please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Currently closed for 'refurbishment' after the existing hubby/wife landlords gave up, blaming the PubCo landlords. With the previous demise of The Horns, that just leaves The Bull and The Woodman Who's next?
|
llcoolg, are you sure you were in The Crown? I haven't been there for some time, but unless The Crown has changed radically, I would suspect that the pub you're describing was The Horns, further down the High Street, which is indeed a restaurant.
|
Bad, bad, bad. After a long Sunday walk, we walked into this place to have a relaxing pint, and found a half-empty pub. We were accosted by a waitress asking "can I help you?". On explaining we wanted to have a drink, we were pointed through to the separate "bar area" which turned out to be two tables by the toilet, with a TV showing adverts, which smelled of piss. We are a well turned out male/female couple. It's not like we needed to sit in the Tradesman's Area. This is not a pub, it's a restaurant. And not a particularly welcoming one. Be warned.
|
Pleasant enough unpretentious pub which clearly has a darts fetish - nice pic of Wolfie on the wall and a prominent dartboard. Beers were good - 1066 especially. Shame they didn't have any food on other than crisps/muffins - I'm sure a few pork pies, scotch eggs or veggie snack are easy enough to provide as a stop-gap between meal sessions. Hey ho. But, friendly punters and great beer earns it a 7.
|
Only went to this pub due to the relatively high rating of 6 out of 10 but what a disappointment. Had to walk past a crowd of rought looking locals to get insides to be greeted by the sounds of "I'm as Wanker" on full blast in the pub. Walked up to the bar to order and the landlord continued to happily sing along to the high quality music whilst getting our drinks.
This was at 7pm on a Friday night not midnight. What completely inappropriate music. Horrible atmosphere, horrible pub - left there after only drinking half our drinks and went to Bull down the road - 20 times nicer!
|
Very nice village pub. Four real ales on, Dorking gold, Westerham APA, "Three in a bed" from Tunbridge wells brewery and another. Tried the Dorking Gold which was very good and the "Three in a bed" which was average. Sunday roasts were good and cheap. Very friendly & helpful staff. Only downside is that it's pretty cramped when you're trying to sit down to eat.
|
Real fire, good fish on Fridays and wonderful local ale!
|
Glad to see that my views from two years ago are largely supported. That seems to say something about the continuation of the management.
The place enjoyed some bonus trade when the neighbouring Bull was recently closed for refurbishment, and I gather that it's been rather successful in retaining the new patronage. A new record seemed to have been set one Saturday when 35 bell-ringers added themselves to the normal lunchtime crowd. And were coped with!
|
We come to the Crown every month or two, and it is consistently lively, friendly and interesting. Food is average pub fare but the beers are excellent. Westerham Brewery is making them a special 'Crown Inn' ale which is pretty good, they have Harveys and other guest ales too. Quiz nights, folk music sometimes, murder mystery evenings, darts, etc etc. Camra newsletters dotted around the bar along with the free range eggs and other stuff. Well worth a visit.
|
Was in just before Christmas, and was favourably impressed. A good range of mainly local beers, though I chose to drink Woodforde's Wherry, which was excellent. Keen and helpful landlord, very good lively atmosphere, nice (though rather smoky) open fire. Pleased to say nobody was stabbed while I was there. Altogether, a pub on the up, I'd say.
|
The last time I was here was when the guy got stabbed!! I wont be goin back either!!!
|
Popped in whilst passing through Otford yesterday. Similar to another review, the place could do with a little care, especially the beer garden which was looking a bit neglected.
That said though, the beer and the real cider were both good and the landlord was very knowledgeable about what he was selling which is always a nice touch. Would definitely come back for a longer stay next time.
|
Was in not so long back and had several pints of the Harveys, which was very well kept. Overtaken the Bull as the better pub in Otford.
|
Really enjoyed the guest cider & ales. The food was really good - a real non-frozen sausage! The servce was also really good and friendly. However, the beer garden is something to be desired. Would have loved this place if I had been blind-folded. If they took some pride in the place and looked after the garden & the pub part, it would be fantastic.
|
We often go in for a sunday lunch and it's delicious. You have the option of a small medium and large at a decent price, we tend to have a small to save room for desert. Friendly staff as well. Sundays tend to be busy so in order to get a table any time in the afternoon you need to book.
|
Inherited shabbiness, if that's what it is, can be tolerated in the short term if there's someone (new licencees) trying very hard to make a go of things. And old people can be willingly accepted if they merely fill up the restaurant section at mid-day, thus providing a welcome financial turnover to subsidise other aspects , including, maybe, the prices paid for drinks by other correspondents.
And have you actually tried the full menu, lunchtime or evening?
|
very shabby interior full of old people
Dont bother
|
Looks ok from the outside but that is it really. Really boring and tired inside. Food was of cheap quality. I would not bother again.
|
Brains Bread of Heaven was nice, Harveys got my friend's vote as pint of the day, also IPA & Youngs. Main bar area has some old timber and the feel of a country dining pub, all tables had mat settings but drinkers could sit anywhere. There is a decorative victorian tiled fireplace and also a functional large inglenook containing a woodburning stove and sporting brasses and prize shields, presumably for darts(?) - there is a board in the adjacent room to the left. Always like the look of decorative hops around a bar, but not sure what the central suit of armour was about. Small bar serving area could feel very crowded if busy.
|
Under new management it said so we tried again. Same beers except for Adnams Broadside now on and proper coffee.Now doing food all week ,had a nice steak/kidney pie and fresh veg with my pin! recommended
|
An appalling disappointment. Nice from the outside but, apart from the open fires, it was ordinary inside: woodchip wallpaper, nondescript pictures in cheap frames, chipped paint, modern repro furniture etc. Service was fine, but Harvey's was off and the menu at �6.95 was poor and overpriced: roast potatoes undercooked, meat was machine sliced from some form of uniform pre-pack (ie not hand cut off a joint)and other vegetables appeared to have come from a commercial caterer. Loos not the cleanest (although have been in worse). The fact that it took until 1pm on Mothering Sunday to sell out says it all; the best pubs are fully booked a month before. Shall certainly not return.
anonymous - 21 Jan 2007 19:21 |
Wonderfully managed old-fashioned 16th Century pub in the heart of Otford opposite the better-known Bull. The only freehouse in the village, divided in two with low beams & comfortable seats. Ales on offer during my first visit were a beautifully served Black Sheep Bitter, along with Harvey's Sussex, Everards Tiger & Old Rosie Cider. Stella, Carlsberg & Carling fizzy pops also on. Sunday lunch is very popular at just �6.95 & had sold out by 1pm Mothering Sunday. Occasional live music in the evenings & very friendly & polite bar staff. Would certainly make a point of returning when in Otford again. Great stuff.
|
