please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Not really what I would class as a traditional local boozer. I'm not quite sure what the Crown & Sceptre is trying to be. Although it was reasonably busy on my Sunday lunchtime visit. So it must be doing something alright. Food was being served from the open kitchen at the back, with roast joints on display and a chicken on a spit. Classical music was playing, which created a strange atmosphere. 2 Scottish beers from Caledonian were on - Flying Scotsman & Deuchars IPA. Not quite sure what to make of it all. But I can't say I'd hurry back.
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Good beer selection scottish sometjing,, brief pint didnt stay long enough to know more
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you could be be poping out for a packet of fags in turin,playing dominos in winipeg,dinning on a sultry evening in corsica,studying in kampala,returning from the pictures in metz,playing darts in birmingham,returning from q.p.r.such is the flavour of the crown+scepter.oh i forgot they also sell fine english ale and also good food.!
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Its always difficult to judge a pub when your only in for 30 minutes and its packed with gig goers but based on the beer (and the little I could see in the darkness of the lighting) it was ok.
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This pub was sadly disappointing after the refurb. The real ale asking prices are all �3.50 a pint. Ridiculous! Even West End pub chains like Nicholsons do more attractive prices. Is it betting on affluent Holland Park residents? Maybe. But this unfriendly pricing policy does not bode well for this troubled address. It was not busy when I called by, and I am no hurry to try it again.
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Just reopened. Great food, good wine.
Short on customers for lunchtime at present but trade seems to be building with more people every time we go.
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It's open! Confirmed by having a pint in there yesterday evening!
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The Crown & Sceptre W14 8BA is, after being closed for some time, apparently re-opening for business Wednesday, 1st September 2010.
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This pub is being refurbished, apparently by the people behind the Albion in nearby Hammersmith Road. So it is not being converted into flats.
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This place was still shut when I tried to visit last night - and no sign of it reopening in the future.
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A real shame if this is shut, but things didn't seem right on a recent visit. Tuesday evening, very quiet. Hog's Back TEA and HOP both in pretty rough condition (the HOP was simply undrinkable).
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localboozer if that is true it is indeed a shame. I have to say on my recent visit things just did not feel right.
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Sadly this pub appears to have been closed down.
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Having read the reviews on here I really expected something rather different to what I found. Three pumps, two on, serving Hogs Back Summer Ale and TEA, but the Summer Ale was not in any condition to drink. In fairness the barman pulled the TEA through as he hadn't served any for a while and it was passable. The pub itself though is rather odd, a traditional corner site but now knocked through into one area, full height non-original doors/windows, a crazy yellow/orange/terracotta colour scheme, yet a seemingly original bar back and incongrously a high shelf containing a collection of blow torches. There is a dartboard (next to the entrance), seating varies enormously in style, from shabby old banquettes to trad and low sofas all jumbled together. Distressed wooden floor. There is a raised area to the rear. Very quiet on a Sunday afternoon, two customers inc me, the radio blaring out did little to enhance the experience.
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Attended this top establishment with 3 friends and all I can say is THANK YOU!! Hogshead Spring Ale and T.E.A were on along with a Daleside Ale. Asked for some Bruschetta and it was very well presented and tasty. Going back to the Ale, all 3 were of the highest standard in taste. Will definitely return when in the area.
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Wonderful pub.
Visited for the first time on 25th Feb. Very friendly and helpful bar staff. A pleasant and agreeable colour scheme with walls and ceilings in peach and terracotta. Quarry tiles and bare floorboards greet you underfoot, and there is a mezzanine. Toned-down tungsten lighting, two tv screens at low volume showing sport, and one gaming machine. Most tables seat up to four drinkers.
In terms of beer, three changing real ales available; tonight these were:
Westgate Gold 4.2%
Hogs Back Winter Ale 4.6%
and Springhead Sweet Lips, 4.9%
The Westgate was excellent, full glavoured and quecnhing.
Food menu was superb, with a Mexican theme and catering for all tastes. The generously-portioned chilli was great value for money at �7, as well as being richly beefy and searing hot!
All in all a very relaxed charming pub that is worth a journey to find. Will certainly return!
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A place like this is as rare as rockinghorse shit nowdays. A proper pub with excellent ale. Not a chav or tourist in sight.
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I went in this evening with a couple of mates on the strength of previous reviews and we were definitely not disappointed. Pleasant surroundings, friendly staff and an eclectic mix of clientele all added to the successful formula. At first sight the stipped-back decor might lead one to think this is an old boozer that had been mucked about too much by the interior designers, but after a very short while it became clear that this is still a community pub for one and all. The piped music was at a reasonable level, the ales were well kept (the Butcombe on tonight was superb), and the Mexican food was surprisingly good with the beer and didn't ruin the palate as might have been presumed.Oh - and there was quiz on raising money for a local sports team.Recommended.
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I visited Kensington in May for an event at Olympia. I spent a very pleasant Saturday night at the Crown and Sceptre. The atmosphere was very friendly and relaxed. The clientele was mixed in terms of age and everyone was very mellow. The Hog's Back TEA was absolutely fantastic and the food was superb and very, very reasonably priced. I would definitely return. Highly recommended.
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Great pub! Brilliant selection of real ales that is ever changing although hogsback T.E.A seems to be a deserving regular. Always well kept. Good food too at reasonable prices for w14!
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This has the feel of a pub struggling not to be seen as a bar, which is unusual in Kensington, I hope it succeeds. There were only two ales on when I visited and they were 3.6% and 3.8% which was a bit disappointing. I�ll definitely go back and try it again though as it does seem to get good reviews for its beers.
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Great pub - friendly atmosphere, shared by young and old alike - and deservedly West London CAMRA pub of the year 2007. Changing selection of three real ales, always well kept. Fully recommended.
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Went on the off chance after reading the mostly favourable reviews. What a gem of a pub. 3 "different" ales,all very well kept and served, excellent, mostly Mexican food, and a very entertaining Tuesday evening quiz. Generally chiled and civilised atmosphere and prices very reasonable by London standards. A definite find to which I will return....
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Nice pub, but quite an odd food menu - do mention when you order if you don't your burger served on a bagel!
blink - 24 Jul 2007 12:02 |
Nice place, great ales and very good food. We only had some starters, but the mexican stuff was better that what I had in the States the week before!
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Do not miss this one if you are in the area and worth a diversion if you are not. The Landlord really looks after his ale, and if you ask him to get a particular one in he will try to please. Continually changing selection of at least three real ales that never fails to impress. Like a mini beer festival every week only better. Food looks good but always too busy trying the beer.
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I used to drink bottled cider (i am a cider drinker) in this neighbourhood as getting consistent good ale or cider was rare. Not any more, the Crown has great beers all the time and they are served properly! This pub looks half modern and half traditional but the main thing is that it is run as a proper pub-every one is made to feel welcome. It has a really good atmosphere so make the effort (2 minutes from Olympia tube). The Badger was excellent!
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I always refresh myself at this pub after or during a visit to any of the exhibitions at nearby Olympia (a short hop over the railway footbridge). Last Saturday I was delighted to find a great trio of real ales viz: King's Old Ale, Harveys' Sussex & Hogs Back T.E.A. but I never got past the King's Old Ale as it was so good! Also had a large very tasty club sandwich (as well as excellent real ales they serve good value wholesome food throughout the afternoon on Saturdays).
A genuine pub where you are always made to feel welcome. Long may it thrive.
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I have reviewed this pub twice before and still have more praise to give. Have been drinking in this area for years and this pub has had the best guest beers bar none. 3 Different 'Old Ales' in feb, 2 milds and 2 porters. Have not seen Old Ales in w14 before. I did get to try 4 of the Harvey's ales they had on offer during the month and look forward to trying the Hogsback Spring and HBB (formerly Hair of the Hog?) that the landlord told me were coming soon.
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Sorry, T.E.A. is Hogs Back, not Hopback. Obviously had Salisbury on my mind, Hopback & Downton breweries suggest that must be worth a visit.
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'Rugged cosmopolitan'? Glass, light weathered wood, mismatched seating & tables, eclectic mix? On my only previous visit both beers had just gone, but was impressed that barman dashed straight down to change them (as should be the case) but was in hurry so couldn't wait. I'm glad I went back yesterday; there seems to be an interest in beer that sits a little incongruously with the bar but that's good and the choice was Hopback TEA or 'Drum' bitter from Downton brewery in Wiltshire. 'Drum' (4.2%) was light, tasty & refreshing. Wine menu had some reasonable choices at �10-12 btl, sandwiches & bites �4/5, Tacos/Fajitas �6 on specials board. Harveys beer mats - so I guess they stock it on rotation. ... ps. reminded of fav joke of '06 : 'How do Mexicans keep warm?', 'They use chicken fajitas' boom boom!
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Almost as cosy as the Radnor, but slightly more mainstream. Another interesting beer range, and looks like an ideal place to relax (& eat). Very friendly as well, and very high quality cellarmanship
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Good beer and good food! Nice atmosphere and good staff. Mexican theme to the menu and the beers always changing. Best pub in the area!
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This pub has the best varying real ale range in the neighbourhood. The beer is always in top form. As it is so close to the train station it is a great after work stop. The evening menu has a genuine mexican flavour (2-4-1 on saturday) which I enjoyed with a pint of burton bridge damson porter. Still a great pub that everyone who likes real ales should visit. Nice and clean as well.
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Fantastic pub was my work 'local' for a number of years. Really miss going there now I work in the city.
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Good beer. Reasonable, unpretentious, plentiful food. Relaxed atmosphere. Usually (but not always) good service.
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Excellent tenanted pub run by a lovely couple - good real ale selection well kept & served - good value food and one of the best weekly quiz nights (Tuesdays). Always an enjoyable visit.
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First time in the UK I have seen a quiz conducted entirely in Spanish (Mon evening)? Friendly place, beer was good.
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Difficult to do more than endorse all the previous comments. However the pub does have a genuinely warm and relaxed atmosphere, making it well worth a trek to get there.
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Well kept beers (I had a nice pint of Moles) and decent food at a reasonable price. Very nice.
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My word! The celebrated Crown & Sceptre is now in the GBG, complete with plump Australian and real Mexicans too ( Hi Giselle).
Apres moi, le deluge.
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This establishment never ceases to amaze me! If you like chick-flicks then come here. Not only have you got "Cocktail" Stevo, spinning and throwing glasses like you cannot imagine.....but you've got rock-star "Diamond" Ross, charming you with his endless up-to-date jokes and hairstyles.
Legal Note:
"Cocktail" Stevo is not his real name and when he throws glasses, it is strictly not in the direction of the punters.
"Diamond" Ross is not his real name and when he charms you with his endless jokes, it is strictly not in the direction of humerous.
lerch - 30 Sep 2005 08:39 |
This is a great place with lots of characters. The staff are very nice, especially that plump australian.
Dom, the owner, works hard. He can be seen endlessly scrubbing to keep the place clean - even under the tables. The tuesday trivia night - now in its fourth year - is very competetive among the local rocket scientists. The draught products are consistantly good, especially if you drink Guinness. The aging furniture blends in beautifully with some of the locals. If you need to know anything, talk to Phil.
lerch - 28 Sep 2005 23:28 |
This is a really good pub. The real ales change regularly and are kept in top form. Mexican food is authentic and delicious don't expect tex-mex the chefs are from Mexico! Tuesday quiz was really popular and the atmosphere in the pub always seems relaxed and enjoyable. Definitely a pub to get to know better
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quiz is ok but a lot of cheating should ban phones
anonymous - 27 Jul 2005 18:10 |
mexican food is nice no cricket
anonymous - 26 Jun 2005 15:28 |
Great pub, and lovely hosts, not like the albion nearby where you never see the landlady(does it have one)at least the crown is is clean and the beer is very good and there is no bad mannered staff.
aecjs - 15 Apr 2005 12:09 |
Try and find this pub in the GBG. Is it there? Why not? Maybe it's the pane and tableish look that puts off the JJ Fairweather loving local CAMRA saddos. Don't pay them any heed. Something for everyone here if you can be bothered. So, Phil, Dom, Jen and Debbie, I'll see you in the Radnor!
Skulevard - 29 Jul 2004 22:51 |
What a lovely pub!! Really well designed and beautifully decorated in warm colours, so you feel cheerful the moment you walk in. The customers are a great, mixed crowd - there's a lively, fun, upbeat atmosphere. Well kept real ales including some unusual ones. Good range of wines by the glass or the bottle, at excellent prices. I tried the Mexican food on a Thursday evening - it wasn't recognisably Mexican, but it was an generous serving of tasty, fresh and healthy food - delicious! The service is outstanding - the staff simply couldn't be any nicer. Absolutely brilliant on every count.
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Crown & sceptre is the perfect place to enjoy a quiet drink, excellent food, and a nice time with the company of all the visitors and the funny staff that is working there. Try the mexican dishes, is just amazing!
Ira�s - 17 Oct 2003 17:01 |
Try the Mexican promotion night on Thursdays, cheap beer & tequila. Saturdays Aussie promotions. Good place to go for a fun & popular night out. Can get extremely busy. Excellent Mexican dishes available as well
debbie - 6 Aug 2003 12:22 |
Fantastic pub! The owner Phil is LOVELY. Great pub quiz on Tuesdays and fantastic atmosphere. Delicious food as well.
Mekhala - 21 Jul 2003 11:59 |
This is a pretty upmarket pub, however its a locals pub, and like the scarsdale is really only for locals to Holland Park/ Kensington. Its a 10 minute walk straight down hi st kensington, alternatively short cut via melbury road. Very nice but a little sleepy-good for a quiet drink and good food, but not a "going out" venue.
kisskisskiss - 8 Jul 2003 10:38 |
Popular local pub with guest beers, good food, excellent company and a legendary quiz night every Tuesday.
Andy - 15 Apr 2003 14:19 |
