please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I stayed locally for a week in the summer, and needed an internet connection to get some work done - so I rolled up to the Crown - the sort of lovely Cotswold inn that Americans go all weak-kneed about. The new young manager and his staff made me feel really welcome and accommodated me brilliantly, giving me my own 'office' in the atmospheric wood-panelled Hardy Room for a few weekday afternoons. Nothing was too much trouble. With a few nice drops of real ale on tap, some good food and an attractive garden, this one's a winner, and well worth spending a bit of time in to soak up the atmosphere.
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Visited this pub last week and what a refreshing difference! The current landlord has improved this pub dramatically with sensible menu choices and more importantly sensible pricing. Good live music every week and great to see the pub buzzing again with a healthy group of locals. This pub suffered from the previous landlord, who seemed more occupied making sure his wine glass was full rather than listening to the customers and improving the business. Good work, will return.
Jager - 19 May 2011 12:37 |
(The picture is of the Crown on Shaftesbury High Street (6 miles away), not the Marnhull pub.) Changes landlords regularly. On the minus side, it is a Hall & Woodhouse pub; on the plus is that they try quite hard.
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Lovely pub, great staff, excellent food friendly efficient landlady, but the landlord [Phil] is a scruffy unprofessional who lets to whole pub down. Better having our pub open, but I do wish Hall & Woodhouse would take more care with who they appoint.
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Delighted to report that the Crown achieves a rare double - it's a lovely pub AND an excellent hotel. The new owners have done a fantastic job.
Very historic, atmospheric interior (open fire, flagstones etc) - and the rooms have been really well done up. Friendly, and knowledgable, staff. The food is v, good as well. We had a great break there before Christmas and will definitely be back.
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According to the February 2009 edition of 'the Visitor', the Crown is now open again.
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According to today's local paper (9 Jan 2009), "One of Dorset�s most famous pubs closed this week when its tenant went into liquidation.
But it is hoped The Crown at Marnhull, best known as The Pure Drop Inn in Thomas Hardy�s Tess of the D�Urbervilles, will be up and running again as soon as possible." A pity, as it was a very good place.
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A great local pub which is also worth going out of your way to visit. Well kept Hall and woodhouse beer plus a draft cider. Plenty of wines by the glass etc. Good food (reasonably priced)served in adjacent restaurant area. Large but cosy L shaped interior, flagstones and some settles. Local bands on most Friday nights. Large garden. Friendly young landlord has been tennant for about 3 years. Some piped music but not too loud.
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Well deserved award. Excellent beer - food still just as good.
TF - 13 Sep 2004 21:30 |
Another excellent meal - huge choice. Badger beer still the best.
tim - 1 Feb 2004 12:09 |
Good food - best pint of Badger I've tasted in years!
Tim - 18 Nov 2003 10:19 |
Good food, crap Hall and Woodhouse beer. Was pretty packed when I went in especially given the inclement weather at the time. Nice lay out.
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