcoming, friendly and helpful. I drink in bothe the public and lounge bars and find the conversation and banter intererting and inclusive. The beers are well kept, the Spitfire being my personal favourite. The food is freshly cooked and varied and I eat here at least once a week. The new Tuesday home made Curry night is worth a go. Don't write it off without giving it a try if you are passing.
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Went once again to the Crown on Bank Holiday Monday as it was our friends choice. Sorry try to objective but it is still the worst pub I have been to. My friends told me that they do not upset the bar hogging horrible regulars as they have been intimidated by them in the past. It took 43 minutes to get served and by that time we were so angry we left. How can a publican allow such a horrible bunch to intimidate the rest of the pub.
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Still the same horrible pub we experienced before we moved from Capel 18 months ago Went on Sunday afternoon to meet friends before going the village charity cricket match. Maybe new management but still getting priority at the bar to really rude regulars hogging the bar and refusing to allow others to be served. Bar staff thought it was funny that people couldn't get served. We left the pub without having a drink as we were ignored at the bar for so long. It's about time the Crown had a decent landlord who will return the pub to all and not just the chosen few. Maybe a local caravan company will be interested in the behaviour of their staff drinking in the pub with thei company Land Rovers outside. Shame on you bullies!!
anonymous - 21 Aug 2007 22:10 |
As a villager and ex-publican, I know the Crown has got it so wrong. Despite the change of management the pub does not cater for the local people as they allow the rude regulars to dominate the pub. We want a village pub that welcomes everyone not just the chosen few. The Crown used to be a stop off for coach parties touring the Surrey countryside One thing I will dispute the so called postive reviews of this pub, it's definately not a locals pub as the majority the village refuse to go there because of the horrible atmosphere. A country pub is supposed to be the heart of a village and welcoming to all but Crown is so far from that it's unbelievable. Crown management take note, Capel villagers want a good pub not a hostile welcome from the rude regulars and bar staff.
anonymous - 12 Aug 2007 22:20 |
I used to live in Capel until 3 years ago and stopped using the Crown many years ago because it so full of really ignorant 'regulars' mainly not from Capel and has been so clicky. My husbands elderly parents still live the village. A few Sundays ago we agreed that we would try out the Crown for lunch as it was within walking distance of the in-laws. Okay the sunday roast was okay but definately not the best in Surrey. The bar service was appalling thanks to the rude regulars hogging the bar and restuarant staff were rude and unhelpful. As per the previous reviews, this pub may have changed ahnds but the 'regulars' really pull thi pub down. I would to thank the driver of a red land rover from a Dorking based caravan company for making it so difficult for elderly and infirm people to enter the Crown through really disgusting parking. Shame on the pub and shame on the 'regulars' for anti social
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sunday lunch and service v good
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Saw the reviews and as villagers we gave it a try after 2 years of staying away due the really horrible atmosphere in this pub. We heard it had been taken over so we took a chance but the decor maybe different but the ignorant regulars are still the problem with the pub. I have lived in Capel for 23 years and only recognised two people as villagers out of all the so called regulars hogging the bar. The regulars do not come from Capel but surrounding villages so what right do they to intimidate people that live in Capel.
anonymous - 1 Apr 2007 17:46 |
The Crown is ultimately always going to be predominantly a locals pub. Exactly as a village pub should be. The new landlord and his family and staff have been excellent since they took over. The new decor - which is only part done before a complete redecoration takes place next month, has made a vast improvement already. It has a cosy homely feel and they welcome in everyone. Old faces that hadn't been seen for a while are reappearing and the bands that grace the pub have been excellent. Christmas and New Years were done excellently with food, drink and fireworks for all.
anonymous - 15 Jan 2007 00:05 |
I agree with the reviews below that the crown USED to have poor service and the decor was not very nice. However in November it changed hands. However I live locally and recently visited it and was shocked by its change. It has all been re-decorated making the eating area feel more like a restaurant, with efficient waiting staff and very nice food. The bar area can get quite busy, but only round the front where all the local's drink. There is a quiet drinking area round by the eating area if you want to relax or have a bite to eat. The now owners have changed it dramatically for the better and i fully recommend visiting it!!
anonymous - 4 Dec 2006 19:35 |
I think it`s a good locals drinking bar around the back area. Nice friendly people and EXCELLENT food
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Met friends at this pub this evening after hearing old manager had left. The bar was almost deserted yet the service was crap. Still not a nice pub to drink in. In fact comes second to the Plough at Coldharbour for rude staff and a really bad atmosphere which is saying something as The Plough is probably the worst pub in Surrey. Don't bother wasting money until you are sure new management has settled in. Horrible pub
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The Crown is an unfriendly pub with rude bar staff and regulars. People drinking at the bar seem to enjoy making it diffult to get drinks. The pub has two small and gloomy bars. There is a large restaurant which apparently serves the best roast dinner in Surrey which was the reason for our visit but due to horrible atmosphere we decided to give it a miss. Won't bother going there again!!
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When to the Crown for a Sunday lunch and was very pleasantly surprised. Although quite snugg in both bars, with the open fire roaring away and the friendly staff it felt like a really nice pub. Most of the rest of the pub has been given over to tables for the restaurant area, which is where we sat to eat. The food was fantastic, and a really varied menu, ranging from traditional �pub grub� to more thought out dishes. Overall I got the impression that people come from all over for the food but it still manages to retain a �local pub� feel.
Recommended!
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This pub could quite easily be 100 times better than it is. Rambling old building with two tiny bars and far too much space given over to the Greek (why..?) restaurant. Public bar given over to under age drinkers, the grown ups go next door. Impossible to get near the counter in either because they insist on crowding round it but there is a nice range of ales which you'd be better off taking into the pleasant garden if you want to escape the loud music. And it is very expensive even by Surrey standards. Only stop if you happen to be passing and need the loos.
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