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Three Crowns, Stoke Newington

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user reviews of Three Crowns, Stoke Newington

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

Not a pleasant place - another serious assault was published in the local press, a few months ago.
tradervic - 12 Jun 2020 17:47
STAY AWAY! It's a dump, full of kids whom think their trendy Wendy's but seriously??? Food was shocking never again! Across the road to a V.nice place the Jolly Butchers,, nice when I say there is over 30's in the place?? is there actually a nice pub in Newington Green???
tomloftus - 4 Jul 2013 23:44
If you get here when it's not rammed, it's a nice enough pub. Big, but quite cosy, relatively comfy and not too loud. Good Sunday roast.

Don't idly pick the extraneous wax off the candles, though, because I did that tonight and a barmaid stormed up, said "Don't destroy the candles, they're really expensive", and snatched the candle off our table. Bizarre.

6/10
bbx1138 - 9 Dec 2012 23:03
Dropped in for a quick drink on Saturday afternoon. Had a pint of Mad Goose which was really nice and to my surprise seemed relatively sensibly priced. It was quieter than I've ever seen it and I have to say I really enjoyed the atmosphere.
Pin - 18 Sep 2012 16:48
Should be a lot better than it is. Loads of potential in this place but it's not being fulfilled. Real shame. The decor's on the right track but it's a bit too dim/dull. The food was decent for sure if a little pricey.

Sadly the constant faint smell of bleached wooden floors throughout the place meant we weren't keen on making a session of it.

Harveys was nice if a little cloudy but the bar service was poor. A virtually empty pub yet the 2 staff managed to drag out serving just 3 of us to nearly 10 minutes. They were nice enough just had the classic Hoxton faff demeanour.

Dylarolla - 14 Feb 2012 11:01
i went to the three crowns last night after being dissapointed with the alma on newington green road and the food at the three crowns wasnt that much better. I went here after my friend told me it would be great, yet the fish and chips tasted not as fresh as the waiter would suggest. The waiter was friendly and helpful and the place was ok but i would giv e it a 4 out of 10.
foodielondon - 2 Jul 2011 13:56
Went in on a Friday night with a few other. We were quite well looked after by the attentive bar manager/supervisor the couple of times he served us. Trouble is the music was just too loud. Don't get me wrong I appreciate having a dj on etc.. but if I can only talk/shout to the person directly next to me what's the point? It just ain't social.
IgorA - 26 Apr 2010 18:07
The only real Gastro pub (sorry - I hate that phrase) in the area and seems relatively successful so it serves a purpose in that hopefully it'll prevent others from opening up nearby. Sundays seem to be full of late-twenty / early-thirty somethings taking their visiting parents to the one place in Stokey where they might not be confronted with a hilarious display of randomness which gives the area its charm. Agree that the bar staff seem friendly enough although the lagers more often than not seem to have that metalic taste that you sometimes get. Poor selection of ales and agreed - expensive.
JCThunderbolt - 9 Dec 2009 16:15
Best avoided. Why?

1). It is pretty expensive.

2). 'Orrible gastropub stylings.

But it's fair to say, friendly staff.


Parky.P - 1 Nov 2009 14:54
yes, this place is expensive - and certainly its a bit galling to pay extra for yorkshire pudding and a coupleof quid for a lime soda. However, this was by far the best sunday roast I have had. Huge portions, tender, tasty roast chicken, very good veg. Pretty excellent. Considering most pubs these days charge 14 quid for a roast lunch - at least here you get a good meal for that. I highly recommend.
fairjudge - 28 Sep 2009 10:46
Absolute rip off.. Dont even bother..!!

Went for a sunday lunch and it ended up costing �40 for 2 people.. Unbelievable.. The dinners alone were �14 each and all we had to drink was a lime and soda each.. They also had the cheek to charge �2 extra each for a yorkshire pudding and added additional service charge on top..

I wouldn�t care if the meal was nice but I got 3 pork chops (when it said roast pork) and there was next to nothing on my plate..

Can't believe that this place is still open.. It should be closed for ripping people off.. Or people should wise up and stop paying stupid prices that keeps them in business..
Jode - 24 Jul 2009 12:01
Beer is too expensive, nice interior though
imp123 - 20 Feb 2009 16:02
Pretty good, but the drinks are extortionate. Only go in when I've been working overtime.
patrickjsm - 13 Feb 2009 10:10
Nice place, always had good nights here. It's not as cool as it wants to be, but to meet up for a few drinks in a nice environment it's spot on.
onefortheroad09 - 31 Jan 2009 23:52
hi der you all welcome to the birdgage on sunday meals under tenner and even your friend can share promise you will not be let down we have roast sirlion of beef roast boned half chicken roast lamb and cheese and spinach parcel all come with yorkies roast carrot roast potato roast parsnips and lashing of home made gravy please post any ideas that you would like to see on your menu at the birdcage n16 we hope to see you all very soon we promise to keep the price down and your tummy's full
thechefatthebirdcage - 31 Jan 2009 04:09
Anyone else think fatpav works for the Three Crowns? I certainly do.

The give away is thus: who else would joining BITE simply to post an argument with someone else about one pub? I note no other posts on any other pubs.
tuppence - 7 Nov 2008 14:20
It's very pleasant, and the staff are really nice. I've chatted away for quite a while with one of them, and would confess to having been reasonably enchanted. Leather armchairs are always a plus, and the beer is very good. Prices on the high side, though. Haven't eaten here.

wsjm: I don't feel at all that fatpav gives the impression of being associated with the Crowns, but is responding to some pretty over-broad criticism, from someone clearly disgruntled. I will admit to finding his post combative, though, and am disappointed in both users for holding an argument on the board. Yes, I'm afraid you're both guilty of that. However, I find your post, wcjm, offensive, and borderline illiterate. You say nothing of substance, and use crude insults. You are in no position to pass comment on anybody else's postings.
che_77 - 24 Jul 2008 15:39
i think this pub sucks, it sucks real bad. i went there the othere day there was no atmosphere and its just like every pub that thinks its special but its not. that fatpav obviously works there, he's obviously the manager haha, what an idoit.
wsjm - 12 Jul 2008 14:29
heh heh. Ben wren....done it again. thanks for the whine wee man ;)
fatpav - 3 May 2008 00:30
The beer doesn't cost �4 a bottle, badger 13. Anyway, if you rate the Swan and the Flying Scotsman then this place is probably not for you!
LemonGrass - 3 Apr 2008 13:11
It seems you think that by calling it whinging, you can delegitimise my complaint. fatpav, everyone reading this can see through your hollow defence of this sorry excuse for a pub. just stop talking now before you make yourelf look even more pathetic.
ben_wren - 20 Mar 2008 14:02
Thank you Ben Wren for illustrating my point so beautifully. you whinge in person better than I could ever caricature.
fatpav - 15 Feb 2008 10:59
I like his place. good to eat somewhere when the food is correctly sourced and served - burger at the white hart anyone? Good atmosphere and friendly service. well worth checking out.
swilliam - 9 Feb 2008 22:01
way overpriced gastro dive.
full of people willing to pay �4 for a bottle of lager. give me a decent boozer anyday, ill be off to the swan.
badger13 - 19 Jan 2008 13:56
This boozer has seen more name changes of late than Dierdre Barlow, and this must be its worst incarnation yet. No atmosphere, "gastropub" stylings (ugh), and full of people who wouldn't know a decent pub if it landed on them. Ben-Wren, you're better off out of it.
getinthebackofthevan - 9 Jan 2008 13:53
This could be a good pub if the proprietors re-thought the one-size-fits-all theme they've applied to a number of pubs around Stokey.

The pub is sadly let down by the layout, the acoustics, the battered-to-the-point-of-unuseable furniture and the terrible bland DJ-bar soundtrack.

It's not the kind of place that I'd really look forward to spending an evening eating or drinking.

Get better furniture, better music, a better layout and a better menu and they might be onto something.
derms - 17 Dec 2007 22:21
In response to fatpav: Yes it is a wee shame, and also extremely annoying.
You say that if the doorman didn't let me in he must have had a very good reason. Well if he did have a legitimate reason, why did he lie and tell us that there was a private party on? I'm sorry that you don't have the mental capacity to understand what i've written about this pub - Clearly if he'd told me straight away that the age limit was 25, i'd have accepted that and gone elsewhere. What I object to is being lied to, and in my book that's fairly jutifiable.

I was really polite to the doorman, and I did not as you say "berate him when he asked for ID", EVEN THOUGH he smirked as he asked for it (after lying to my face). However, when he refused to explain why he didn't just say the age limit was 25 in the first place, i may have gotten pissed off, but i'm sure anyone reading this will understand why. Even you, with your frankly creepy desire to defend this pub (what, were you conceived in the toilets there or something?), cannot tell me you'd be happy if a doorman lied to your face and turned you away?

There's pretty much nothing worse you could reasonably expect to experience from someone who is supposed to be providing a service to the general public than have them lie, espescially when there is absolutely no good reason for it. The pub may have the right to not let me in (even with NO good reason, as was the case), but I ALSO have the right to tell whoever I want that they should AVOID THIS PUB, and I think most people would agree that it is far less petty than your pathetic doorman feeding lies to decent customers just because he can. Personally, it seems obvious that any place that needs a half-witted loser to stand up for it should be avoided.
ben_wren - 5 Dec 2007 16:46
In response to Ben_Wren. Whilst it is a wee shame that you were not allowed in the pub on that particular night it really isn't something you should be all that annoyed about. Every licensed premises has the right to refuse entry to anyone for any reason they like. If you are refused entry by a doorman (the legal represenative of the bar) then it is probably for a very good reason. Perhaps next time you should bring ID and maybe not berate the doorstaff when you are asked for it. Simply accepting the decision in a calm and adult fashion gives you much more chance of being allowed entry at a later date. Also, telling people not to go to a place because you couldn't get in is a bit petty don't you think? Personally, any place that refuses entry to self-righteous whingers is alright by me!!
fatpav - 27 Nov 2007 14:38
I had a very bad experience at this pub.

I went a couple of months ago, and was told by the 40-something african bouncer that there was a private party inside, so we could not come in. Seeing the pubgoers through the window however, it looked like everyone was sitting in small groups, and while my friend and I were standing at the door, the doorman let two people in, seemingly without any 'invite' or other check. After confronting him about this, we were told that it was actually over-25s only, and were asked to provide ID, reluctantly admitting that there was no private party after all.

Both being 23 years old, neither of us could provide this ID, but when our 21 year old friend arrived, we asked him to attempt to go in to see if he was challenged. He got in, no questions asked. When we asked the bouncer why he had let our younger friend in but not us, he told us he 'thought he was already in and had gone out to get some cash from the machine'.

At this point, we asked to see the manager, as we did not believe anything this guy was telling us. The bouncer refused to get the manager, or anyone else to confirm or deny his reasons for not letting us in. In desperation to prove a point, we asked two very kind ladies on their entering the pub if they would mind getting the manager for us. They obliged, and the english 30-something manager (we presumed) came out, and before he got to us the bouncer went just inside and had a quiet word with him, he then came out and told us it was indeed over-25s only. He was, dare I say, smug, and offered no apology.

We were not sure if we were still being deceived and dismissed, or whether it was just the bouncer who had lied to us. Either way, we had to move on. I had in fact been in the pub twice previously to this (since becoming the Three Crowns), but as you might expect have not been back since, except once about a week later when I went in and asked a barman what the age limit was - he didn't know, but guessed 21, then went away to check with someone, then came back to say it was 25. This almost confirmed the truth of this for me, except that I saw that the same manager was in that day, which gave me a small seed of doubt, although maybe that's a bit paranoid.

The long and short of it is, the bouncer clearly lied to us, for no reason that we can tell. He must not have liked the look of us, even though we were respectably dressed and polite. The pub has no signs stating its policy on minimum age, and the staff didn't even seem too sure. It seems to me that they will let anyone in, but reserve this high minimum age 'policy' as an excuse to refuse entry to those younger clientele that they do not want in their pub.

A really horrible and needless event, far more off-putting than any bad service I have experienced elsewhere. Please avoid this pub if you can, treatment like this deserves a bit of a repercussion for the guilty party. Thank you for reading.


ben_wren - 3 Sep 2007 16:52
Popped in here last Sunday and had the roast dinner, for �12.50. I found it to be of small proportions with the "Roast potatoes" clearly deep-fried and overdone.
When my girlfriend ordered a Bloody Mary we found there to be greenfly in the celery, when I informed a waitress she told be that the salad had been washed but the greenfly must have "flown in" afterwards, highly unusual!

All in all an overpriced, over rated shame.
saynotospoons - 30 Apr 2007 12:18
Food is too expensive. Do not even think about drinking here if you have not spent �800 on thick rim spectacles.

anonymous - 24 Apr 2007 12:57
I like it. Well decorated and lit. People who read newspapers in pubs take up whole tables. The whole point of the pub is to talk to your friends and make new friends ( apart from middle-class couples ignoring each other on Sunday whiulst reading the paper) Good range of beers, great food-expensive but you get what you pay for ( the chicken shops in the area do hot 'wings' and chips for 2 quid if that's your cuppa char) Personally I prefer meat that comes from an animal that once had a head and am willing to pay 15 quid for it. Good staff, efficient service, fantastic wine list.
anonymous - 13 Feb 2007 16:01
Can't be too harsh on the place, as its certainly better than ther terrible Bagabon.

However, perhaps due to the properties L-shape, its not very well designed - odd entraceway, harsh and uncomfortable 'eating only' section. Back section better - but lots of couches and armchairs means it doesn't take a lot to get rammed solid - and it does.

Saw no fewer than six mums with prams leaving the place last week - perhaps its where Stokie Mummys host their 'Mothers and Babies' afternoons thesedays - y'know a large white wine probably helps numb the pain of having to abandon their media career.
Planner_21 - 17 Jan 2007 15:33
now back to it's original name, looking more like a pub than before, but a bit scruffy leather sofas and candle light. If you like that sort of thing, ok for hanging about in, but if you want to read a newspaper with your pint on a winter's evening, very difficult in that light. not the best pub in stokie but alright, i guess

marty21 - 21 Nov 2006 16:19
update your site bite, this place has been open for weeks.

this is a welcome return, lovely decor, good wine, excellent food. gone are the big screen tvs, dj nights and pikey crowd, you dismal anti middle class types will no doubt condemn it as "another gastro pub, too expensive and full of ponces", for those of us who don't shop in matalan or think football counts as culture then this quite possibly the best pub in stoke newington.
stinkers - 16 Nov 2006 20:05
Recently reopened as The Three Crowns, a return to the name for this pub for over three hundred years. Sister to the Birdcage, Londesborough, Talbot, and Spurstowe of Hackney. Expect big leather seats and gastro food and prices.
ShaneO - 4 Nov 2006 13:57
Newly opened pub on the former Bar Lorca site (it was called The Three Crowns years ago). Same mould as the nearby sister pubs (Birdcage, Londesborough and Spurstowe Arms). Blackboards, bricks and olives; char-grilled and loud. Harvey's and Timothy Taylor Landlord.
Mark - 4 Nov 2006 11:55

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