please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Full of loud , dead eyed , pretentious , humourless , I'm more successful than you fucktards.
And the staff are worse.
They serve beer. And fancy stuff.
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I didn�t see any of the problems listed by others on the site and quite enjoyed my visit to this pub. The selection of beers to try was excellent and the barman who served us was friendly and chatty. He also had an excellent moustache. It was obvious that the d�cor had been updated but it did look good and the seats were comfy. Recommended but it would seem that it is not to everyone�s taste.
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Fairs fair. I'm not a fan of Castle Inn's, service usually annoys me too much. But had a late lunch here today and it was really good. Lamb Shank Shepard's pie and my friend had a Ploughman's. Very impressed, taste, presentation, everything, not quite Lukin, Conway St. standard, but as close as you're going to get. Can't quite believe I'm praising this place but as I said fairs fair. Well done.
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Terrific location, nice airy building, great range of ales and lagers, good food (Battered Black Pudding was delicious, trust me it's a lot better than it sounds!), plenty of standing room for a pint outside on the pavement on a summer's evening and price wise, just above average for the area. All in all, should be world-class, but is strangely lacking in atmosphere and does seem to attract a high number of slightly too self-satisfied drinkers and staff. Worth checking out if you are in the area though as the beer is good.
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My advice, avoid this place like plague. They consistently seem to sell short measures on every pint as many others have noticed. Challenge this and and you will either be totally ignored or given lip by the chip shouldered staff behind the bar. Your crime? Simply requesting what you paid for.
Furthermore, they are incompetent at dealing with any more than about 4 people waiting at any given time. Nobody is ever served in the correct order and the staff are just incredibly slow. Far more concerned with either flirting with each other or preening themselves. Pathetic.
Myself and my colleagues have given up on this place and we�d advice you to do the same unless you enjoy the feeling of being ripped off.
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Large airy London Pub-the sort with the u-shaped bar in a big square room. Good ale range: Pure UBU (warwickshire), Wandle (London), Sharps [St.Austell] Doom Bar and oddly a US style Pale Ale called Kipling. Wandle and UBU in fine form. Pints not full - couldnt be bothered to request top up as it was purposefully short on every pint i saw served...so its planned
Menu is good, burgers were exceptional but at �9.25 they ought to be. I got called 'buddy' in the bar area and 'hi guys' when food was served - which when delivered here means 'whatever i couldnt give a toss but will use 'fun' greetings to give the impression i do'. Frankly i didnt get eye contact fromany of the staff - almost felt i was privileged to be in their company which of course i was.
i did like the food and booze though
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MICE... I counted three in 5mins!
I used to think this pub was cool casual and good quality, but my last visit left my skin crawling. I mentioned to the barmaid I seen mice coming from the fake fire place in back, she didn't seem to care. The attitude and low standard puts a different lens on the decor, I'm thinking its more knackered 2nd hand infested than post modern eclectic.
I used to love this pub but I've had my last meal & pint here until they pick there game up!
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Four of us from the States were looking for a good British pub, with good food and good beer and cider. This one fit the bill. Good pub food, courteous and efficient wait staff, and they even were willing to take special orders for our food. We'll come back.
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Signs of improvement here, it does have potential. I've been impressed by their ale selections recently and the fact that the badges now seem to always be the right way round!
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Potentially nice pub in many ways. Sadly ruined by the staff. Best to avoid.
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A nice pub with a good selection of beers and decent food, totally ruined by the awful bar staff - 'too cool for school' is bang on the money. Having no champagne glasses while offering 5-6 (expensive) types of Champagne is just criminal.
Change the bar staff and sort out the little details and it could be a good place. Until this happens I won't be going back
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Terrible terrible service..... Rude bar staff that can't admit when they've made a mistake. Oh and if you happen to want to buy a bottle of �100 Dom Perignon, be warned you'll be drinking it out of pint glass as the pub don't own any Champagne glasses.
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The Crown and Sceptre is always a great meeting venue just off the beaten track of the more prominent pubs in the west end.
A decent range of reasonably priced drinks and the service is good and bar-staff polite. After work is when the crowds gather but you can find occasions when there is room to sit down and enjoy.
As with most central pubs they can be a bit stalin-esque with you are drinking off the pavements (even when a car hasn't passed for about an hour) but i guess this is council policy! decent pub overall
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Occupying a prominent street corner position on the fringes of Fitzrovia is The Crown and Sceptre, externally quite an attractive and imposing looking pub.
A number of doors, including one on the angle of the two streets that retains an impressive high glass surround, tells us that this was obviously a multi-roomed pub in its heyday. An impressive, high, black painted moulded ceiling and some Corinthian columns give us a feel for what was evidently a grand Victorian pub in days long gone, although, disappointingly, all the windows are now plain glass.
There's that usual mish mash of sofas, chairs and tables and different areas that one always seems to find nowadays in pubs that have been opened out and given a makeover, although the overall effect here is not as displeasing as is often the case. The bar servery is centrally situated and quite small for what is actually quite a large and spacious pub. There's some seats outside on both streets for sunny weather.
The pub seems to appeal to what I suppose are described nowadays as urban professionals. I gather that media types often pack the place out and there's a bit of a trendy, pretentious air about the place.
On my recent visit, beers on were London Pride, St Austell Tribute and UBU Purity. Notably, the price list shows London Pride as � 1.50p for a half and � 3.30p for a pint. Given previous comments, I am pleased - and somewhat surprised - to be able to report that the UBU Purity (� 3.30p) was in good form. I didn't detect any problems with the staff either, although the pub website's description of them as being "the friendliest staff for miles around" is probably overstating the case somewhat and I'm never impressed when I see a cup on the bar counter specifically for tips.
This isn't really my type of place at all, but I did at least have a better experience than recent postings led me to expect.
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Jeez, a great central London location and lovely to be outside on a summer evening but totally spoiled by complacent staff who are far too cool for school. We endured endless very short measures with ungracious top-ups. And on taking a very cloudy pint back to the bar were met with an 'it was the end of the barrel' shrug and actually had to ask for it to be replaced. Argghhh.
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Been in here a couple of times recently. First was at lunch which was fine. The second time was only a day or so later but in the evening and the staff were rather off-hand. In particular, I had a pint which was pretty much flat. When I complained all they did was bang the glass so that the last remaining bit of fizz came to the top and handed it back to me (now even more flat). They seemed amused by the whole thing rather than apologising or offering me an alternative.
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I get forced in here every now and then for work drinks as it's a large pub. It is ghastly every time. Pretentious, too cool for school, ridiculous furniture, never enough staff and when you do eventually get served it is slow. The staff clearly couldn't give a toss, as it seems that you are unbelievably rude to have interrupted their conversation to - heaven forfend - order a drink in a pub.
It has no redeeming features, it could be a great pub but M&B have ruined it. They can't be bothered to look after the beer. Alewise the badges are more often than not turned around. If you're lucky one out of the three will be on but is generally warm. Lagerwise again a lot of lagers are regularly off and when they are on they can't even pull a lager properly, then again seeing as half the taps appear to have no nozzles on them this is not surprising.
In summary, I could get over the decor it's not the most important thing in the world, however I cannot forgive incompetent, slow and surly staff. Waiting 15 minutes for a drink when it's not busy is not on. This place needs a manager change urgently. Sort the staff, sort the beer.
Avoid avoid avoid.
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I think that the below review sums this place up very well, but the ale had changed to Pride, Tribute and Youngs Ordinary during my visit earlier this week. There was also a premium draught selection and my Guinness was on good form.
This was one of the busier pubs on my crawl so it is popular with drinkers in the area, but it�s not really my sort of pub so I doubt that I�ll return.
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A curious place this, clearly once an imposing street corner gin palace with several rooms, now it is all one space and has clearly been visited by that Laurence Llewelyn Bowen bloke from "Changing Rooms". The walls are what I'd describe as "Military Green" with lighter green leaves stencilled on, and the ceiling is matt black. A light shade appears to be made from antlers, and there is a goats head on the wall. There is some traditional seating but also the modern trend for low sofas, although here with standard height tables so I'm really not sure how that works! Four doors hint at the original multi room layout, at least the original (?) glass corner lobby has been retained. There is also an attractive tiled bar frieze/splash area around the central island bar, which has no central bar back, just a hanging empty picture frame.
Mainly a younger studenty set, plus a few older media types. A number of speakers on the walls suggest maybe a music venue but I didn't spot any adverts.
Pride, St Austell Tribute and Purity Pure Gold (�3.30). Certainly not my type of place being more of a traditionalist but the beer was fine.
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Went in this pub the day before xmas eve and the noise coming from the jukebox was unbearable. It wa slike some form of torture! the beer tasted watered down, the decor was hallucinating with so many flashing lights,.
Sort of pub you go in once and dont bother returning to.
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Went to this pub (reluctantly) for a leaving do Friday 30 October, after having walked past it without going in for the best part of a decade. The pump clips are usually turned round so not a good sign; the sort of people I see drinking here put me off as well. Managed to last about an hour and a half somehow, most of which was spent queuing at the bar and the rest looking at the appalling decor and listening to the braying of the vile clientele.
Won't ever go back - overpriced, surly bar staff and full of the sort of people who in Basil Fawlty's words would wear a dog turd round their neck if it was made of gold. 1/10
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went in last week afterwork, waited 10mins to be served a becks and a cider. staff were working hard but achieving nothing in a hurry. stood outside to drink and decided easier to go over to the yorkshire grey. where we were served very quickly and beers were top notch.
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The manager needs to control the drinkers drinking outside this pub. One of the worst in the area for inconsiderate suits blocking the public footpath and forcing people to walk on the road.
ajsqs - 21 Nov 2008 00:17 |
One of the very but very few West End public houses worth consideration ...generally decent clientele and pleasant staff.
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I should admi't that I am very frustrated writing this. This pub advertises that it's kitchen is open untill 10.30 weekdays. I recently went to this pub at half nine on a Wednesday. When we ordered drinks we were told that the kitchen may close early at 10pm. When we went to order food at 9.35 we were told that the kitchen had closed! I then asked that as they had closed thief kitchen an hour early if we could bring in food and my request was denied. To top off the frustration about ten minutes later the table next to us got food delivered to their table! If you are in this area and like this type of pub I would recomend you walk a few minutes more to the Carpenter Arms on the corner of Whitfield and Howland near Tottenham court Road for same quality drinks and much better service! Plus they do Ale!
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went in 2 weeks ago on a tuesday night 7.30ish , waited 10 mins to be served , gave up and went over to the yorkshire gray instead.
I must admit i do like this pub but its gone downhill in a massive way since the old manger left (Sean i think his name was).
This is now seeming to be more and more just a typical Mitchells and Bulters swillpit than the Area flagship it once was.
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Seems a decent enough place, though often a bit busy.
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Nothing appears to have improved since the last post. Useless service USP seems to be a large corner plot where you can stand outside and marvel at Great Titchfield Street.
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Near home and I give it a try from time to time and always regret it. They have 3 real ale pumps - including TT Landlord, but yet again this Tuesday none of them were available so had a rare G&T instead. I think they are mainly looking to appeal to the media crew (as noted below) and probably more of a ladies, or guys on the pull, kind of place.
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It's like the Tardis, this place. Walked past it so many times and never walked in, but it's massive inside! However, that's as impressive as it gets.
The minute you walk in you can sense people looking you up and down as if assessing whether or not you're worth talking to, or if indeed you're even good enough to be there. One quick look around the pub confirms earlier comments that this is full of "media types" (for want of a more abrasive description).
Service was good, beer was fine, seating was... bizarre, to say the least. They seem to have lots of live music, and it's always buzzing, but it's buzzing with the kind of people who can't have a conversation about anything of substance. It's as if they're just there to be seen.
Won't be going back.
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A great pub but awful staff and way too busy... therefore you spend a very, very long time waiting to be served and never get a seat at busy times.
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Used to be a good boozer, now full of media types.......
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Rubbish pub. Didn�t used to be.
I hadn�t been in here for a couple of years when, in need of somewhere showing the football, I noticed they had it on a small TV in the corner. The place had changed since I was last there; the designer leather sofas and wine lists have moved in. Always a bad start.
There were two members of bar-staff serving two customers when I got to the bar. One of them, having served a woman, then just walked off leaving me waiting for the other member of staff to complete a big order. Once I�d been served, I started watching the game, as were a few others despite the sound being turned off in favour of non-descript �funky-house� music (fair enough, it�s not a football pub, I suppose). Ten minutes after kick-off, one of the staff walked up to the TV and switched it off, with no apology or consultation with customers. Regardless of your opinions on football and sport in pubs, this is just rude. I walked out without finishing my drink. I won't return.
For those so inclined, they do seem to have a good selection of continental lagers though. And it does get very busy on Friday evenings. However, don't expect character or good service in here.
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An extremely popular pub frequented by many BBC types including the odd name. Seems to get refurbished regularly. Always overflows into the street during the summer.
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Well i needed a place to meet my friends to celebrate my recent birthday and as a few of them work near this pub the desicion was made and a time set. On entering this pub i noticed to my dismay that it was packed to the rafters with the type of friday evening post office media company punters that usually make me spin round and head straight back out the door. As i was early and meeting people i coulndnt do this. Luckily my Lovely girlfriend was waiting with a pint of cooking lager for me. The place was so full we were standing up near some idiots talking about media and trying hard to impress each other with thier sickening faces and stupid scruffy but expensive and fashionable clothes. It always amazes me what people will wear if they think its fashionable. anyway back to the pub review. the beer was ok and the barmaids were friendly and atractive. The decor is typical for this king of clientel sruffy but fashionable and expensive and a bit boring. there is a nice pub underneath the crapulence hopefully someone, oneday, will show it off.
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A great place to try some continental fayre (with Budvar Dark on tap, mmmmm...) at VERY reasonable prices for the area. Only one handpump (Tim Taylor's Landlord) though, but it tasted fine. Friendly barman as well.
Inside has some nice touches (the Deco doorway for instance), though I was less sure about the stuffed goat that reminded me of Alanis Morrissette.
Well worth popping in, and also a great place for ale drinkers to take their bubble-drinking friends without offending their own palette!
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Beer selection is unusual, but certainly not amazing. They favour lagers, fruit and wheat beers over bitter, and to be fair, the pricing is reasonable considered to what other places may charge. There were 12 beers on tap yesterday; not sure about the bottles.
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Food is good. Interior large, spacious and airy with lots of seating and non-smoking section. Beer selection is frankly amazing. The younger beer lover's paradise
anonymous - 30 Jul 2006 14:49 |
its SO dingy looking that nobody goes inside apart from the poor person whose round it is
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Bit trendy for my liking - odd mix of chairs and tables, but some original features have been retained, note particularly the curved entrance by the front door. Yes, I'll come again, but I do prefer The King and Queen, which is more traditional and suits "old gits" like me a bit more
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When of the better pubs in the area. As per the photo on warm summer evenings you can expect to have vast mobs of people congregating on the pavements outside with their beers. Good assortment of beers available and not to pricey. This place gets a thumbs up from me.
Selly - 11 May 2006 14:26 |
get the baggy jeans on and get yourself a silly haircut and you'll fit right in here - just dont forget to bring the latest edition of Face. However a good place in the summer for a lunchtime pint on the pavement, catching a few rays and checking out the trim. Not known for its cask ales, more of a continental lager joint (staropramen, leffe etc), clearly to service the media kids. If hoxton fins arent your bag - try the yorkshire grey up the road - less pretentious.
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Certainly not a bland gastropub - more emphasis on beer than food. Although the food is excellent - have eaten here three times and always enjoyed it immensely.
Darloinexile - bottled beer is a good thing if the bottled beer in question is the likes of Chimay (blue and red), Herold Black Lager and Erdinger Dunkel.
As a real ale pub it is lacking but does, as you state, have two pumps in constant use - TT Landlord and Charles Wells Bombardier if I recall correctly.
Nothing wrong with Guardian readers either, per se. Although I think the clientele here are more likely to read Q magazine than a broadsheet.
anonymous - 18 Apr 2006 11:54 |
Recently filmed scenes for an upcoming movie here and it was closed for a few days. It's a hipsters haunt and if that ain't you then don't go as you're bound to feel out of place. Geek Chic is the dress code.
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Nice summer-Friday-lunchtime-boozer. But. It does take forever to get served on a sunny evening or lunchtime - usually-generous friends are suddenly reluctant to get the next one in. That said it's one of only a handful of pubs in the area where you can get a bit of a pavement tan in the summer - the crowd must approach 100 heads at peak times. It's pretty spacious inside, and not a bad spot to be for a few if find yourself in the area at the weekend.
anonymous - 18 Mar 2006 18:14 |
A pub I keep going to but don't really enjoy that much.
It has some over-funky decor and a weird array of chairs. Lunchtimes, avoid the rush before 1pm for great Fish Finger Sarnies and chunky chips. Evenings, probably best to avoid. If you don't have a seat you'll always find yourself in someone's way. Too few bar staff. Last summer it took forever to be served. I do like the drinks selection - some great cloudy cider and Koelsch on tap. Interesting note - the pub features in the "Easy Now" press ad for Red Stripe Lager.
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Great pub, not for old folks mind. I suspect some of the comments on here are from people who were perhaps expecting something slightly different.
First class selection of great beers from around the world. I haven't tried their real ales as nothing they have on grabs me, and I suspect they won't be as well kept as in a more trad pub. However the Kuppers Kolsch is fantastic and should not be missed, likewise you have the palatable Sleemans from Canada to try and the old standby Leffe is a winner. Fruli for the lady. Nice.
I like the staff and have eaten here twice and found it above average for quality and value on the grub front. Everyone I have introduced to this pub really likes it.
anonymous - 14 Dec 2005 14:12 |
Odd pub, beer hit adn miss, though they did let me drink in here until 7am one new years eve/day, was 1991 mind!
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Large high-ceilinged single room pub with a horse-shoe bar thrusting urgently through the centre. Large windows and corner location give a light, airy and modern feel despite the many remaining Victorian features such as the heavy patterned ceiling (unhelpfully painted in dark 1970's green). Discrete touches such as the mixed seating, plant-life and (maybe not so discrete) jazzy world music attract the media trendy. The Victorian wrought-iron public convenience converted into an artist's studio adds to the general media-tastic feel. It's cool. It's OK.
Black Sheep & Spitfire were the cask offerings. I opted for the Beer Of The Week - Sleeman's Honey Brown Lager on tap. This is a lager with honey. The honey did lift an otherwise ordinary fizz driven glass of stale lager into something drinkable if not totally endearing.
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For what it is - an alright pub in the summer when standing outside, and nice interior. Decent grub. You get a few 'blazers, ironic tshirts and jeans' nobs pretending to be public school, but they're easily ignored.
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Fantastic! I visited the The Crown & Sceptre two years ago only to be disappointed by its dank interior and miserable staff. However, since being refurbished in March the pub has been transformed. Careful to retain its old Victorian charm, the place has been tastefully restored with subtle modern touches. The pub�s cast iron railings and giant outside lanterns are simply magnificent, while the Crown & Sceptre�s prominent position within an array of restaurants, cafes and delis lends it a relaxed European air. The high-ceilinged interior � complete with two magnificent pillars - is dominated by the central bar area, decked in sparkling fairy lights. In keeping with the traditional design of the pub, the furniture is a mixture of dark wood tables and chairs set against rich green walls. 1970s-style orange bubble lights, retro chandeliers, funky spotlights and candles bring to life the pub�s wonderful features, including the ornate, engraved ceiling design. Large windows at the front of the Crown & Sceptre create a bright and airy space, while the array of window seating is perfect for a spot of people-watching. Towards the back of the pub � on the right-hand side � is a �lounge� area resplendent with dark panelled walls, comfy upholstered chairs and luxury leather sofas to sink into. Retro wooden dressers and standard lamps, as well as an impressive fire-place, enhance the lounge vibe and this cosy space is great for quiet conversation or a romantic rendezvous. Finally, the staff were great � both attentive and friendly.
Rhys Hurd - 20 May 2004 15:31 |
Food service slow beyond belief - staff service poor often unable to speak English - forget about ordering food as staff are likely to forget about your order!
Rob Wilson - 30 Oct 2003 15:19 |
Don't know why exactly. I've never been able to put my finger on it. But I really don't like this pub very much. I actually find the bar staff unfriendly, it's too busy and I'm not too keen on the other punters. Seeing someone from last year's Big Brother in there finished it off.
I still go though. My colleagues really like it for some reason, so I'm obliged to. Or sit in The George on my own.
Greg - 16 Jun 2003 16:52 |
Lovely pub, lively / friendly, Many 19th century features remain, mixed crowd, staff are tolerant of a little ribaldry.
Control/Command centre of the international "Gas Station Pub Crusade"
chris - 25 Apr 2003 11:36 |
